Competition: Championship

Heart of Midlothian v Alloa Athletic

At Tynecastle Stadium on Saturday, “The Wasps” faced league leaders Heart of Midlothian, and although losing two first half goals, Barry Smith’s team again showed great spirit and determination to go close to scoring themselves, Daryll Meggatt going closest when his effort came back off the woodwork. The squad was strengthened this week by the return of Liam Buchanan, Kevin Cawley & Graeme Holmes, while Jonathan Tiffoney and Jason Marr returned on the bench. After horrendous absentees recently through injury and illness it was pleasing to see these players getting back into the squad, David Weatherston & Iain Flannigan have started to return to light training which is again positive news.

 

barry smith at tynecastle

We are never happy at getting beat, but Hearts are top of the league for a reason, they are an excellent team and I thought they played extremely well in the first half, I think credit should also go to my boys as well being a part time club competing as well as they did especially in the second half, because it is easy to crumble in a place like Tynecastle, where the fans and crowd are down on top of you, as I said Hearts are top of the league for a reason. The disappointing thing was the two goals which we lost, I thought we could have done better but the one thing about that team is they never give in and will not throw the towel in and worked hard, although we didn’t create a lot today, we probably had three chances in the first half all from corner kicks but we kept playing and tried to get on the ball and they never threw in the towel. In the past two weeks Alloa have been playing against Hibs & Hearts which is a dream for our supporters and it is brilliant, the expectation isn’t on Alloa because we are a part time club, the expectation comes from within the dressing room because we still look to come to these places and look to win games, unfortunately when you come up against the teams at the top of the league and playing as well as Hearts are it is difficult. We will now totally focus on our next game against Queen of the South and make sure that we cut out the mistakes that are costing us goals.
2 - 0
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Hibernian v Alloa Athletic

The Wasps struggled at Easter Road to get a foothold in the game and at times their play suffered from the lack of players fully fit for this fixture. Hibernian playing at home had plenty possession but lacked any real threat in front of goal, indeed their goals both had a touch of fortune to them.

The opening goal after 27 minutes was after Alloa defender Ben Gordon slipped on the surface, he was not the only player to lose his footing on the pitch, Jason Cummings rifled in a shot which Craig McDowall did well to parry but the loose ball fell kindly for Danny Handling to knock home. Barry Smith’s side still had key players missing and although Kevin Cawley and Graeme Holmes came on midway into the second half, neither were match fit.

If the first goal had been unlucky, the second was even more fortunate – Scott Robertson’s pass across the edge of the box was aimed at Dominique Malonga, the ball struck the Congolese striker spinning high in the air over the stranded Alloa keeper Craig McDowall for a fluke. The Wasps will again return to Edinburgh next Saturday when they will face league leaders Hearts whose Head Coach Robbie Neilson was watching in the Easter Road stand.

 

barry smith at easter road

I think the real disappointment is we didn’t actually show the belief that we have in other games because I think we can pass the ball better, we defended well, to a point but the disappointing thing is the fact we didn’t show the belief we have in previous games. The disappointing thing is we didn’t show the same belief as we have in previous games, we defended well, we got in good areas to defend, but on the ball we just had to show a bit more belief and show more of what we are capable of doing, we created half chances, I didn’t think we created clear cut chances but that was down to not showing enough belief, we had a couple of great corners and a great free kick that if we had shown a bit more belief and determination we might have been able to score. Graeme Holmes and Kevin Cawley weren’t fully fit but it was good to get them out there for half an hour, it was good to get them back on the pitch but they were not 100% which shows just how down to the bare bones we are. The one thing about these boys is they keep working hard and from Alloa’s point of view is that we are disappointed coming to Easter Road and not performing, which shows just how far Alloa Athletic FC have came, we have to remember Hibernian were in the Premier League last season and other Premier league sides were getting beat from them, but the disappointing thing for us was we never performed. We will go to Tynescastle next Saturday with the belief we can win, that’s nothing to do with Hearts but all about Alloa, and we will make sure Alloa give a good performance and show belief and we will go there and try to win three points, the same as any game, we will look to win three points, if it were Hearts or any other side, no matter who it is we must make sure we are ready to go. We got in good areas but for the first time this season, we didn’t show the same belief and we never got on the ball and passed it as well as we can, maybe that’s credit to Hibernian as well for the way they played.
2 - 0
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Alloa Athletic v Dumbarton

Once again on Saturday, it proved just how difficult every game in this division is this season, after recording one of the best results in the club’s history in midweek, it was back to the SPFL Championship, which is the club’s main aim this season, but the defeat against Dumbarton was disappointing albeit manager Barry Smith had both Liam Buchanan and Adam Asghar both added to the injury list, although Stephen Simmons did return after being ill during the week.

