Prior to the Dagenham match, Steve Thompson set Latics' top seven goals.

Steve Thompson sets sights on top seven for Oldham Athletic

Steve Thompson wants Oldham Athletic to end their six-game sequence with a win and a place in the play-off positions.

Latics are unbeaten in the five games since Thompson took caretaker charge – a run that has elevated them from 23rd place to 11th in the National League table.

A return of 11 points from a possible 15 from those Saturday-Tuesday fixtures means they go into this afternoon’s home game against Dagenham and Redbridge (kick-off 3pm) two points outside the top seven.

But Thompson hopes it is a gap that can be bridged with a win.

“If we can get into the play-off places you look back and you think ‘we’ve had a decent run at it’,” he said.

“It will be another tough game. There are no easy games in this league.

“Dagenham have got their strengths, we know where their weaknesses are. We know what we need to do.

“We’ve got to take the first half performance (against Maidenhead) into the 90 and we should be okay.”

There was frustration at two points being dropped at home to Maidenhead in midweek, when in-form Alex Reid’s first-half opened was cancelled out in the 88th minute, given the contrasting nature of performances from the first half, which Latics dominated, to the second, when they allowed the visitors back into the game.

But Thompson says they have analysed and discussed the game and is looking for a more complete performance this weekend, taking the positives from the first half and expanding on them.

“It’s disappointing with the manner we conceded late (on Tuesday) because we were dropping off and that’s not like us,” said the interim boss, speaking to the club’s official website.

“We want to play as much as we can in their half. It was about game management and we didn’t manage the game well enough.

“I thought we were exceptional at times (in the first half), but it’s got to be like that for 90 minutes.

“If we’d have won on Tuesday I think we’d have been joint top with Altrincham for the form team. We’ve gone from 23rd to (11th) in the league and we’ve got to take all the positives from it,” he added.

“We’ve only conceded three, scored 10, we’re unbeaten, so we’ve got to take the positives from it and we’re looking forward to the next game now.”