Gerrard reveals his side are ready to bounce from Saturday's disappointment.

Athletic captain Anthony Gerrard has revealed his side are ready to bounce back from the disappointment of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Gillingham when Richie Wellens’ side lock horns with local rivals Rochdale in a crucial derby clash at Spotland this evening (7:45 kick-off).

 

Saturday’s clash with the Gills saw former Oldham hit-man Tom Eaves return to the club to dispatch a stoppage time penalty and deny Latics maximum points, immediately after Wilfried Moimbe was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.

 

“We had three points in the palm of our hand and for it to be smacked away in the manner that it did was a bitter pill to swallow,” said Gerrard.

 

“It was baffling.”

 

Athletic have endured some frustrating results of late and have won just once since early March - Gerrard admitted the team’s lack of consistency is certainly frustrating.

 

The veteran defender continued: “We should have won against Walsall, I thought they held on for their lives in the second half.

 

“I thought we had the game wrapped up against Gillingham but a moment of madness has cost us a man and the three points.”

 

This evening’s game provides Athletic with the opportunity to earn three vital points in the club’s bid for League One survival along with the chance to earn the bragging rights over their fiercest rivals - Gerrard however reiterates it is just like any other game.

 

Gerrard added: “They’re all big, I know the fans don’t want me to say that as it’s a local derby and there’s the bragging rights but every game from now until the end of the season is huge - you can’t emphasise one over the other as there’s only ever three points to play for.

 

“If we get the three points then it’ll galvanise us for the last four. We’ve got five cup finals, they’re all huge huge games.”

 

“For me it’s just another game but I know we’re taking two-and-a-half thousand fans to Spotland. It is only three points, that’s all we’re focused on at the moment to keep us in the league.

 

“It’s gonna be tight [the last five games], everybody’s going to be fighting for points for one reason or another. I think we’re in a better position than most with the upcoming fixtures. We’re playing the teams in and around us so you know we’re not playing the big teams, but I think every game is more or less a six pointer.”

 

The 32-year-old has spent a considerable period of time on the sidelines this season but told the Chronicle that he is raring to go ahead of trying to help steer the club away from the drop to the fourth tier.

 

“I feel alright yeah,” said Gerrard.

 

“I’m getting back to full fitness now having trained for over a month. I trained the morning of the Walsall game and got told I was playing, I’ve played two games in four days and had 1-and-a-half training sessions so yeah it’s alright.

 

“I’m not one of these pampered footballers who says ‘I don’t play unless I’m 100 per-cent’. That magical 100 per-cent doesn’t exist - you go out and do what you can for the team and the club.”

 

Over 2,000 Latics fans are expected to descend on Willbutts Lane to cheer Oldham onto victory and Gerrard believes if the club’s fanbase can replicate the away following for home games at Boundary Park, then team will reap the long-term benefits.

 

Gerrard said; “It’s ridiculous to be honest. When we go away from home, the support is absolutely outstanding. Two-and-a-half thousand fans when we played Wigan, Blackburn, Rochdale [this evening], for any local team we take over 2,000 fans - even when we went down to Plymouth we took over 500 fans and it’s a jaunt.

 

“If we can bring that atmosphere at home from what we bring away, it will play a big part.”

 

Report by Ryan Booth