Competition: Championship

Alloa Athletic v Partick Thistle

The most important statistic on Saturday was Alloa Athletic claiming their first three points of the season, it was great to get the first three league points and silence the doubters after Brechin City had went through last season without a win and punters because we are part-time putting us in the same category. To get this “Monkey off the players back was huge”.

The Wasps were searching for their first win in the league which was over due, Partick Thistle and their fans had looked for a bounce after new manager Gary Caldwell took charge on the Monday prior to the game.

Although Partick Thistle had a lot of possession, especially in the second half they didn’t trouble the Alloa defence with keeper Neil Parry having a shut out which made sure the points stayed at Alloa.

Partick Thistle certainly could claim to have a lot of possession especially in the second half but we limited them on this ocassion but they are a top class side who surely will regain their position higher up in the league.

The result on the day is reward for the Alloa players commitment, it’s good to get that win and the Monkey off our backs. However there was a sense of entitlement in the victory and we are good enough to have secured the three points after being written off as a part-time club.

jim goodwin after first 3 points gained of the season

Absolutely delighted with the result because it has been well documented that we were still without a league win so far this season, really pleased for the players to get that monkey off our back because they have been working ever so hard, of the nine games we have had four draws and of those four draws we could have easily won a couple of them so we could have had already another two or three points on the board which I don’t think anybody would argue about. Today was a real team effort, the players showed great resilience, dug in at spells, we said on Thursday night at training we expected Partick Thistle to have good possession because they are a good side, they have a lot of players with Premier League experience never mind Championship experience. I think they are in a false position if I’m being honest, they are better than their league position would suggest and they dominated the majority of possession in the second half but with that being said my goalkeeper Neil Parry did not have too many saves to make. The shape of the team, the organisation, communication on the park and denying Partick Thistle any room getting in behind us and putting bodies on the line and protecting our goal was a great credit not only our back four and goalkeeper but our whole team put in a real shift.

The players have been in good form in recent weeks, we went to Dunfermline last weekend and scored two goals albeit we conceded a sloppy goal, at Dumfries against Queen of the South the previous week we scored three goals but unfortunately conceded three goals in the same game. We spoke about the importance of getting back to being hard to beat, clean sheets are vital to that at any level and use that as a platform to kick on from, you will always get an opportunity and I said that to the players if we could keep a clean sheet we would win the game because regardless of who you are playing you will always get chances. Dario Zanatta did great with the goal, pulling the ball out of the sky and a really good finish a half turn and low shot, it would have been nice for him to get the second one but for a fantastic save from Cammy Bell and that certainly would have made the last five or six minutes of the match more bearable and enjoyable than they were.

I watched three or four of their games in midweek and I know they are a good team maybe lacking in a bit of confidence when you are not getting results, we know only too well when you are down you never get the breaks but they have already won three games so far this season, I think Gary Caldwell is a good appointment, I know Gary from some of the Coaching License courses we have been on together, he is a positive young manager with a really good squad and I believe they will kick on and move up the table in the coming weeks and months. They dominated the game and I’m more pleased on how we defended rather than how well we played on the ball, we know we can be better than that in possession; it was more the resilience we showed and our willingness not to get beat.

Sam Roscoe was named “Man of the Match” today but along with Andy Graham, Liam Dick and Scott Taggart I thought my back four were outstanding, Sam is a young boy we have got on loan from Aberdeen, he has not had a lot of first team experience but he has learned a lot in the last few weeks, as with any young player they can make mistakes and it is up to me as the manager to identify these mistakes and go over anything playing back instances on a laptop and he has been quite receptive to taking things in which is good and he is learning every week and getting better each week, a left sided centre half at six foot three are hard to come by so if he carries on progressing the way he has he will have a very good career in front of him.

Delighted for Jon Robertson making his 100th first team start for the club today, he loves it here along with a number of the other players we now have about six others who have made over 100 starts for the club which speaks volumes of the club and how well the club is run, the players enjoy coming here, delighted for Jon he has been in and out throughout the season he has played in the last few games and deserves his place in the team at the moment.
1 - 0
Full Time

Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

Jim Goodwin’s team once again proved they will be no pushovers to any side in the SPFL Championship this season aand can feel rightly disappointed that they did not take all three points on Saturday at Palmerston Park against QOS.

The Alloa players show their support of “Show Racism the Red Card” at Palmerston Park on Saturday. Manager Jim Goodwin had impressed on his players that they needed to get off to a good start at Dumfries and they responded with a whirlwind opening, going 3-0 ahead inside the first 25 minutes.

