Reaction

jack ross at easter road

I don’t have any qualms over the result, I thought our players gave a good account of themselves individually and as a team. If we’d taken one of our opportunities early in the second half, it would have gotten us back to within a goal and the game could have been different, but there is a lot to be pleased about.

I was pleased that the team kept the task in hand, coming here prior to the game we knew how difficult it would be, I think despite the fact Hibernian made a number of changes, they have a really strong squad with players desperately trying to impress and play themselves into a cup final place, so I was delighted with the approach of my players and the way they kept going and created decent opportunities at times, that they maybe have not done here on previous visits when they didn’t create any chances at all, so there was a lot of positives for us to take going into some really big games for the club on the horizon against teams which are nearest us in the league table.

The two chances early in the second half could have changed the complexion of the game, at half-time I told my players to go out and try to win the second half, if you do that you give yourself the chance of taking something from the game, at that time early in the second half had we scored then it would have gave them a test, regarding the rest of the game, but we didn’t take these opportunities and after that it was about making sure we kept a decent reflection on the scoreline, I think three nil was slightly harsh on us but the players were determined not to lose any more goals, but overall again a lot to be pleased with as I have said in the past six or seven week the application and work rate could not be faulted.

Goals have been difficult to come by and like another few clubs in the Championship we have been looking for that goalscorer to bring in but as we are part-time it is difficult to compete against full-time clubs, being part-time means attracting players is more difficult. We have some really talented players in our forward areas, none of them perhaps out and out goal scorers, we certainly have players capable of creating opportunities, Michael Duffy has been outstanding and if he continues in that form, I am confident he will get the goals his play merits.