Micky Mellon said he shared in Oldham Athletic fans' anger and frustration after Latics failed to seize their play-off chance and played out an uninspiring goalless draw at already relegated Oxford City.

A week after failing to close the gap on the top seven, with results largely going in their favour, there was a regrettable repeat against part-time opponents.

Oldham came to life for a spell in the second half but James Norwood was denied by a post, Dan Gardner was denied by an excellent save and Hallam Hope had a late effort ruled out for handball. But other than that chances were at a premium for the lacklustre Latics, who have now nine games without a win, with just one win in their last 12 matches.

"I'm deflated," said Mellon.

"I'm as responsible because I'm the manager at the end of the day, so that's part of my responsibility. And I feel the frustration and I feel the anger, and I'm frustrated and angry myself as well.

"At half-time I told them 'You're in, it's there, take it, it's yours'. We struggled to handle it a bit and we couldn't find that necessary quality that the good player finds in these moments.

"You hear the shouts from the crowd but I think some people forget that I know what a good player and a good team looks like, and I know what's necessary at this time of year. I've done it enough times to see that. I've done it more than a lot of people so I know what it takes and I know what's missing and I'm as frustrated as everyone else.

"I've got to try my best to get the most out of the players that I possibly can. But we have to look at that, not just today. We, myself included, have to look at that and say 'It has to be better' and that's probably the top and tail of it.

"It was a sort of toothless performance that when the moment came we couldn't show what was necessary to get the result.

"The good player goes out and delivers today. The good player goes out and performs and does the things that are necessary to get results on days like today, so we are lacking in quality and character in those vital moments that are necessary in order to be a good team at Oldham. It's as simple as that. If that's going to come, I don't know.

"If there's potential and they're going to get better at it, it certainly isn't there at the minute.

"I'm just so angry and so frustrated because I want better. I came here for better. I came here for more and it's disappointing and I'm angry and frustrated. I take my share of responsibility for it, without a doubt, but it has been one of the toughest jobs that I've ever been involved in, and there are tough times to come."

Remarkably, given the miserable run they are on with just 10 points from a possible 36, Latics are STILL not entirely out of the play-off race with two games to go.

"They've just got to keep going," added Mellon.

"But today's just a deflater because we just deserve more. To come away down here and the way we're looked after we need to do better. We need to do more."