Gaffer and new striker talk pre Bristol City clash
Earlier today Lee Johnson and new striker Jon Stead spoke before Latics game against their former club Bristol City this weekend. The manager spoke about the win against Swindon Town, the club's transfer window action and the game against The Robins on Saturday.
On Swindon Town:
"I thought we played the conditions really well on Saturday. We won the first 20 minutes against the wind which helped us get a foothold in the game, it was just as important that as a team we dug in and earned the result.
"I am always an advocate of the passing game, but sometimes you need to grind out results, and fair play to the lads for taking on board what we asked for".
On transfer window action:
"The club have done good business overall in the transfer window, bringing in the likes of David Worrall, Gary Harkins and James Wilson, letting several go and selling James Tarkowski but getting him back in on loan, I think has made us stronger.
"James Wilson is a very good footballer, his first job is to defend, but he will show that he can play too. He now has the opportunity to play games.
"Rhys Turner has had a hamstring injury and needs to get used to training every day, we won't risk him until he is fully over his injury, but we expect to blood him before the end of the season.
"The deal which took James Tarkowski to Brentford is good for both parties. My relationship with 'Tarky' has always been good and that has helped us to come to the arrangement whereby he comes back to us on loan. The two lads did so well on Saturday that I now have a difficult decision to make for weekend.
"The club turned down a good offer from a Championship club for Korey Smith on deadline day, which actually shows what a good window we had, the fact that we were able to keep our skipper shows that we are working towards a good future"
On Bristol City:
"I saw the game last night when they lost to Coventry City, in a real game of two halves. Coventry played the awful conditions really well in the first half and deservedly took a two goal lead. Bristol came back strong in the second half but couldn't get level.
"They have two of the best forwards in the division, who have scored over 30 goals between them, but they are down there in the struggle which tells its own story. We will need to get into their defence to get the points"
Centre Forward Jon Stead, who joined Latics late on transfer deadline day, spoke about his debut at Swindon, his relationship with Johnson and his hopes of playing his part in the coming games.
On his debut:
"I enjoyed being involved, I haven't played a match for some time, so it was good to get back playing. I had a chance with a header, from which the keeper made a good save and obviously had a hand in the winning goal so it was a debut to be pleased with.
"I joined the club for several reasons, mainly my relationship with the gaffer, which we built up during our time together at Bristol City. I knew what he was like as a player, his enthusiasm on the training field and on matchday, made me realise he was someone I could work for.
"I am hoping to build on my goal scoring record, I haven't played at this level for a long time and in the short spell I played on Saturday, I think there will be chances for me to score. The team play a lot of good football and they don't get the credit they deserve, which is unfair"
Watch the full interviews on Latics Player http://www.player.oldhamathletic.co.uk/home