Oldham Athletic manager Frankie Bunn believes his young side have stepped up to the plate in the absence of several key players.
Latics picked up their first point of the season away at Forest Green Rovers after a Dan Gardner penalty cancelled out a Reuben Reid opener.
However, Bunn remains defiant that his young side are more than up for the task ahead.
“The young lads have been terrific.” Bunn said.
“We're a good young team, we've got some young talented players full of potential and we have to start somewhere and we're having a go.”
Bunn’s side entertain Championship outfit Derby County tonight with the manager under no illusion how difficult the game will be.
“They're a top Championship club that perhaps should be in the Premier League with the facilities and the structure of the club and the players they have.” He commented.
“They could pick from any three teams, there's players there that we've probably forgotten about, so they could put out anyone and they're on the back of a loss so I'm sure Frank [Lampard] will want to win this one as much as we do.”
Latics will again be without several key first team players Bunn confirmed.
“It's the same 15 or 16 that were there Saturday, unfortunately of the six that are injured none have come through quick enough so hopefully they'll be back in contention for Saturday but again for a few of them they've been out a couple of weeks, so it'll take time with them as well.”
One player who returned from the treatment table was Jose Baxter, but Bunn has called for Latics fans to be patient with his recovery.
“Let's not forget Jose has played two 45-minute halves, he hasn't done a pre-season and he's on the back of not playing for two years in a competitive match”
“He will tell you himself that the intensity of the games is a massive difference between U23 games and a competitive League Two game.
“The intensity is far greater and he's a player that we have to be careful with because we don't want him breaking down.”
Latics take on Derby County tonight (7:45pm) in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Supporters are reminded that they can pay on the turnstile for no extra price increase this evening.