At this stage in the game it looked more likely Alloa would go 4-0 ahead before Queen of the South and that man, Stephen Dobbie clawed themselves back into the game, he had three chances and scored three goals, now 24 goals this season and his 4th hat-trick.

The two goals in seven minutes clawed Queen’s back into the game but Alloa still were a threat, Alloa played well and it was the home fans who were the quietest. With twenty minutes to go Queen’s drew level through “that man” Stephen Dobbie.

The reaction of the home fans said it all, they were more than greatful to snatch a point and credit to both teams they still searched for a winner with “The Wasps” still looking to win the game. Alan Trouten was fouled on the edge of the box but referee David Munro ignored the incident when home hearts must of been in their hearts. Then in the closing minute Dario Zanatta was foluled by Callum Semple and Iain Flannigan’s free kick was superbly pushed onto the post by home keeper Alan Martin to deny “The Wasps” their first three league points of the season.

jim goodwin at palmerston

We couldn’t have started the game any better, we came right out of the traps and were getting in behind them, we were causing them problems in the wide areas and were putting some great balls into the box and it was great to get ourselves in front for a change because we have had to chase games up till now in every league game we have found ourselves going behind. So it was the first time in the league this season we have found ourselves going in front, to be a goal up was great, then to go three up was quite incredible, and I was looking forward to the half-time team talk.

Stephen Dobbie is absolutely incredible, what he is capable of and whatever he is getting paid here it is not enough, no disrespect to the rest of the players, I thought Dykes done well but Dobbie single handed dragged them back into the game – his first goal is a great goal, one which is very hard to defend against, you hold your hands up in cases like that, the other two for me, particularly the second one which was disappointing defensively from our point of view.

At half-time we spoke about going out and trying to win the second half at worse we draw the second half and we win the game but Dobbie’s third goal came out of nothing, a half chance, one that I was not too concerned when he hit it twenty yards out but Neil Parry was unsighted, there were three or four bodies in front of him and he couldn’t react quick enough to keep it out. So really disappointed, it feels like a defeat

Our season so far this season is that we have had too many games where we should have got more out of the games, particularly on the road we have been very good away from home, that’s our third draw on the road and one draw at home – we have been excellent away from home and you would see in the opening half hour today what the boys are capable of but we need to cut out the sloppy goals. We still had chances ourselves and kept going; I have to give the players credit for that, once they had got the third goal to equalise it would be very easy for to get really nervy and panic and then lose the game. Iain Flannigan hits the post from a free kick it was a great save in fairness, I would like to see the Alan Trouten one again, Gary Naysmith said to me after the game he thought it was a penalty, I did at the time but I understand it was a difficult one for the referee but I think if it was anywhere else on the park it was a foul and free kick, it was a big decision at a big moment in the game and it would have been nice for it to go our way.
3 - 3
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Falkirk

“The Wasps” missed a great chance to go six points clear of local derby opponents Falkirk at the Indodrill Stadium on Saturday. Although neither team had secured a victory in the league this season Alloa Athletic went into the game with confidence of collecting the three points after being on top in games but not doing enough in front of goal the secure their first three points.

Once again “The Wasps ” had the bulk of possession in the match but lacked killer instinct in front of goals. This was a massive game for both clubs when a victory, however ugly would be a marker for the victor. Kevin Cawley was causing the visiting defence most problems and had an early call for “Hand Ball” as his cross into the box appeared to be knocked away with a hand.

Falkirk took the lead after 26 minutes in their first attack, Zak Rudden on loan from Rangers heading home and before half-time they might have extended their lead due to a defensive mix up.

With Alloa pushing for the equaliser Falkirk extended their lead in the most fortuitous circumstances, a long ball out of defefence was bundled home by Zak Rudden with the Alloa defence claiming “Hand Ball”.

“The Wasps” had lost two bad goals in a game Falkirk looked very fragile and were relieved the collect full points. It was a ugly win but Alloa need to score when on top, while they had most of the pressure they didn’t trouble visiting goalkeeper Leo Fasan enough.

While “The Wasps” applied pressure on “The Bairns” they never looked like scoring, Adam Brown going closest to pulling a goal back, the Falkirk defence thwarted every attack, they were relieved to collect the points their first victory of the season, while Alloa kb=now they need to improve in front of goals. It may have been an ugly win for Falkirk but a game in which three points were so important, regardless of the display.

jim goodwin after defeat to bottom side falkirk

A very frustrating day, I thought we started well; we were dominating possession of the ball and then Falkirk score with their first attack, we didn’t defend the cross well enough and the young boy Zak Rudden loses his marker and a decent header, but it was too cheap from our point of view.

