Astro

Can someone please clarify the ticketing situation. The club website says: Orders made online can be collected from the Oldham Athletic ticket office by 12pm on Tuesday 20 February. Now, am I correct in concluding that collecting a physical ticket is the only option available? It does say that you can pay £2 to have it posted but I didn't see that until buying one - or is there a way to get it digitally?

They've taken points off Solihull, Bromley, Halifax, Rochdale and Chesterfield at home since October so my initial assessment is that it'll be a difficult and tight game, and in the spirit of Mellon's comments after Tuesday I'd be taking a 1-0 win all day long!

I think this is what Mellon was effectively saying in his post-match comments and it's hard to argue against it as the numbers don't lie, taking our overall form into account. Given where we are as we come into the latter phase of the season, does he spend time and effort changing our style of play or does he lean into a system that, however ugly, has picked up much better results and has taken us into the Play-offs? Again, it's hard to demand a significant change. That said, Mellon suggested he sought to change our approach and style at home because our results have been relatively poor and has concluded that, after one half of one football match, it isn't worth it. That washes right now, but he needs to work out a better system in the pre-season for 24/25 because our results at home, while better than under Unsworth, remain average: P8 W3, D2, L3, with two of those losses coming against sides in the bottom four. My point being that the gritty, determined style (i.e. win by any means) isn't producing consistently positive results. I'm happy to go along with it if it means getting out of this division this season but the idea we have a sound system - and whether Mellon is of that view is unclear - isn't credible.

The 15-minute period after we got the leveller was very strange. They were spoiling the game and barely two passes were strung together, yet despite their antics the referee allowed himself to get sucked in and must have perceived his taking control as dishing out a handful of yellow cards. If I'm honest, I'm not sure what referees should do but his approach wasn't helping the situation. Anyway, I'm relieved about the result and credit to Mellon for changing things at half-time there. If and when we get ourselves into a little rhythm, pick up the pace and stretch sides, we're more than capable of dictating a game but the inconsistency of actually doing so is frustrating. Hopefully we're back on track after two disappointing results and performances.

Which is entirely fair enough.

Top result but the manner in which we played is what has pleased me so much. I've seen many, many messages posted on here over the last couple of month that suggest the result is what matters and I understand that sentiment, but consistent sides producing consistent results do so by performing and a lot of the performances under the Mellon have been average and we've rode our luck. However, tonight we looked like a side that can start to dictate large chunks of games and that has to be put down to the new signings and a few of the other lads responding to Mellon. He's done tremendously well, not just in getting results but quickly rebuilding and reshaping the squad. Four league wins on the spin ahead of a run of fixtures against sides down the other end of the league. Well done Micky and the lads!

While I'd happily take a draw tonight, a win would see us solidify our spot in the top seven, especially given the other fixtures. Same again on Saturday, so points gaps are beginning to open up. I don't fancy Aldershot or Eastleigh because they lose too many, Gateshead are knackered with players out injured or leaving, and Southend, while clearly strong, need to string results together, so if we can get our performances more dominant I think we can continue to look upwards rather than who is behind us. I'd have ones each tonight and a win on Saturday.

Putting aside the blatant contradiction in this comment, what on earth is this blather about "successful professional background" and superior moral conduct? Comes across as incredibly uppity. What next? ID cards at the football.

On Lundstram, are you referring to his clip over the heads of the centre backs and away into space? If so, I thought that was a touch of class whereas most would have clipped it out of play or try and edge it back to the goalkeeper. It was a nothing moment, really, but it was a moment of intelligence.

A battling win, as they say. It is the third consecutive match I've seen where we make a bright start and we had much the better of the first 20 minutes. We then retreat once a passing side begins to get going and it invites pressure and close calls, although I couldn't fault our defensive display. We are hard to beat, so that is a good foundation to build on. However, our ability to build our own pressure, hold the ball for long spells in and beyond midfield, get in behind teams, and generally create chances is limited. I've seen Green get some stick and I can't at all comment as I've not been to many games in the last 18 months, but I can see a decent player in there. He's the sort of player - pace and direct - that we lack. That isn't to say anything on his own consistency, but equally if he isn't getting the service or he cannot rely on the spine of the side holding the ball for long he's going to come across as someone largely absent from games. Solid. Unbeaten in seven, into the FA Cup first round, and a Mellon's first game will be with an away following of several thousand. Slowly but surely we're seeing individuals and the group build a little bit of confidence.

The "problem" comes from doing as you urge and trusting the owners and the board for far too long. The culture around the club is one of 'once bitten, twice shy' and so laying in and telling people to follow decision-making on nothing but blind loyalty is more frustrating to me than the ultra cynical group of our supporters. That said, I see no issue with a three-year deal, precisely because it provides stability. We also have to take into account what Mellon has asked for, after all he has those five promotions to negotiate with. All in all, a good appointment. I'm still unconvinced that we will make a challenge for promotion this year - and winning promotion in two seasons of relegation from League Two remains an exception to the general rule - but he has time. Some early momentum, on the back of the stabilising effect of Thompson, and we could have a tilt at the play-offs.