BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Tranmere manager Micky Mellon during a pre-season friendly between Tranmere Rovers and Rangers at Prenton Park, on July 10, 2021, in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Hallam Hope stars for Oldham Athletic in win at Rochdale
Hallam Hope is on a mission to help fire Oldham Athletic back to the Football League, after marking his first start of the season with a goal and assist to secure derby bragging rights against Rochdale.
Latics leapfrogged their rivals in the National League table after seeing out a tense game in which Hope scored a stunning third and made the decisive fourth for James Norwood.
The win stretched Oldham’s unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions, and got new manager Micky Mellon off to a winning start
And Hope was grateful for the opportunity to make his mark, thanks to new first team coach Paul Murray’s endorsement.
A week after handing match-winner Harrison McGahey his first start in 13 months at Altrincham last weekend, when he took interim charge of the team, Mellon revealed it was Murray who also put Hope’s name forward as a replacement for the injured Brennan Dickenson.
“I’ll be honest I’ll give the credit to Paul Murray for that one,” said Mellon after being asked about Hope’s inclusion in the starting XI.
“We sit down as a coaching staff and management staff and we decide on a gameplan and the players that we believe might get us a result and he said Hallam Hope.
“I’m delighted I did what I do as a manager and listened to my staff and went along with that, and he scored a terrific goal for us at a really important time.”
And Hope was happy to repay the faith that Murray, and the new manager, put in him.
“He’s a top guy Muzza. I’ve worked with him before at Carlisle and we worked well together. To have someone who is backing you like that is important,” said the forward.
“Coming back off international duty (with Barbados) I missed the first part of the week. I spoke to the gaffer on Thursday and it was positive for me.
“To come, play and score for him today and get the three points is good.”
Hope, who this time last year was recovering from an alleged attack on a club carpark that left him with serious injuries, added: “I’ve not started a game for a long time.