The second goal was a shambles to be fair, a calamity of errors which was disappointing again , that’s the frustrating point about it, if teams cut you open and score really good goals you hold your hands up but at the moment we are gifting goals. The boy apparently put the second goal in with his hand, its big decisions like that you hope the referee get right but there was no chance of him seeing that today.

I am very disappointed it is another defeat at home a place we had hoped to be a fortress but that has not been the case so far this season. It was a massive game to be fair if we had won the game we could have had a six point cushion between ourselves and Falkirk, even if we had picked up a point it would have kept them three points below us. Losing the game is disappointing but more so the manner in which we lost, I’m coming in here every week and now sounding like a broken record – if it was the case we were parking the bus with ten men behind the ball and hanging on in games then I could accept but at the moment I just feel we are more than matching teams, in possession wise we are fine, we lack a bit of a cutting edge at the top end of the pitch which is frustrating but it would be just nice to see us getting the first goal and see how teams react, at the moment we are chasing games and it is difficult, we must dust ourselves down and get ready for another difficult game next week at Dumfries against Queen of the South.

The first goal is massive in any game, we had about 60% of the possession and the whole of the second half we were camped in their half, they scored with one long ball over the top, Neilly shouldn’t have come to where he comes to and we ended going behind 2-0, I don’t know what the answer is just now, we are working really hard in training – we are in control in games but we are just not clinical in front of goals and not working their goalkeepers enough.
0 - 2
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Ayr United

Looking back on yesterday’s home defeat to Ayr United, it would be fair to say “The Wasps” were not at their best after going five games unbeaten, the one thing which needs to be improved on in this division is converting chances in front of goal and yesterday Ayr United striker Lawrence Shankland proved to be the difference between the two sides.

There was not much between the sides in the early stages of the match, with the first goal proving to be so crucial in the games this season. Therefore it was no surprise that it was that man, Lawrence Shankland who opened the scoring after 23 minutes with his 14th goal of the season. Dario Zanatta came close to equalising prior to half -time but his effort was blocked at the near post by visiting keeper Ross Doohan.

“The Wasps” made a change at half-time with Connor Shields replacing Alan Trouten in an effort to push forward and get behind the Ayr United defence.
Indeed, Jim Goodwin’s men started the second half on top but cound down get that important equalising goal, Connor Shields watching a net bound shot turned round the post.

Ayr United always looked a threat and the killer second goal arrived after 65 minutes and it was that man Lawrence Shankland again with goal number 15 for the season. “The Wasps” have started their championship league campaign in good form, albeit needing to score more goals, on the day Ayr United desreved their victory but no we have the chance to bounce back in a eagerly awaited local derby against Falkirk next Saturday.

jim goodwin after home defeat to ayr

I didn’t think there was a great deal in the game in the first half, both teams playing end to end, both teams had half chances nothing great and then Lawrence Shankland does want he does and pops up with a goal, it was a decent ball into the box we could have defended better, there is no point marking space in situations like that, you need to mark the man who undoubtedly was the one likely to score a goal. He was the difference today, there was no doubt about it, he is to Ayr United what Stephen Dobbie is to Queen of the South, two players who shouldn’t really be playing at this level, if I’m being honest I think they are in a bit of a comfort zone by playing at this level, they are Premier League strikers, they certainly should be playing in the Premier League as far as I am concerned and you can see that in the fact they can score two or three goals each week, that was the difference, he turned half chances into goals and that’s what separated the teams today.

It is concerning we are not scoring enough goals, up until today we were unbeaten in five games, defending really well and again today barring the last fifteen minutes of the game I thought we defended really well, that said in the last fifteen minutes we were two goals down and trying to have a go at them to see if we could get some way back into the game. We have got really good players in the forward areas of the pitch, some exciting young talent and for whatever reason at the moment we have just not been taking these opportunities when they come along, we just need to be a bit more clinical. Connor Shields did well, Liam Burt came on and made a wee difference as well, Alan Trouten is a terrific player and we brought him to the club to be that playmaker but I felt today the way the game was going, particularly in the first half, Ayr United were dropping deep with two banks of four, denying Alan any space, that’s why we made that change at half-time and I know Trout’s will be disappointed but we made it for the right reasons and I asked Connor to go and try and stretch the game and get in behind and we still didn’t do it enough if I’m honest in the second half.

