Manager John Sheridan described the effort from his players to stay in the division as ‘tremendous’.
Sheridan arrived back at SportsDirect.com Park on January 13 bottom of the Sky Bet League One table.
Since then, he masterminded nine wins which have ultimately kept Athletic in the division for another season, a similar achievement to last season.
Sheridan said: "We have stayed up and that was my aim. Full credit to all of the players because they are the ones that have done it. Now is the important thing is to try and better ourselves for next season.
"One thing about us is that we have a good dressing room. We have a camaraderie, it’s fed off and it’s been part of why we have done alright.
"The players have done tremendous, especially at home, they were playing under a lot of pressure before I came in so to come back with the results we have had, that’s kept us up.
"To celebrate just avoiding relegation is quite hard for me but what we have done in the second half of the season, there is an achievement there but we need to be better next season.
"I always felt as though we were going to be safe going into today’s game but I couldn’t say it. I was still preparing for games and wanting to win.
“I wanted to win at Bristol and the last two games are the only two games where we have stood off the pace of the game and I’ve not had to say that too many times since I’ve been back.
"First half was probably the worst we’ve played, especially at home but we picked ourselves up at half time. We livened up after the break and we managed to get something out of the game.”
Peter Clarke grabbed the equaliser yesterday and the manager heaped praise on his captain.
“I’m chuffed to bits that he scored the goal and you could tell he was chuffed as well,” Sheridan commented.
“He’s had a great season, and for someone who is that experienced to play every game this season then it’s a tremendous effort from him.
“He knows how to look after himself, he knows he has a manager who will listen to him.
“When he needs a rest he can have a rest and when he has to work, he does so hopefully he can carry on and do well for next season.”
The building starts for next season and the manager is already busy working on his plans.
“I am thinking about things and trying to put things into place for next season,” he said. “We will relax towards the game next week and give players who haven’t had a game.
"I’ve just got to try and make us better and compete at the other end of the division. If I can one or two right players in then we have the nucleus of doing that.”
Watch the full interview on Latics PlayerHD.