Oldham Athletic manager Micky Mellon on Bradford City defeat

Oldham Athletic manager Micky Mellon on Bradford City defeat

Oldham Athletic boss Micky Mellon has called for greater attacking sharpness from his side after they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Bradford City in their only home pre-season friendly ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

In front of a decent crowd at Boundary Park, the Latics failed to break down a well-organised Bradford side and were ultimately undone by a second-half goal that separated the two League Two outfits. While Mellon was pleased with aspects of the performance, he admitted the need to be more ruthless in front of goal is now becoming a concern.

“We have to be more clinical, it’s as simple as that,” Mellon said post-match. “We got into some good areas, but the final ball or the finish just wasn’t there today. That’s something we’ll continue to work on, because you don’t win football matches without putting the ball in the back of the net.”

The defeat marked the third time in four pre-season games that Oldham have failed to score. While a 2-1 victory behind closed doors over Blackburn Rovers’ Under-21s in midweek provided a brief glimpse of attacking intent, goalless draws in their Scottish tour against East Kilbride and Stirling Albion highlighted the same issues that re-emerged on Saturday.

“It’s about finding that balance,” Mellon continued. “We’re seeing signs that the lads are understanding the shape and how we want to play, but now we’ve got to add a bit of quality and bravery in the final third. We need to be making goalkeepers work, putting defenders under pressure, and taking our chances when they come.”

Despite the defeat, Mellon took some positives from the fixture. New signings continued to be bedded in, while the defence largely looked solid, restricting Bradford to few clear-cut opportunities across the 90 minutes. However, Mellon was also quick to stress that results—even in friendlies—can shape the mentality going into a new season.

“We never want to lose, regardless of whether it’s pre-season or not,” he said. “We’re building a winning culture here, and that means being disappointed when you come off after a loss. The message to the players is that standards have to be high—on and off the pitch.”

Oldham are entering their second season under Mellon’s stewardship, and the Scot is well aware of the expectations from a fanbase desperate to see the club challenge for promotion. He insists that the squad is still a work in progress and hinted that further additions could be on the cards before the season opener.

“There’s still time in the window and we’re looking,” he revealed. “We know where we need to improve and we’re working hard to bring in the right kind of players—lads who can make a difference in the final third and fit into what we’re trying to build.”

With one more friendly to go before the National League campaign gets underway, Mellon will be hoping to see a more potent display from his side as they look to head into the new season with momentum—and goals—on their side.

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