All that said, take nothing away from Ayr United they are a very good team, they go top of the league tonight after today’s results and I’m not being disrespectful of the rest of their players because I said the difference was Lawrence Shankland, they have good players in their team but at that top end of the pitch that’s where games are won and lost, and he was the difference today.
0 - 2
Full Time

Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic

On reflection before today’s game a point away from home might seem a good point, but not for the first time this season, it was good to hear comments ” You should have won today” and with a bit of luck in front of goal “The Wasps” could have collected their first victory in the league against “The Pars” since Season 1984/85.

Jim Goodwin made five changes in the side that knocked Dundee united out of the Irn-Bru Cup last Saturday, such is the depth of pool now in “The Wasps” squad. From the outset the visitors looked to go the offsensive at every opportunity not giving their hosts time to settle into the game.

Both Jake Hastie and Dario Zanatta were proving a handful for the Dunfermline defence with their strong direct running and pace. However, neil Parry who was making his 100th first team appearance for “The Wasps” had to look lively prior to half-time to keep out Myles Hippolyte, rushing from his line to save with his feet, which was the home sides best effort in the first half.

Alloa build on confidence in the second half and had the better of the chances, Dario Zanatta was put in on goals but was denied by a last ditch saving tackle from James Craigen.

Alan Trouten then had effort blocked by centre back Mark Durnan and minutes later Andy Graham’s header gave Alan Trouten any chance which was blocked by Dunfermline keeper Lee robinson’s chest. Liam Burt who replaced trouten on the hour mark had an effort blocked heading for goal.

Dunfermline manager, Allan Johnston made a double substitution to try and turn the game and gain the three points but Alloa ended the game strongly with Jake Hastie always looking dangerous on the break. Alloa substitute Greig Spence tried a late overhead effort but in the end both teams had to settle for a share of the points.

jim goodwin at east end park

I think a point on the road in this league is always a good point but probably over the whole piece, I’m not saying we were well on top, but I think we had the best chances to win it.

We had a great chance in the first half when the ball got fizzed across and big Andy Graham was not far away from putting the ball into an empty net and in the second half we created one or two other opportunities but that has been our downfall of late certainly in our opening five games we are not scoring enough goals, on the flip side of that defensively I thought we were outstanding as a team, when you keep a clean sheet the goalkeeper and the back four get great credit, what people don’t see is the effort and the commitment of the boys up front, they really do defend at the top end of the pitch unbelievably and that’s why we make the changes as we do around the hour mark just the try and freshen things up, we ask them to go and press teams high up the park and it takes a lot of energy out of them, overall a fantastic team effort from the starting eleven and the three boys who went on.

It is frustrating that we didn’t take any of our chances because we work on this in training and I know the quality we have at that end of the pitch but it’s not something I am going to make a big deal about, I think we do have players at the top end of the pitch who are good enough to score goals at any level, but I just think for whatever reason at the moment maybe it’s not falling kindly enough to us around the box, I’m not pointing the finger at anybody in particular it’s not as if we have had any clear cut chances. Dario had a good one when he was through on goal, granted it was a fantastic tackle from Lee Ashcroft but we just need to do things a little quicker, you don’t get time, four or five seconds for the perfect opportunity, we need to do things a little bit quicker but that said it is still a fantastic point against a good team, Dunfermline Athletic have some really good players in attacking options who can hurt you. I thought my two centre halves, full backs and “Neilly” had to pull a good save in the first half, so over the piece a draw is probably fair, if I’m being honest but I do have a feeling we could have won today.

Our fitness is unbelievable, we only work for four hours a week on the training ground, it’s frightening we train two hours on Tuesday and Thursday and then it’s up to the boys, we give them a programme for during the week to do things Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they have to take that on board that’s their responsibility. We are playing against full-time teams and we are not getting run off the park, we are certainly not just hanging on for the last fifteen minutes – we are still trying to win the game. We spoke about it in the summer and I think we have shown that with the players we have brought to the club, I’m not willing to sit 5-4-1 and park the bus and try and soak up pressure, we have shown that in the opening five league games, we will take teams on and go toe to toe with them. That’s three games unbeaten now in this league and five games unbeaten including Irn-Bru Cup ties which is good for a part-time team in this league.

