JOHN Sheridan still believes Oldham Athletic can avoid relegation from the Football League.
Survival was the only mission of the club legend when he returned in January for a sixth spell in charge, and the big escape was canceled twice before he was hopeful of doing it again.
But the Latics went from their best run of the season to their worst – after trading a seven-game unbeaten run after Sheridan’s appointment to a four-game losing streak as a successor to injury and suspension takes its toll on an already small Kader.
The race has left the Latics three points from safety in their last 10 games, which will be held tomorrow night at home against Sutton United (kick-off 7.45pm).
But Sheridan remains optimistic that his beloved Oldham can fight his way to safety.
“Definitely so. Definitely,” he said.
“There are a lot of points and a lot of players.
“I do not want to go on about it, but if we had our best team out there, we would probably get better results, but we did not.
“We are missing key players at the moment, so I just have to keep going, sticking together and people who were not involved have to come in and show that they can perform.
“I’m not one who will try to make excuses why we’re beaten, they’re all professional footballers, they all want to play, so even the team I put out on Tuesday has to go out and play.”
Captain Carl Piergianni completed his two-match ban tonight but left-back Sam Hart is starting a similar suspension to collect 10 bookings.
Christopher Missilou is also missing because he joined international convoy with Congo, while Harrison McGahey is suffering from a thigh injury.
Sheridan added: “While there are injuries and suspensions, people get playing time.
“We are very short on numbers, so whoever we go out with must be ready and fight and try to get something out of the games to get us out where we are.”
Sheridan hopes to be strengthened by the return of striker Junior Luamba, if not this evening for Saturday’s visit to Mansfield, with the coach confirming that he has recovered from a hamstring injury.
“He will train (this) week,” Sheridan said.
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