After their promotion from the National League through the play-offs last term, Oldham had a mixed start to the season on their return to the English Football League.
Mellon’s side failed to win in their opening eight games in all competitions at the start of the campaign, but have since pushed on and peaked with the end of the season in sight.
Their most recent defeat, against Swindon on 7 February, left them 16th in the table and 14 points off both the play-off and relegation places, but their impressive form since then has put them in contention of a top seven place – and with two games in hand on their nearest rivals.
“For us to be sitting here at this time, would we have taken that this time last season? We’d have probably bitten your hand off,” Mellon added.
“But we’re calm about it, we’re not going to get overly excited about it. We know that there’s work still to be done, but we’re certainly heading in the right direction.”