Today Neil Parry made his 100th appearance for the club and for me he is one the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League, his distribution is excellent but more than anything he is a fantastic presence and he gives the boys at the back great confidence, he comes for crosses all the time, he is brave enough to do that, you see in the first half he didn’t have a great deal to do and the one chance that Dunfermline had he was quick off his line and it was a great save from Myles Hippolyte to keep us in the game. He is invaluable to the club, I must say we have got the core of a squad which has been here for a long time and I think if you look down the list of appearances – Andy Graham, Iain Flannigan, Scott Taggart, Kevin Cawley, Stevie Hetherington and Greig Spence coming back to the club, half a dozen players who are really committed to Alloa Athletic FC, they love the club, they love playing for the club, and it’s great now that “Neilly” has got to that milestone.
0 - 0
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Dundee United

Jim Goodwin and his Alloa Athletic players know that league points will be hard to collect in the cHampionship this season, but nobody could deny “The Wasps” should have collected three points against Dundee United on Saturday.

This was the first league meeting between the clubs since Season 1959/60 when Alloa won 3-2 and although many have not given the part-time club any paudits this season, they have already proved they will be a match for ant side this season.

“The Wasps” started the game well and took the game to their full time ex Premier League opponents and could have been ahead within the first 20 minutes which they were on top. This was the first time this season Alloa were able to field a full squad including having a full seven players on the bench strenghened by the signing of Sam Roscoe from Aberdeen and Connor Shields from Sunderland on loan.

Against the run of play Dundee United took the lead when Paul watson headed home for his third goal in two games. Jim Goodwin’s men did not let this trouble them and Iain Flannigan went close with free kick off the cross bar

Then with nine minutes left “The Wasps” got the goal their play deserved, Iain Flannigan firing home a peach of a free kick after Dario Zanatta had been fouled by Stuart Murdoch.

Again the Alloa Athletic players had showed great character getting back into the game but they could not find a winner as United hold on, but on chances and opportunities this was two points which would have been so welcome and deserved.

jim goodwin after draw against dundee united

My thoughts on the game are I am slightly disappointed to be honest, I think that is testament to my players, because I feel it is two points dropped. I think anybody who was at the game today would have seen we were on top and I have spoken to one or two of their staff members and they felt we should have won the game as well. It is down to the players, people talk about us being part-time and people have written us off and they expect us to finish bottom of the league but I genuinely believe we have a group of players who are good enough to compete in this league and in the games we have played up till now barring the Ross County game at the start, I think we have been in every game, we conceded a late goal against Ross County but Ross County were the better team on the day and deserved to win the game, Morton here there were nothing between us, Inverness last Saturday we get a draw again not a great deal between the teams and today I felt we were the better team, and I’m not being disrespectful to Dundee United, I think they are a good side they have some very good players but over the whole piece we were camped in their half in the second half and the opening twenty minutes, they were hanging on at the end a wee bit in the last couple of minutes but that is just natural because we all know how valuable points are in this league. We hit the crossbar, worked their keeper a number of times in the second half, my only frustration is when we get into good areas in the final third of the pitch we need to show a little bit more quality with our final ball and be more clinical in front of goal.

Nobody can question our character, last Saturday at Inverness after going down to ten men and again today going behind when we were on top, it would be easy to think it is just not going to be our day, especially today having been on top for so long. I think that is the killer thing being a player, when you have dominated the game and just can’t buy a goal then the opposition go and score with a set piece. We did a lot of work during the week because Dundee United are a very big side, they clearly work hard on their set plays, any free kick from a wide area or a corner, their four big lads are coming up from the back and that’s Paul Watson scored three goals in his last two games all from set plays. They are very good at that and we are not the biggest of teams and it is a concern at the moment it is something to us that has been happening to often. I don’t mind if teams cut us open and score a great goal like the boy Chris Millar for Morton you have to hold your hands up and pat them on the back but we are gifting teams goals at the moment.

What a fantastic goal from Iain Flannigan, if there is a man you want to stand over a pressure moment in the game it is “Flanny”, he did the same with the late penalty at Inverness and today the quality he has to get the free kick up and over the wall into the top corner, the goalkeeper had no chance and he had already hit the crossbar a few minutes before that. I should be more satisfied with the point, before the game if you had offered me the draw I probably would have took it but looking back at the game and thinking about the chances we had the amount of possession we had I really genuinely feel as if its two points dropped.