The first goal in these games are hugely important and “The Wasps” couldn’t have come any closer when Stephen Simmons shot hit the inside of the far post, spin across the face of the goals and out for a bye kick. Five minutes later Chris Kane on loan from St Johnstone broke the deadlock firing home at the back post. Stephen Simmons on the half hour might have been given a penalty but in was not to be Alloa’s day. In the second half both sides had opportunities to score – a Mark Docherty corner was missed and nearly sneaked in at the back post, and Ben Gordon had a late header which went past the post. Dumbarton held on for a fortune full points extending our poor run against “The Sons” at home, going back to 22nd April, 2006 when we last defeated Dumbarton at Alloa.

 

barry smith after sons defeat

A very frustrating afternoon, very frustrating, we conceded a soft goal, we created chances but maybe Wednesday night’s game took its toll on some of our players, it wasn’t a normal and energetic display as I would have liked. We still created chances but it was a day when nothing looked like going in the back of the net, Stephen Simmons shot which came back out from hitting the inside of the post and never went in, if it has went in the back of the net it was a different game, but it was one of these days, it’s disappointing but this game was always going to be difficult, we Dumbarton are a stuffy team to play against but we know we can do better. Here was an incident around the half hour when there were claims for a penalty but I don’t know, I didn’t see it too well. I still do not know why I was sent to the stand, I still don’t know, all I can say was that it wasn’t for foul or abusive language and it was all said in a calm manner, because I have spoke to the referee in a calm manner , it wasn’t for foul and abusive language I’m not sure?

We have to remember that Stephen Simmons, has been off ill all week, Liam Buchanan suffered mild concussion after the Rangers game on Wednesday and he hasn’t been feeling well since then and Mark Docherty has been ill but played today, Eddie Ferns has been ill was playing, so the boys gave it their all, I would never fault their effort because I still thought they worked extremely hard but hopefully come next week we can hope to have a few back and others are feeling 100% again. We have a busy and tough schedule over the festive period, but these are games we look to go out and enjoy.
0 - 1
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Alloa Athletic v Falkirk

A late second half fightback by “The Wasps” was not enough as local rivals Falkirk held on for all three points on Saturday at the Indodrill Stadium. The players showed great spirit to get back into the game but the team started the game slowly, losing an early goal and having both Stephen Simmons & Jonathan Tiffoney being ruled out prior to the kick-off, and Graeme Holmes & Jason Marr having to leave the play in the first half, Barry Smith’s team was down to the bare bones. The second half started brighter for the home side and Falkirk’s third goal was against the run of the play. A late penalty strike by Liam Buchanan gave “The Wasps” the chance to snatch a draw and at the end of the match it was Falkirk manager Peter Houston who was the most relieved man to hear the final whistle. Special mention to Liam Buchanan who has now set up a new goal scoring record at the club for now having scored in the last seven consecutive matches going ahead of Davie Lloyd who had scored in six consecutive games in Season 1984/85.

 

barry smith after derby defeat

We showed good spirit again and tried to get ourselves back into the game, but the game was lost in the first half – we didn’t perform and its disappointing after coming from such a high, but it has been a problem all season when we come from a high and then do not perform to the best of our abilities but the pleasing side was the fact the players kept fighting and tried to get themselves back into the game and maybe at the end up we might have snatched a point. We have a tight squad and injuries to key players didn’t help today that’s now five players out who are first team regulars and that obviously going to cause us a problem.

We didn’t do well enough today in the first half it’s as simple as that, and although the second goal was close to half time I could see it was going to happen, cause we just didn’t play as we can in the first half which is disappointing after the way we played at Ibrox, but we move on, the most important thing now is next week’s William Hill Scottish Cup tie against Hibernian.

