Being an Oldham fan is tough. Not tough like old leather or Grandma Nettle’s Sunday roast, but really tough like trying remember why, on a freezing cold Tuesday night in January, you are watching a team struggle who haven’t achieved promotion since 1991.

It has been a long time since the Latics tasted success, in fact they haven’t even finished in the top half of any division since 2009. Being a supporter of Oldham is a duty not a pleasure.

This season, however, there are a few signs that things are going in the right direction. Oldham sit 16th in League Two, five points off the play-off places and eight away from the bottom two.

It’s hardly a success story as things stand but a recent run of six straight wins away from Boundary Park have helped bring a bit of positivity to the club.

Harry Kewell is clearly a man who likes his side’s to play a certain way but it appears to be more effective on the road than it does at home, a lot more in fact.

Boundary Park has only harboured four points for the Latics this season and their only win came against high-flying Cheltenham who, ironically, have the third best away record in League Two.

Oldham’s form on the road has seen them nab 16 points from their eight matches including five wins. In all competitions they have won six in a row on their travels, but why is there such a discrepancy between the home and away form?

The truth is no one knows. Even Kewell can’t put his finger on it but it is clear this Oldham side, who have missed several key players through injury of late, are more than a match for any side in League Two on their day. They have taken three points off Cambridge, Cheltenham and Exeter this season, all of whom are riding high in the upper reaches of the division.

One reason the Latics may be finding more joy on the road is Kewell’s tactics like to use fast counter attacks as their main weapon. With players like Dylan Bahamboula and Conor McAleny able to feed off Danny Rowe’s intelligent hold up play, you can see why they have been getting success.

Even the much maligned Dylan Fage had a good game against Cambridge. He caused the U’s experenced full back Harrison Dunk quite a few problems with his pace and determination.

Obviously, the key man in this team, aside from the impressive Ian Lawlor who brilliantly saved a Paul Mullin penalty at the weekend, is Conor McAleny. The former Oxford and Fleetwood frontman is showing the kind of form that made him so popular with fans at the Kassam Stadium.

During a loan spell from Everton he netted 10 times in 18 league games before Fleetwood pipped United to his signature in the summer of 2017. It is fair to say he has struggled to find a home since then, with his time at Highbury not bearing fruit as many expected it to.

This season he’s rekindled that form, whether because of Kewell’s coaching, tactics or just having regular game time, and Oldham are reaping the benefits. He’s hit 11 goals in 16 appearances and if it wasn’t for an unfortunate hamstring injury that number may well have been greater.

The Latics also have Zak Dearnley waiting to come back after another niggling injury. The former Manchester United youth player has looked electric in his handful of appearances, scoring late winners against both Bolton and Southend while netting five in 11 matches.

Kewell’s counter-attacking style is getting the best out of his forward players and if he can get them to replicate that at Boundary Park then Oldham could have a more than decent campaign.

It remains to be seen whether this is another false dawn, an unfortunately repeatable trait for the Lancashire outfit in recent years, but it is worth keeping an eye on how the Latics get on as we head into 2021.

words James Richards, D3D4 Football