It’s great to have options now in the squad for far too long in pre season and the opening part of this season we have had only 14 players in the squad and it was important that we strengthened the squad in those areas and we now have great options off the bench, the hard part now is picking an eleven because you know you are going to disappoint players very week, there are players on the bench who didn’t get on today and I know they will be disappointed but they have to stay strong and stick with the group because I now have options to change formations and it’s a good place for a manager to be. There needs to be competition for places anyway, nobody should be guaranteed a place in the team and the guys that are in the team need to know that if they drop below par there is somebody waiting in the wings to take their place.
1 - 1
Full Time

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Alloa Athletic

Wasps gain first league points of season after battling the odds at Inverness on Saturday. Manager Jim Goodwin saying after the match “The guys stuck at their task and got their rewards”.

It is a game Inverness Caledonian Thistle had enough chances to win the game and would be disappointed to lose such a late equaliser, but Alloa always looked a threat and Dario Zanatta and Jake Hastie causing problems to the home defence and could have been on the scoresheet.

Alloa goalkeeper Neil Parry made important saves at crucial times and when the referee awarded the third penalty of the match, Iain Flannigan stepped forward and confidently dispatched the ball past Mark Ridgers to gain a draw for “The Wasps”.

 

jim goodwin at inverness

“I’m absolutely delighted. It feels like a win to be honest and we are really pleased to have got our first goals of the league campaign as well.

“People will probably look at the stats and there’s no doubt that if Inverness had taken their chances, particularly in the last 20 minutes of the game, they would have been out of sight. Neil Parry made a couple of incredible saves and that’s what he’s there to do at the end of the day.

“I knew that if the boys kept going we’d get an opportunity.

“I don’t know where Jake Hastie gets his energy from but he does brilliantly to get in the box and get the wrong side of the defender. After that, if you’re giving the Inverness penalties you’ve got to give that one as well.

“Iain Flannigan showed some great courage to step up and take the penalty. It’s not easy because there is a lot of pressure in that situation but if there is anybody you’d fancy to take it it would be him.”

On Alloa’s never-say-die attitude…

“There’s a lot of cliches about desire and togetherness, and the players always, always show that. But we are not a bad footballing side either.

“For five or six minutes after we went down to ten men we probably had more of the ball than Inverness did. It’s the way we play and the way we train, and that’s not going to change.

“There were so many good individual performances. I could rhyme off every player.

“I’m just delighted for the players because we felt hard done by up at Ross County with the late winner there, and against Morton we felt as if we deserved the point.

“We are just delighted to get off the mark. It’s a tough league and we will have a tough job on our hands to stay in it, so every point is going to be extremely valuable.”

On Karadachki red card…

“He gets the wrong side of the centre-forward for the first one and I think it’s a deserved yellow card because he would have been through on goal. The second one is more difficult because there are a lot of things going on in the box.

“I didn’t see it clearly to be honest but if you manhandle someone in the box you give the referee a decision to make. I thought by the players’ reaction that the referee probably got it right.

“He’ll miss next weekend but I’m not too concerned. It’s an area of the pitch we are trying to strengthen anyway because we are very short.

“Liam Dick went in there alongside Andy Graham and looked very comfortable, and Reis Peggie came on and was excellent.

“It’s an opportunity for other players to step in and make a mark, and I think some of them did that.”

On new signings Zanatta and Burt…

“I have to give a mention to Dario Zanatta, who led the line particularly well on his debut. It was a very lonesome job up there for the majority of the second half but through his work-rate and his commitment he made a really big effort to helping us towards that vital point.

“If I can get one more centre-half in I will but I think we have enough players in there who can fill in defensively.

“At the top end of the pitch, you need to have as many options as possible.

“Liam Burt is a fantastic young player. Rangers have high hopes for him and we will do all we can to get him some game time while he’s here.

“Dario is the same. We have a good history over the last couple of years of bringing young players in and giving them a chance.

“They go on to their parent clubs better and kick on into the first team, or go on to find other full time clubs themselves.

“We are delighted to give them the opportunity. They have got a great attitude and they will settle in very well.”
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Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Greenock Morton

Defeats in our opening two league games of the new season have been hard to take, losing such a late goal at Dingwall and looking on top in the second half yesterday at home against Greenock Morton before Chris Millar unleashes a goal fit to win any game. The Alloa players are not getting the results their efforts merit at present but at the end of the day everybody knows it is goals that count.

Manager Jim Goodwin knows this season was never going to be easy and is working tirelessly to bring in new faces to strenghen his squad, knowing we will need to be even better than last season to make things happen and silence the doubters who are expecting Alloa to struggle.