The three goals are three mistakes by us, and after that we have had a fight back but it’s too late, our problem was the way we started the game which caused the problems in the game. We will now focus and look forward to the Hibernian game.
2 - 3
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Rangers v Alloa Athletic

Barry Smith’s Alloa Athletic side recorded one of the club’s most historic results on Saturday at Ibrox, coming from behind to secure a well earned draw, the first time “The Wasps” had scored at Ibrox since Willie Crilley had scored on 26th February, 1921. Liam Buchanan scoring six minutes after the home side had taken the lead, Alloa Athletic showed great quality and determination to score a goal of their own, following a great move Kevin Cawley’s shot was parried by Rangers keeper Steve Simonsen and Liam Buchanan was alert to score his 7th goal in the last 8 matches for “The Wasps” slamming the ball high into the net.

Rangers had opportunities in the first half with Craig McDowall saving well from Kris Boyd & Lewis MacLeod, who had been allowed to play for the home side having been called up to Scotland International squad earlier in the week.

Alloa played their own part in the game with Daryll Meggatt, Michael Doyle & Kevin Cawley having efforts saved. The result was no less than “The Wasps” deserved on a day the Alloa players and fans will never forget.

 

barry smith after draw at ibrox
I am proud of the players, to go 1 – 0 down at Ibrox and respond the way they did in their work ethic throughout the game, that’s us played three games in a week and for a part time club that can take its toll, but today, to a man, I thought they were excellent. I think credit should be given to the players for the way they went about their business limiting Rangers to very few chances which were on target and actually creating their own chances and playing some good football as well but we will not get carried away because it’s a great point coming to Ibrox but we now have to look to the Falkirk game it’s as simple as that.

I think we should focus on how good Alloa were in the game, for as much as people will talk about how Rangers played, I am not interested in how Rangers played but how Alloa Athletic played, and I think all the credit should go for the way we came here and defended resolutely but also when we had the chance to play, we played. The goal summed that up, and I just keep telling Liam to keep doing what he is doing, by putting the ball in the back of the net, he works hard and deserves the goals that he is scoring because of his work rate. Our hard work has been behind our best results this season, these boys never know when to give in, they give everything they have got and we have a wee bit of quality in there as well which can win games or get results, but their hard work is second to none. I think a lot of credit should go to our players they played some very good football and the goal was a good goal, we kept the ball and they work hard to be able to show they can play that football, so the work rate comes first then we know given the chance we will keep the ball and play and create opportunities. It was good to get a quick reply after Rangers had went in the lead, but I know my players will never give in and they never let their heads go down and sometimes teams go to Ibrox and loose a goal and it becomes three or four but we always knew we were in that game and to score so soon after Rangers had taken the lead was pleasing to me. The semi final match is still a few weeks away and we will concentrate on that  nearer the time when it comes around, our next important game is against Falkirk next week.
1 - 1
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Alloa Athletic v Livingston

Alloa Athletic collected three vital league points on Saturday after defeating Livingston 1-0 in miserable conditions, every player played their part, especially in the second half, apart from Liam Buchanan scoring his fifth goal in the past six games, “The Wasps” had three other chances cleared off the line.

Liam Buchanan’s goal in the 48th minute secured a vital three points for the home side, lifting them up to seventh position in the Scottish Professional Football League Championship. Michael Doyle played to Kevin Cawley on the edge of box who turned and supplied Liam Buchanan who shot low passed the Livingston keeper, Darren Jamieson

Despite applying some pressure. Livingston squandered numerous chances and their player Declan Gallagher showed his frustration when he was sent off late on for foul and abusive language. A crucial win for the Wasps as they enter a tough period of games which will be coming thick and fast.

 

barry smith after livi victory

I was delighted with the way the players applied themselves. It was important that we started winning games again. It is also a great confidence boost ahead of the next two matches we have coming up. We have Ayr United in the William Hill Scottish Cup replay and we must show the same level of commitment that got us the victory today. Then we can look forward to the Rangers game – but that will take care of itself.

I’m pleased to get the three points, with the effort and hard work we put in to limit Livingston’s chances, it’s deserved. It was a team effort and we defended from the front, if we keep playing like that and put in the same grit and determination, I’ve no fears for this season.
1 - 0
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Raith Rovers v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” collected a well deserved point at Stark’s Park against Raith Rovers with a very positive display in which the players in Black & Gold took all the credit after the home fans booed their team from the pitch at half-time & full-time. Indeed there would be few people in the crowd could have argued that Alloa Athletic had the best chances in the game in which Grant Murray’s side rarely threatened the Alloa goal. The point moved “The Wasps” of the bottom of the league and hopefully the players will take credit confidence in this display and the fact they always looked like taking something from the game.

