Oldham September 2010

Hello everyone, welcome back! After a good start to life in the Championship, we had to build on our good form in August and get some more points on the board.

The first game of the month was away at Seff Wed, they were down in 16th, so I was confident going into the game. It was the home side that took the lead, it was a brilliant goal, the defence could do nothing about it. We drew level not long after, Neill Collins with a thumping header into the top corner from Marco Verratti’s corner. We continued to press after that, but I was disappointed that we didn’t create any clear chances and the game finished level.

Next up and we were at home, the visitors to Boundary Park were Coventry. The match started with us on top, but we missed a few good chances and it took until the stroke of half time for a goal to come, Tomas Pekhart tapped in Verratti’s cross to put us ahead. We came out with confidence after the break and it was 2-0 when Febian Brandy’s  pass found Pekhart, and he smashed it past the keeper for his second goal. Pekhart then had the chance to complete his hat trick, but missed his spot kick, probably because he has a penalty taking attribute of only 7. We still looked comfortable, but I was worried when Coventry pulled one back, but in the end it meant nothing, and we held on for the win.

The next match was just four days later, we were travelling to Bristol City. Neill Collins scored again from a corner to put us ahead in the 18th minute, and for the rest of the first half we were on top. However, after the break, we looked sluggish and we let Bristol City back in the game in the 54th minute, it was 1-1. I was disappointed with that as we had made more chances but didn’t take them, but near the end, Pawel Abbott, on as a sub, turned and smashed the ball into the top corner, to steal a win for us.

After that game we were back at home for the visit of Scunthorpe, a side we lost 1-3 to in a pre season friendly. We have a stronger team now, and as soon as Febian Brandy put us ahead in the 2nd minute we dominated, Scunthorpe had now answer to our early siege on their goal. It was 2-0 when Julian Gray smashed a shot past the goalkeeper from a tight angle and he doubled his tally with a placed shot, and after that we took our foot of the pedal, we cruised through for the victory.

Next up we had a difficult trip to Crystal Palace, they have some good, tricky players. The match started very badly for us, we conceded a penalty and were 1-0 down within 3 minutes. We hit back when Febian Brandy ran onto Verratti’s pass and slotted in to make it level. We went behind again straight after half time, Darren Ambrose finished a nice move. We weren’t playing badly, and we got a deserved equaliser when Brandy grabbed his second of the game, he beat a defender and passed it into the back of the net. That’s how the match finished, a draw was probably the right result in an even game.

We had one more game to play in September, we were back at home for the visit of struggling Watford. They had no confidence and it showed, we went ahead through Brandy and it was 2-0 when Chris Taylor placed one in at the back post. Neill Collins got another goal from a corner, he headed in at the back post. The game was rounded off when Brandy got his second goal, he ran through from Verratti’s pass and scored. It was yet another assist from the 17 year old Italian, he now has 12 assists from just 11 games!

That concludes an excellent month, one which saw me win the manager of the month award, and has also seen us climb to the top of the table! I am delighted with our start, especially as I thought we would be scrapping it out near the foot of the table this season. We have a five point gap, we could even win the title this year if we keep it up! I’m not so sure about that, but I am confident that we can get at least a play off spot, we will surely be in contention for automatic promotion.

Next month will see us play just four games, the first two are against Leeds and Southampton, who came up with us last season.

That’s how it was folks, I am delighted with our start, we have to keep it up now as we head into the winter. Thanks for reading.