Latics diary: The cursing of dreams

A few weeks ago on these pages, after Latics had lost three games in a row, conceding three goals in each game, I wrote them off for the season. Consolidation achieved, but with an unfulfilled objective to entertain and compete. Latics have won four games and drawn two, including last week’s stand-off against leaders Bromley at Hayes Lane, and the season is back in the balance. Tranmere Rovers were there to be hammered at Prenton Park, and Latics obliged. Tequila!

Latics are seven points and three goals behind Grimsby Town in the final play-off place in the table with 14 games to play, and they have a game in hand on the fishfingers. If they achieve more than 0.5 points per game more than Grimsby, it’s on right? Not quite. Another barrier is that Latics are in 13th place, meaning there are six clubs in total to dislodge.

Barriers shmarriers. Latics are still to play four of those sides, starting with Grimsby on Saturday at Boundary Park, Chesterfield away on Tuesday week, Crewe Alexandra away on Saturday 28 March, and Colchester United away on Good Friday. The numbers challenge looks surmountable, and no one knows how Latics and the other sides will respond to end-of-season pressure. Will they become nervous as they approach the prize, or will they step forward boldly and take it?

Mellon had another problem to surmount after the 3-0 tonking his side took off of Swindon Town: motivation. Latics were safe but not expected to challenge at the upper reaches of the table. He’s out of contract in the summer. Could he get them to play for him at maximum intensity? Could he make players enjoying themselves at the all-you-can-eat consolidation buffet hungry again?

This is one of Mellon’s finest periods as Latics manager. The ingredients were there for stagnation and drift, and Mellon has turned his players into a competitive, capable machine – a group of young men who won’t let their standards and effort drop when everything externally says they’re entitled to do just that. The second half of Mellon’s previous two seasons in charge have been nothing short of absolute rubbish. Mellon is already a managerial football genius, and he’s adding to his credentials this season. Never mind the progress of the players. What about the progress of Micky Mellon?

Last Saturday, as Latics worked their way to another victory, did Mellon give himself a moment to think about another play-off campaign? Probably not, but the 2,000 travelling fans and about 18,000 others certainly did.

I’m sticking to my guns though, if only because I believe deeply in the power of reverse mockers: Latics’ season is over bar the shouting. Tequila!