Competition: Championship

Alloa Athletic v Raith Rovers

Striker Andy Kirk helped manager Paul Hartley celebrate his 100th competitive game for “The Wasps” in style, the experienced striker netting the only goal of the game. The 1st in this game always looked to be important and thats how it ended up, both sides had opportunities in the first half but Andy Kirk’s goal just after the hour mark won the game and earned him the “Man of the match” award. The Wasps might have increased their lead on the break in the 2nd half but were happy to win the points and move into 4th place in the division.

 

paul hartley after victory over raith rovers

It was a great way to celebrate my 100th milestone, by gaining another three great points, I thought the players worked hard and deserved it the way they went about their business, we didn’t want to lose a goal, players throwing their bodies on the line when they had to, we defended really well as a team earning us another clean sheet, so it was a great result. We had good chances, especially on the counter attack today from the wider areas, we worked on this at training all week to exploit their weaknesses and we tried to do that. Andy Kirk had the one real chance and he took it so well, it was a great finish from him. We know we have a keeper and back four who have kept a few clean sheets this year. The result moves us up to fourth in the table, we’ve started well but there is a long way to go, we need to keep it going.  The big thing for us is to stay in this league but the boys can be pleased with what they have done so far, their spirits excellent.

I know my name has been linked with the Inverness job, but another ten managers have also been linked, all I can say is we must be doing something right! – I’m enjoying it here and I’m enjoying working with the players here, I have had no contact from them, I go about my business,  I don’t talk to the press about being involved for jobs, so I need to keep it going here and see what happens.

Derek Riordan was at the game today but he still has a long way to go in terms of his condition, but he is a player I would definitely be interested in because he is a player of real quality, I have seen that in the few training sessions we have had, so he knows how we work and what we do, who knows what can happen. The one thing for Derek just now is he is not playing, he is still a young man at 30 years old – he should be playing football, so we have given him the opportunity to get in a good level of condition, I think the boy just wants to play now, but he needs to get himself proper first, but just now he is unfit to play, so we will give him every opportunity, we have given him the facilities but it is up to him. He needs to work hard, he has not been involved in match action, he is doing his own stuff but it is not the same – I think he is a good 4 – 6 weeks away, but it is up to him if he wants to work hard and if he wants it.

I thought our two centre backs coped very well today, we had a few players out there who could have come back and haunt us, but we knew their threat and I think we coped very well. Our experienced players played a big part, Stephen Simmons  controlled in front of the back four and Andy Kirk scored the winning goal, I was pleased, delighted.
1 - 0
Full Time

Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic

The Wasps defeated Cowdenbeath 2-0 at Central Park on Saturday, it was a great team performance in which striker Andy Kirk headed in the second goal, after Kevin Cawley had earlier opened the scoring, however Andy might have had a hat-trick in the game, after being denied two goals which were chalked off after the officials flagged for offside. Cowdenbeath looked to have been given a life line at the start of the second half when Scott Bain fouled substitute Marc McKenzie, but he redeemed himself saving the penalty.

 

paul hartley at central park

Really good performance, solid, thought we had good quality, thought we deserved the win, there only looked one winning team today, it was a big game for us and I had stressed that to the players. Some of our play was really good our attacking was good, defending, when required was also good, we changed things a bit today, we tweaked it but overall we were the better team. I brought Jonathan Tiffoney into the team today and he was immense, he has played in that role before, his energy in the middle of the park, adding quality, linking up with the right side of the play, he had a great game today, I had been stressing to get better delivery in the final quarter of the park and we saw that. Pleased for Andy Kirk it was good for him to get a goal but overall a great team performance, with good individual performances also. I think the score line could have been even more, but it could also have changed when they missed the penalty, that could have changed the game. Scott made a bad mistake, he was poor there and that’s not often I would say that but he redeemed himself with the penalty save so pleased with that but overall pleased with the performance because this is a tough venue to come and win, there is teams who have been beaten here likes of Morton going down 5-1 in the last home game, it was nice to get the three points. It was nice to get that bit gap again the way the other results turned out, we are trying to push the teams above us and trying to catch them – we had a pretty decent start to the season, I have to give the players credit their attitude is fantastic, I’ve got a good set of playing in the dressing room.

Derek Riordan is in training, I spoke to him last week, I had tried to bring him in at the start of the season but he had a couple of other options at that time but they haven’t worked out, but he hasn’t played for a year, so the condition he is in in terms of fitness is way behind, but I would be interested in him because he has great quality, we can see that already at training in the past week and it has given other players a lift in the dressing room seeing him training at the club, it is that we can try and attract his type of player at Alloa Athletic an ex International player but we will just have to wait and see in terms of his fitness he is way behind but it is something we will try and work on with him, and not sure if we could play him as a “trialist” in this league I don’t know the rules if they would allow this to play a “trialist” in the Championship there might be a problem so we will just need to see where it takes us in the next couple of weeks – can we get him fit, if we could he would be a fantastic addition to the squad
0 - 2
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Queen of the South

Ex Wasp, Iain Russell returned to Recreation Park and scored two goals for Queen of the South in their 3-0 victory over “The Wasps”. The first goal in games is so important and having started reasonably well in the game Paul Hartley’s side could not find the opening goal. The opening goal gave Queen’s a lift and helped their confidence having started the game second bottom of the league. Alloa fought back into the game but lost a bad second goal at a stage when they were on top in the game having spurned chances in front of goal and seen last ditches clearances keep the visitors goal intact. Queens extended their lead fifteen minutes from the end when Gavin Reilly netted. This was a day when too many Alloa players did not perform to their potential but they will be keen to get back in action and will look forward to their home William Hill Scottish Cup tie at Recreation Park next Saturday against Inverurie Loco Works.

