Oldham Athletic boss Micky Mellon reacts to Swindon Town win

Latics were dominant from start to finish but did not have anything to show for it until the 41st minute, when Elliott Nevitt made the breakthrough on his full debut.

Oldham continued to carve out chances in the second half, but again left it late to reap their rewards, with second-half substitute Mike Fondop earning a penalty that Calum Kavanagh converted in the 84th minute, before Fondop fired in the third in stoppage time.

"I think from the first whistle to the last we were good with and without the ball, and showed a really good, composed performance against a really good team, and we scored three goals so we're obviously pleased with that," said the Latics boss.

"We probably could have and should have taken some of the chances that we had earlier in the game.

"When you're on top and when you are creating so many chances you don't want to be sucker punched, and you think you've got to take one of these because the game of football works in spells in the game and when you're on top that's the time you've got to score.

"If we hadn't scored the late-ish goals, we'd say that we'd have to be more clinical and make it that bit more - I wouldn't say easier, but certainly easier on the bench watching it. Because while it's 1-0 they're always in the game and they've got some quality players, but we managed to get it over the line in the end."

And Mellon felt his side's comfortable win over Swindon went some way to making up for a missed opportunity last weekend.

Latics were robbed of the chance to capitalise on a 1-0 lead at Colchester United when they were reduced to 10 men just before the break - a decision that was overturned two days later, allowing Gus Scott-Morriss to keep his place in the side.

Mike Fondop was awarded a late penalty, which Calum Kavanagh converted (Image: Thomas Lee Stacey)

The right back played his part in consecutive home wins and clean sheets, while all three strikers got on the scoresheet.

And he said the result, and manner of the performance, helped to make amends.

"Don't want to dwell on it but disappointed that we were 1-0 up at Colchester and we had that chance to fight for that 1-0 lead taken away from us by the referee. But today's referee I thought was excellent," Mellon said.

"When referees are good and I'm not talking about the referee today, I think that's the way football should be. I never felt that he was ever out of control and I never felt that he wasn't ever calm about the performance and I think that helped the game.

"That's probably what I was talking about before the game this week, we want that calmness and that control and allow the players to go and decide who wins the game."

Swindon did question a major decision, though, with Connor Ripley insisting there was no contact Mike Fondop when the Latics striker went down in the area in a one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.

Ripley was booked, and Kavanagh made it 2-0 from the spot, before Fondop wrapped up the win with a brilliant strike for the third in stoppage time.

"I am halfway line, that happened at the Oldham end. I'm a long way away. I don't want to play that one, 'I've never seen it' because I try to be honest with you all the time, it's too far away," Mellon added.

"But I've seen that the boy was upset about it. That's all I've seen. The referee gave a penalty."

While Swindon argued their case, Mellon said there should be no debate about who takes their penalties, after Fondop tried to claim the ball from Kavanagh.

"He (Fondop) is not the penalty taker. I don't want to see that, no. Because at the end of the day, there's a lad that is our penalty taker that's got to step up at 1-0," the Latics boss explained.

"It's not about Mike, and he knows that, we don't roll like that here. It's about the team and it's about the guys who are there to take the penalties being able to take them.

"So no, that's not the way that we do things here. No, I wasn't happy or I wasn't delighted that he was causing a bit of commotion to go and take it. No, it's not about that, it's about Kavanagh, who's our penalty taker, getting the opportunity with a clear head without all the fuss that's around it, to go and do what he did and put it in the back of the net."

But Mellon did pick out the positives of Fondop's performance, not least his goal.

"Great finish, worked his socks off," the Scot added.

"When Mike's running around and Mike's competing and Mike's playing with that enthusiasm and he's scoring goals like that he's a big player for Oldham. But when he's not doing that, he's not a big player for us. So that's a little warning to anybody that if they don't play anywhere in and around what is expected of them here, I've got a squad now that will replace you, because their minimum is running around, showing enthusiasm and trying to be the best version of yourself."