 

barry smith at starks

A great spirited performance today and even when we went down to ten men the grit and determination made sure we didn’t concede another goal and it’s a great point at a difficult place to come and we look to move forward from that performance. We definitely got a reaction after our poor display last week against Cowdenbeath, we weren’t flat this week, I felt it was a little flat last week and I felt the boys deserved everything they got today. We have had good performances but probably not the results we have wanted and this week we do look to build on this performance, the result we would have loved three points but to come to Kirkcaldy and take a point – we will accept, I was more pleased with the grit and determination by the players and how hard they worked to make sure we came away with something. We had the best chances in the game especially in the first half, we felt that we did extremely well but we knew they would come out in the second half and put us under a wee bit pressure but when it came down to it we were able to withstand that pressure and still had chances at 1-1 in the game. I don’t like singling out players, but Ryan McCord was fantastic, he did well but it was a good team performance and that’s the most important thing. The team performance today was excellent along with their spirit and determination to get something from the game. Stephen Simmons went off due to a back spasm, we will just have to wait and see how he is. I went in and spoke to John Fleming, the referee’s chief after the game, but I don’t think the decisions went for us today – at the red card, it was a foul, but the referee has the decision whither it is a booking or not, I don’t think it’s a booking but all we ask for is consistency and what I would say was – Mark Docherty is going through late on in the second half and he is pulled back and if you get pulled back that is a booking, a foul and a booking but the referee never booked the Raith Rovers player, now I don’t want players booked left, right and centre, but all I ask for is consistency and at this point, it’s not a criticism by any means but we don’t feel as a club we are getting consistency in decisions.
1 - 1
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Alloa Athletic v Cowdenbeath

The Wasps paid the penalty for not scoring when on top against Cowdenbeath in the first half after Liam Buchanan and Stephen Simmons had both seen efforts saved by Robbie Thomson in the visitors goal, he was to continue to be even more difficult to beat in the second half. Since our last game at Central Park which “The Wasps” won 3-0, Cowdenbeath manager Jimmy Nicholl has brought in Callum Gallagher, who had a spell at Alloa last season, on loan from Rangers and Kudus Oyenuga on loan from Dundee United and they caused “The Wasps” defence scoring all three goals between them. Manager Barry Smith threw everything into attack after the visitors went 3-1 ahead after a crazy minute spell. Twelve minutes from the end top goalscorer Greig Spence headed home from an Eddie Ferns corner. The visitors then withstood late Alloa pressure, with Ben Gordon and Michael Doyle both seeing goal bound efforts saved by Robbie Thomson.

 

barry smith after cowden’ defeat

We were second best all over the park today, and had a crazy spell after getting back level, we weren’t sharp enough today, we looked flat and when you are flat against a team like Cowdenbeath you are going to have your work cut out because they are structured to make it difficult, especially after going 1-0 down. Their goalkeeper has had some great saves but I’m disappointed after such a positive performance last week against Hearts, to go and show a pedestrian performance today we are disappointed at that. After going 3-1 down we threw bodies forward but we must be better than that and the goals we conceded all came from mistakes by ourselves. We don’t want to be bottom of the table at any time but there’s a long way to go yet. The players know that the performance today was not enough and they have to to get back to the high levels of performances we have already seen this season at our previous home games against Hibs, Hearts and Rangers. We had a lot of pressure in the last 15 – 20 minutes but overall I don’t think it was a performance that I recognise from an Alloa team.
2 - 3
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Alloa Athletic v Heart of Midlothian

At the start of this season all at Alloa Athletic knew the challenge ahead was going to be one of the most difficult in front of them, with Rangers, Hibs and Hearts now playing in the same SPFL Championship as “The Wasps”, however after now completing the first round of matches neither of the three sides will be looking forward to facing Barry Smith’s team again after three outstanding matches – a 2-1 victory over Hibernian, a 1-1 draw against Rangers when a late equaliser denied “The Wasps” full points, while Hearts snatched all three points with a late deflected winning goal today. Hearts came to the Indodrill Stadium today, unbeaten in the league and looking to extend their lead at the top of the division, however an outstanding performance from Alloa Athletic limited the Hearts team to few chances and indeed it was Barry Smith’s side who looked the more likely to win the game by creating the best chances in the game.

After frustrating Hearts and looking to get forward Graeme Holmes put Kevin Cawley through on goal but Neil Alexander got down to block his advance. In the second half Kevin Cawley had his shot blocked but the rebound fell to Ryan McCord, but his shot was inches wide of the far post with a clear shot on goals.