In this league chances are going to be limited, but there was little between the teams yesterday, especially in the second half when “The Wasps” dominated possession but lacked the killer punch in last third of the pitch. Jake Hastie was a consistent threat on the left flank of the pitch driving at the Morton defence, but we needed to get an equalising goal when we were on top in the second period.

Indeed the turning point could have been when Greig Spence was flattened in the penalty box by Morton defender Rory McKeown which looked a very strong case for a penalty. Having survived this scare Chris Millar’s second goal of the game with ten minutes left was a body blow, at that stage against the run of play but a fantastic strike.

jim goodwin after morton take the points in alloa

It was a hard result to take, the first goal in this league is very important, particularly between the two sides today ourselves and Greenock Morton where there was not a great deal between the teams. Both goals are disappointing from our point of view, the first goal in particular I thought we could have defended a lot better, Chris Millar broke his way through into the 18 yard box far too easily, a decent finish from his point of view and the second goal was a thirty yard strike right into the top corner, there is not a great deal you could do to stop that, but other than that there was not a lot between the two sides. It would be very easy for me to come in here after last Saturday and here today against Greenock Morton if we had been miles apart and we were getting overrun and teams had been far better than us, it would be far easier to take, at the moment that’s very frustrating because that is just not the case, I feel we should have had a point on the board from Dingwall, losing a goal so late last week in the 88th minute, and today there was nothing between the teams, but fair play to Morton they are the ones sitting with the result, we have now had two league games and nothing to show for it.

I think in the second half the boys went out and done exactly what we asked of them, in terms of being patient on the ball, our movement from side to side and getting in behind them, I thought Jake Hastie on the far side got the better of the right back four or five times, maybe we are just lacking the final ball in the final third, we definitely didn’t work their goalkeeper enough, it was difficult Morton dropped off a bit in the second half and had pretty much ten men behind the ball for long spells and we were trying our best to break them down but unfortunately we just couldn’t find the opening, I felt at 1-0 if we had got the next goal I really felt we could have gone on and won the game but it wasn’t the case, but it was a sore one to take.

The disappointing thing for me is we are not really surprising anyone, people expected us to lose at Dingwall, people probably expect us the lose every game in this Division, they look at how difficult the league was for Brechin City last season but I know we are better than that and that’s the real frustrating thing for me and I think we should have at least a couple of points on the board but that is very easy for me to say those things but we have to go and do it on the pitch to do that we have to be a little bit better and creative in the final third and that’s all that is letting us down at the moment, defensively the boys have been great as I said it was a mistake for the first goal today but the second goal was a fantastic strike, other than that I can’t remember Neil Parry having a great deal to do.

When Greig Spence was flattened in the penalty box it looked a stonewaller, from where I was and that was at 1-0, I just don’t understand, the linesman who is on the same side of the pitch as me, the referee had a good view of it, Greig is in front of the defender and the defender clearly barged into the back of him, I don’t understand how that was not given. If that was given at 1-0 and hopefully we had went and converted it to make it 1-1, it was game on again but those are the decisions that you need the referee to be brave enough to give, it is very easy to give fouls in and around the middle of the pitch but the big decisions which they are paid to make, unfortunately I think they got that one wrong.
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Ross County v Alloa Athletic

jim goodwin after late defeat at dingwall

I’m gutted for the players to be honest, for the amount of effort and hard work they put in the game today, I think it merited a point, we certainly didn’t do enough to win the game, apart from Greig’s chance in the first half we never had any other clear cut chances after that but I thought we defended really well at times, I thought our shape was good, we were frustrating Ross County in the second half, we knew they would be able to make changes they have a big squad and they brought some bodies on who can change it up, Brian Graham coming on made a difference.

The goal against was just a lapse of concentration at the end both wingers matched their full backs all the way for the duration of the game, it was a big learning curve for young Jake, going forward he has been absolutely brilliant since he has come in from Motherwell, we are very lucky to get him on loan, going forward he has been absolutely outstanding and that is just a learning curve for him on his path to bigger and better things.

We were hanging on there is no doubt about it, I think I am very honest in my assessment and I think Ross County were certainly the better team in the second half they were pinning us back, we knew they would they are a good team they are favourites to win the league, so it was important for us to come up here and be compact and hard to beat. I felt we could have done a bit better on the ball, that was my only frustration today. I thought we could have utilised the width of the pitch and put a couple of more passes together. The first half, I thought we were excellent there was nothing in the game in the first half but after 65, 70 minutes we seemed to run out of steam and unfortunately I don’t have the options in the squad at the moment to go and freshen things up, Kevin Cawley had a back spasm in the warm up, that ruled him out, Iain Flannigan was suspended and we have another couple of injuries, young Reis Peggie came on and did fine but it is what it is – we are really disappointed it is going to be a big part of the season going forward where we have a group of players who were used to winning last season and now it is going to be how can we pick ourselves up and bounce back and go again and look forward to next weekend and look to put things right.

