Oldham Athletic were unlucky not to get something from a game in which they had to play with nine men for an hour.

Referee David Rock has a reputation for red cards against Oldham, having sent off Ryan Woods for two yellows at Harrogate last season, while the red card he gave Mike Fondop in the last away game of last season, at Newport County, was rescinded.

There might be more appeals after both Kai Payne and Kane Drummond were harshly dismissed against Crawley, at Boundary Park, with the visitors going on to secure only their second win of the season.

But, result aside, Mellon said there were positives he would take from a performance that earned Latics a standing ovation from their supporters at the end, in recognition of their battle amid adversity.

And Mellon felt there was a show of unity throughout the club.

"I'm really proud of my players, really proud of the football club, the supporters for an unbelievable response under unbelievably trying circumstances and we will look at the positives that come out of it," said the Oldham boss.

"We remained a threat the whole game and we'll be disappointed that a few things don't fall for us there.

"But only pride, and I mean that, I'm not going to play the victim in how everybody with an Oldham connection - fans, players, staff - responded to a very trying afternoon with real guts and a lot of real good character from everybody concerned, and we will take that forward with us."