KEITH Curle praised his players for 'giving everything' in twice coming back from behind to beat Port Vale.

In a battle between second bottom and second top, few would have back Latics to end their poor run.

Oldham went into the game with just one win in seven in League Two, while the Valiants had suffered just one league defeat in 10.

But, after Davis Keillor-Dunn headed in a first half equaliser following David Worrall's opener, Sam Hart marked his first start since August by cancelling out James Gibbons' 52nd minute strike before having a hand in a stoppage time winner, as his initial shot was diverted past goalkeeper Lucas Covolan by the head of Aaron Martin.

"I'm delighted," said Curle. "The range of emotions that you go through when you're stood on the side of a pitch are massive but that's why I'm in this game. That's what I love about it.

"There's nothing better than knowing that your players have emptied the tank and given you everything.

"The backing from the supporters, excellent. A few disgruntled ones, there's always a few that you get everywhere and I've heard it all before. It won't change my opinion and won't change my mindset. I believe in what I'm doing, I know what I've got to do.

"It's a lot easier journey to go on the more people that get on board.

"Things are going to go against us, but we keep going.

"The range of emotions that the supporters must have gone through today will fill them with optimism and belief. The players showed passion, desire, willingness, everything that the supporters demand and the willingness to get in the box, get numbers in the box and get good delivery into the box, and the willingness to go in where it hurts. Excellent today, and you earn that little bit of fortune that you need for the ball to bounce to you, and we've been due it."

Latics climbed back out of the bottom two and are two points clear of the drop zone ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Northampton Town.

And Curle is keen to use the win as a springboard to more success ahead of his return to his former club.

"Behind the scenes I know the situation of the football club, but there's a united front from within. Small in numbers, as in staff wise, but good belief and good honesty about what we're trying to do," said Curle.

"We accept that at times we haven't been good enough, and the players have been told that. There's an honesty about the group that they accept the criticism that comes their way.

"Likewise today this has got to be all about the players because they needed to turn up today, and when things went against them, going a goal down and 2-1 behind, they never wavered. And you need that.

"When you're in a fight and in a scrap to get this football club going in the right direction those are the credentials that you need.

"Now we need the game momentum. Now we need another win. Now we need back to back wins."