Our players are fit but there comes a stage in the game we were just getting penned back and we were desperate for the final whistle, the timing of the goal was disappointing, if you lose the game 3 or 4 nil you hold your hand up, but over the piece today I felt we deserved a draw and a point, albeit Ross County were the most threatening going forward.

I am still trying to get more players in to strengthen the squad, we have a couple who are just nearly over the line, it’s just one of these ones it is not done till it’s done! We thought we would have at least one of them in before today’s game, Ahmed Aloulou should be fit again for next week, Iain Flannigan will return after suspension and David Galt is still off with a virus he has had for the last month or so, we are missing big players when you have such a tight squad a players as we have it is difficult when you lose key players but no excuses fair play to Ross County they are one of the favourites to win the league, we wish them well but still disappointed we didn’t take a point.
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Dumbarton v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” returned to the Ladbrokes Championship for Season 2018/19 after “Keeping Believing” and getting their rewards in the end, having dominated the Championship Play-Off Final over the two legs but found themselves behing to Stuart Carswell’s wonder strike in the first leg, until deep into time added on at the end of the second leg when Ross Stewart scored his tenth goal of the season for “The Wasps” since joining them on loan from St. Mirren in the January transfer window.

Jordan Kirkpatrick was then “The Wasps” hero in extra-time when he rounded Dumbarton defender Stuart Carswell and fired an goal worthy of winning the tie high past Dumbarton keeper Scott Gallacher.
Alloa were backed by a fantastic, noisy visiting support who backed their team throughout the game in confident voice, which spurred the team on to victory.

 

jim goodwin on clinching promotion back to the championship

We had a great chat on Friday night about the number of times we’ve come back from behind to get results. The one that stood out in all our minds, was three or four months ago when we were a goal down to Forfar in the 88th minute, then Kevin Cawley equalised and Kris Renton got the winner in the 93rd minute.

Nine times in all we have came back from losing positions this season, that’s testament to the players character, or call it resilience, call it never say die  spirit, but they’ve got it and I’m over the moon for them because they never stopped going for it, they never know when they are beat. I won’t lie, there were times when I wondered if the goal would come, and I knew time was running out but they just kept on going, I knew they would never stop, but it did and I also knew when it did and we went into extra-time, then we would go on and win, because fitness wise I doubt if there is a fitter part-time team out there,  I think over the two games who got what we deserved.

These boys are a credit every single one of them, the ones that started, the ones who came off the bench and the ones who didn’t make this game, we lost a couple of key players in the build up to the game, that itself was a motivation for the other players. They deserve their celebrations I hope they enjoy their night, we will meet again on Tuesday and we’ll look forward now to next season, when the one thing I can promise is that we won’t go up there and grind out nil-nil results, we’ll go and try and play football.

It was very hard to find space and gaps Dumbarton were very organised they almost play with a back six, so with twenty minutes to go we had to throw caution to the wind and move Andy Graham into the box, if we lost 2-0 or 3-0  at least we had a go and let’s try and win the game.

The winning goal from Jordan Kirkpatrick, it’s just what he is capable of the loan signings I brought in January have definitely worked and made a positive impact to us but I don’t want to single any one player there were so many good performances.

I’m over the moon for everybody connected to the club the board right down to the fans we have a lot of volunteers behind the scenes who really do a great job as well and importantly pleased for the players because you don’t get these kind of experiences often and I hope they cherish the moment tonight and enjoy it.

It’s the best moment of my short managerial career there is no doubt about that, I certainly experienced some good moments as a player but this is different you put an awful lot more into things as a manager, you never stop thinking about the game and I can take a lot of satisfaction but I couldn’t do it without the fantastic staff behind me, help from the board and the chairman it is a real collective effort.

Now going into the Championship I have a good core of players I want to take with me, I will sit down with them next week and make them offers and hope they will want to come with us, we just want to go and play the exact same way, I believe in the players I believe they are good enough to go and take teams on, pass the ball the way we do, it’s the way we train so we wouldn’t look to play any different. We will try and add more quality to the squad, I have already identified one or two whom I have spoken to, we are now a more attractive proposition now going into the Championship.
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