Substitute Eddie Ferns then beat the Hearts offside trap and ran clear on goal, however his shot clipped the post and nestled into the top corner of the side netting. On this display the Alloa Athletic players should be proud of their performance and look forward to more positive displays in the league this season which will move them back up the table.

 

barry smith after hearts disappointment

I think we should focus on the boys performance for me they deserved to win the game for me, that’s my opinion, and as manager I am allowed that opinion, they put so much effort and enthusiasm and energy into that game and deserved so much more out of it, cause I don’t think Hearts created much and we have created the better chances in the game, by far.

We set out our team to frustrate Hearts, which we did, and we had some great performances today and to come away with nothing is hugely disappointing because of the way we played and the way we have got them playing – our players should take a lot of credit for the way the game was played today. Our team is part time, we train two nights a week and we are playing against a full time side, Robbie has got them in extra sessions – could you tell the difference there today? I don’t think so.

That’s my opinion and I hope people seen it the same way, our energy levels were excellent.

We will build on that performance, we will definitely build on that performance, next week we will face Cowdenbeath and if we show that level of performance then there is no reason why we cannot go and win the game, but we must make sure we get that same level of performance and in fairness to the boys over the opening nine games of the season in the league, the boys have given tremendous effort, unfortunately sometimes it just hasn’t went our way. I think now having played all the sides in the league the boys can look back and know we have not been over powered by any team, even in the games which we have lost, I certainly see no reason why we cannot go on an unbeaten run having now competed at a good level against the other sides.
0 - 1
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Falkirk v Alloa Athletic

A late wonder strike denied “The Wasps” at least a share of the points against Falkirk at their Westfield Stadium – Barry Smith can be delighted at the performance from his side yesterday in a game the squad was down to the bare bones with top scorer Greig Spence missing after suffering a hamstring problem the previous week at Dumbarton, keeper John Gibson was then injured in the warm up and had to be withdrawn, along with Iain Flannigan, Jason Marr, Daryll Meggatt & David Weatherspon all out through injury.

The team on the day deserved something from the game having battled back into the game after going behind after only 16 minutes. The players were not lacking in effort or desire to show what they can do and deservedly got back level three minutes before half – time when Falkirk captain David McCracken pulled down Graeme Holmes inside the box, although a penalty was given on another day the Falkirk defender would have had no complaint had he also been shown a red card. Liam Buchanan expertly scored the penalty to put “The Wasps” level. The Falkirk fans were sounding their displeasure at their teams display and at this stage in the game Alloa Athletic were looking to go on and win the game.

Early in the 2nd half Alloa Athletic still looked the more likely side to take the lead, a Stephen Simmons header went close followed by a Mark Docherty shot which Jamie McDonald was glad to parry, but the ball broke kindly for the home side. In an effort to get back into the game Falkirk manager Peter Houston introduced Alex Cooper and Rory Boulding early in the 2nd half and eventually the home started to at least get back into the game. With twenty minutes left a Rory Loy shot was blocked but fell kindly for full back Luke Leahy, who from around 25 yards unleashed a shot which flew into the top corner of the net behind Craig McDowall who had come into the game and looked untroubled. In the end the defeat was cruel on “The Wasps” , everybody knew this was going to be a difficult season but a lot of the games have been very close run affairs and not much between the sides.

 

barry smith at falkirk

I thought we were the stronger team at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half at that stage there looked as if there was only one team which was going on to win the game – so I don’t think we deserved to get beat today. I think on the basis of play we created chances and as always worked our socks off, the players have done ever so well but a couple of wee minor mistakes and we have been punished for that at this level, but I don’t think we deserved to get beat. The winning goal was a great finish from their full back Luke Leahy, sometimes you cannot stop shots like that, but in the lead up to it we maybe could have defended better and not takes chances we don’t need to, as I have said I don’t think we deserved to get beat today. There is great disappointment in the dressing room, and I’m sure when the players reflect tomorrow they will think they didn’t deserve to lose today. They put so much energy into the game and created chances, we limited Falkirk to very few chances and we will look at the positives and if we just cut out these mistakes that are costing us at the moment, then we will be ok. The referee had a decision to make at the penalty, is it a goal scoring opportunity? We think our player is obviously going to try and score, so that’s a goal scoring opportunity – so the referee has made his decision and we move on.
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