Manager John Sheridan heaped praise on his players following the 1-1 draw with league leaders Sheffield United.
Athletic went ahead just before half time as Tope Obadeyi met a Josh Law cross into the box.
However, five minutes after the break, Jay O’Shea equalised for the Blades as both sides picked up a point.
Speaking about the game, Sheridan said: “I thought it was a terrific performance from us considering who we were playing.
“They are a team who are already promoted in my eyes and they have been turning teams over so I actually thought we were the better team.
"I thought it was a good workmanlike performance. The good thing out of it was players who haven’t been figuring and playing have come in and done really well.
"They have come in and worked their socks off to help the team get something from the game. We nullified them and kept them quiet, even the top goalscorer in the league.
“I thought we were terrific so I applaud my players for the performance."
Obadeyi netted his second goal since his arrival in January, and his first in front of the home supporters and Sheridan admitted: “It was a great goal.
“It was a good little passage of football and it’s Josh Law who puts the cross in and Tope is in between the posts and it’s a simple goal.
“It was Greeny and Josh who made the opening and it’s a great goal in the end, just before half time as well.
“It’s a shame we conceded just after half time as well and I always look at why we’ve conceded.
“They are always going to have chances but I have to give my players a pat on the back because I thought it was a terrific performance and it could be a valuable point towards the end of the season.”
Defender Brian Wilson was forced off at half time and Sheridan gave an update on his situation.
“He has a sore achillies,” he said. “He has had it on and off so we’ll just have to assess him and see how he is leading up to next week’s game.”
Watch the full interview on Latics PlayerHD.