Going gets tougher for Pressley

Coventry boss Steven Pressley warned his players to toughen up after their slump continued with a 4-1 defeat at Oldham.

Six defeats in seven league games have sent Pressley's side into freefall, pushing them ever closer to the drop zone. They were second-best in every department against a confident Oldham team who are unbeaten in 12 matches. Pressley admitted: "When we are playing with confidence our decision-making is good, but at the moment we are tentative. "We have to do much better. We need to be stronger, show resolve and cope better with the physicality. "We aren't standing up to it at the moment, so we need to grow up and grow up quickly. "In football you've got to earn the right to play, but we aren't doing that because we aren't winning the physical battles. "Hopefully we will start to get players back soon, but certain people need to be stronger and we need to instill that into them. "I don't want to criticise too much because we have fragile players right now, but it's tough going. "It's really difficult for myself, the players and everyone, but I'm ready for the fight." Oldham manager Lee Johnson has one eye on the play-off places after an impressive run of form. Johnson said: "We aren't getting carried away, but we should keep believing we are in with a chance. "All the big clubs are up there, which makes it difficult for us because they can go out and spend big, but our squad is in good shape. "I would have preferred a 1-0 or 2-1 win because a result like this shows everyone we are in there, but it's important to remember we've still got things to improve. "At the moment, though, everyone is playing well. I decided to rest one or two players, which was maybe a bit risky, but the lads who came in were excellent and we've won the game 4-1. "It was a very good team performance, but I thought Liam Kelly and Danny Philliskirk were superb in midfield with their work-rate and quality on the ball. "It's a very good result that keeps us in touch with the play-offs. We are heading in the right direction." Jonathan Forte's brace took the ex-Southampton forward to 10 goals this season, while Danny Philliskirk and Jabo Ibehre were also on target. Philliskirk struck after nine minutes with an 18-yard drive and Forte doubled Oldham's lead just before the half-hour when he seized on a Jordan Willis mistake and slotted home. Coventry teenager James Maddison scored on his full league debut with a deflected 25-yard free-kick, but Forte's clinical run and finish made it 3-1 after 41 minutes. After Coventry's Shaun Miller hit the post, Oldham regained their dominance and rounded off victory 12 minutes from time as Ibehre headed in Genseric Kusunga's cross.