Oldham Athletic manager Richie Wellens is warning his players against complacency ahead of this weekend's match against Portsmouth.
Latics are currently unbeaten in the last five matches taking 11 points from a possible 15.
Following the turn in form the manager wants his players to keep their feet on the ground: “We had games in January where the team picked itself and with that can come complacency because certain players know they will play no matter what,” said Wellens.
“Since Kundai Benyu has come in Dan Gardner has upped his game, so that little bit of pressure from Kundai has upped his game.
“When you’ve got a bigger squad the ones that are starting and have the shirt need to work to try and keep it.
“If you’ve got the shirt and play well then you keep it if you don’t and you’ve got a big squad behind you knocking on the door and you don’t perform well you run the risk of losing it.”
Last weekend’s local derby against Bury ended all square with Wellens’ side comming from two goals behind to even things up.
The Latics boss praised his teams’ character: “If you would have offered me four points from them two away games at the start I probably would have taken it, especially under the circumstances of Bury in tough conditions.
“To respond and comeback to make sure they didn’t get an advantage on us was really pleasing.”
This weekend Latics host Portsmouth and the side will be looking to take maximum points off Pompey this season after an impressive 1-2 win at Fratton Park.
“Last time it was a fantastic result at a difficult place to go. We played some really good football and if we get a similar performance it would be fantastic,” said Wellens.
“Portsmouth are a mid-table team but they’ve still got a chance of the play-offs, if we had them in 3 or 4 games time their form might have tailed off but we’re expecting a tough game against a good manager in Kenny Jackett and what for this level is a big club.”
Oldham Athletic host Portsmouth at SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday, March 17, 3pm kick off.