The striker rescued a point deep into stoppage time at The Hive and immediately ran to celebrate with Mellon, revealing afterwards that the goal was the fulfilment of a promise made before kick-off.

With fan pressure mounting on the Latics boss amid a disappointing start to the campaign, Fondop delivered message of support from inside the dressing room.

"Before the game I told the gaffer that we were going to do it for him," said the frontman.

"We know the situation and the results not going in our favour and all of us being under pressure but before the game I told the gaffer 'we're going to do it for you'.

"I have to mention Kane Drummond, he came to me and said 'let's do it for the gaffer, we've done it before, we did it last season'.

"So when I scored that's when I went to hug him because I told him we were going to do it for him.”

While there are concerns among supporters about dressing room unrest and Latics’ league position - sitting 20th with 12 points from 12 games and only out of the bottom two on goal difference, Fondop added: “The manager knows that we're fighting for him.

"But we're backing the manager, we are fighting for him. We want results for him, for us, for the club.

"We want to get the club out of the position we're in and hopefully get up the table.

"Fingers crossed this is a springboard."

The goal came after another afternoon of frustration for Fondop, who has endured criticism over missed chances in recent weeks and passed up several opportunities against Barnet before finally finding the breakthrough.

Yet the striker said his confidence never wavered.

"I was very happy, but that's the thing about me in life, sometimes you try things and they don't work, but you've got two options - either you give up or you keep going and if anything those chances gave me the confidence to keep going,” he said.

"I know I missed a couple. You could argue it was a good save from the keeper but I never give up until the end. I believed that there was going to be something.

"I could have scored maybe three today.

"But it's one of those days where you just have to keep going until you get it and I'm really happy I managed to get it at the end."

Fondop also credited Mellon for continuing to put his faith in him despite his recent struggles in front of goal.

"That's something I've missed or wanted throughout my career and I'm happy that the gaffer here has kept that belief," he said.

"I could have been subbed in the 60th, 70th minute and it wouldn't have happened. Sometimes you need that belief.

"But more importantly you need to believe in yourself and that's how I am. No matter what people say or what's been said or done I always believe I'm going to make something; I'm going to score a goal even if I miss two, three chances.

"I'm one of those that until the final whistle is blown I keep going."

Fondop admitted there is pressure at Boundary Park because of the size of the club, but believes the players and management remain united as they attempt to climb the table.

"I think the pressure comes from playing for a team like Oldham, a team that should not be where we're sitting in the table," he said.

"Everyone knows Oldham is a big club, so that's pressure.

"I'm happy that I scored but more importantly I'm happy for the team and for the manager."