LONDON, CMC – Oldham Barbados international Hallam Hope has praised manager Micky Mellon for keeping faith with him after scoring his first goal last weekend following a two-month injury layoff.
The 30-year-old Hope opened the scoring at Boundary Park in the sixth minute with a rasping drive from within the box, but Sam Mather’s equalizer in the 27th minute canceled the strike.
For Hope, the goal was his fourth of the campaign and first since returning to action in March, following his last in the league in November.
“I’m happy to score in any derby. I scored in the away fixture, and that was a great feeling, and [scoring against is] obviously a great feeling. It’s just to try and get that win, but I’m glad to score,” said Hope, who joined the North England club on a free transfer three years ago.
“These derby games mean a lot to the fans, and it’s disappointing we didn’t win them, but it was great for me to score for the fans.”
He added: “I had a calf injury. I picked it up in training, so I missed six or seven weeks, which was a massive disappointment.
“But I’m glad the manager has given me a chance [and] put me back in the team, and I’m hoping to keep my place, keep scoring goals, and just see what happens.”
The result halted Oldham’s run of back-to-back defeats. Their form has tailed off significantly, with just one win in their last ten outings.
They lie ninth on 61 points, five points off the playoff spots, and Hope said the team needed to remain positive for the remaining games.
“I think it’s something like the last ten games, the results haven’t gone our way,” he said.
“We’re disappointed, but it’s still not over. From now on, we’ve got to stay positive and win every game we play.
“We’re disappointed not to get the win [on Saturday] – I think we probably deserved it. But we’ll keep going, try to get a win on Wednesday, and keep pushing.
“We kept them in their half for most of the game – first and second half – [but] we just couldn’t find that opening for the second goal. We kept going and trying, but it didn’t work out.”
Hope has found himself displaced, especially since the arrival last summer of James Norwood, who has already scored 18 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.
However, Hope said he was happy to continue playing in any advanced role once it brought the team success.
“I came here as a striker, but anywhere attacking, I don’t mind playing, as long as it can help the team bring good performances, energy, and try and get some goals and assists,” he stressed.
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