OLDHAM Athletic and Colchester United have been like chalk and cheese this season.

Last weekend’s 3-1 win at Brentford was the fourth occasion this season that the Latics have come from behind in a match to take something from the game.

In contrast, Colchester have thrown away a massive 12 points from winning positions so far, drawing games on six occasions when they have held the lead.

“We got off to a terrible start at Brentford, but the lads again showed character to come back,” said Dickov, the former Manchester City and Scotland striker who was appointed Oldham’s player-manager this summer.

“Every time we have gone behind this season we have managed to come back and pick up something which tells me something about the character in the dressing room.”

Colchester boss John Ward has been at pains not to push the panic button as his side’s amount of draws have piled up, claiming it should just be a case of ‘keep doing what we are doing’ following some excellent football from the Essex side.

And after the U’s club-record 10-game unbeaten start to the season was brought to an abrupt end with a 3-0 defeat to Huddersfield last weekend, Ward issued his players with the motivational mantra of ‘let’s decide how determined we are after this disappointment’.

Meanwhile, Dickov – 22 years Ward’s junior – has also been using slogans in an attempt to get the best out his players.

The 37-year-old – who has played himself for just four minutes so far this season – revealed: “I am not one for displaying posters but I did put one up last week saying ‘the harder you work, the luckier you get’.

“We have a lot of character in the team and the lads keep saying the spirit in the changing room is the best they have ever known.”

– Full article in today’s EADT.