 
0 - 3
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Livingston v Alloa Athletic

Alloa’s poor record at Livingston continues, “The Wasps” having never ever won a league match at Almondvale since the club took Meadowbank Thistle’s place in the Scottish League back in Season 1995/96. Ben Gordon’s late equaliser in the 86th minute looked to have given “The Wasps” a point which would have been against the run of play in the second half with Livingston having by far the better of the game. Then in the final minute Andy Barrowman pounced to give the home side the full points and silence the Alloa fans who saw a point snatched away in the final minute. Scott Bain again had to keep his side in the game, especially in the second half, the Alloa players kept going until the final minute but on the day didn’t create many chances in front of goal.

 

paul hartley after defeat at livingston

The better team won on the day, plain and simple, we could have got a point but I think overall they were better than us today, it’s not often I’ve said that. We were out passed today, and out thought, their movement was too good for us – so we have to regroup again and move on to next week. We now need to be focused on our next game, we will need to look at what we didn’t do well here today and start working on it on Tuesday night, we need to dust ourselves down and be ready for our next challenge. It was disappointing to lose an early goal but it gave us plenty of time to get back into the game and we did, we scored a good goal – but they deserved to win the game today. The boys kept going and we ended the game with five players up front, we needed to have a real go after losing the second goal, but in terms of our possession and how we dealt with the ball, we didn’t do well today. We have been really good in the first quarter – we just need to go again.
3 - 2
Full Time

Falkirk v Alloa Athletic

Our first local derby against Falkirk since Season 2002/03 ended in a no scoring draw, the game was played in a cup tie spirit with plenty of action for a healthier crowd of 1,625 inside Recreation Park. Once again Alloa Athletic keeper Scott Bain was to prove just how good a season he has had, with five shut outs now in our nine league game this season in a higher division. Falkirk started brighter, but soon the Alloa midfield got to grip with their Falkirk counterparts and stopped them playing, breaking up possesion and winning the 50/50 balls. Although the game flowed end to end and both teams might have thought they could win the game, the forwards of both sides were limited to scraps to feed of, but there was no shortage of commitment, Alloa manager being happy to end the first quarter of games with fourteen league points.

 

paul hartley after derby draw

I thought it was a really good game, I thought our application, attitude and work ethic was brilliant and another clean sheet, that’s five in our nine league games, so pleased with the performance. Scott Bain again had an excellent game, he was really good, I have said over the past two and a half year since he came here from Aberdeen, but I do believe he is getting even better, he has moved up a division this season, he is a top young goalkeeper, he is only 21 and has played over 100 games at that age, there are not too many goalkeepers have played at this level, week in and week out, a lot of them are number two’s, his handling was great, his presence he came and caught everything and when we needed him he made vital saves at vital times, I wouldn’t stand in his way, we are not a club to keep players back, the boy could look to go full time, he was my first signing from Aberdeen – he is a brilliant kid, he is learning all the time and it is doing him the whole of good to get all these games under his belt but he will eventually move and when that day comes there is no way we would stand in his way, that’s for sure. It was a typical local derby and we were good in the battle, we said that was our game plan to ruffle them up, to get in against their good players and make it awkward for them. Most of the teams in this league have a huge advantage over us being part time but it didn’t show today, not with the fitness levels that we have got. The game was end to end at times, there was chances, good action and meaty tackles, but that is what a derby game is all about, we said that to the players before the game “Don’t forget that it is a derby and make sure you are ready for it, the battle, and be in for the 50/50’s”. As we come to the end of the first quarter teams have done their homework on us, it shows they are paying attention to what we can do – but I thought overall I thought the players were great, I’ve got a really good bunch of guys in there.
0 - 0
Full Time

Greenock Morton v Alloa Athletic

Victory at Cappielow against Greenock Morton was our first away victory this season and remarkably Alloa Athletic’s first victory in the league against Greenock Morton at Cappielow since 17th November, 1928, when “The Wasps” won 4-3, which was to be the Greenock sides only defeat at home that season. Paul Hartley’s side probably played their best football of the season and the scoreline could have been far more emphatic than the 2 – 0 scoreline but it was great to see the team creating so many chances, but another three vital league points gathered, now giving us 13 points from the first eight games, next Saturday will will face local neighbours Falkirk, the last team we still have to face in the first quarter.

 

paul hartley after victory at cappielow

It was a fantastic performance today, at a tough place to come to, I know Morton are at the wrong end of the table and we always knew it would be a tough game, but I thought the players were excellent, they controlled the game and could have scored more goals, if we had a better bit of composure in the final third of the park.  It was also another clean sheet, that’s four out of the eight games that we have had clean sheets.  It’s about that mentality that we try and install in the players.  I thought we deserved the three points today.  It is important to try and pick up points away from home, our home form has been excellent and that will be the key this season, but we were worthy winners today to pick up our first away victory of the season.  It was good for Andy Kirk to get back on the score sheet, strikers strive on goals, and it was a great goal made by a great ball in from the right from Michael Doyle, who played very well today.  Andy’s experience took him across the defender and it was a glancing header which was a fantastic finish.  However we should have scored more goals today – we wasted chances at times – we knew going in 1-0 at half time that Morton would come out at us – however, I thought we controlled the game from start to finish.  Some of our play was excellent today, their goal keeper kept them in the match with great saves but it was good for us to create so many opportunities, but coming away from home it was a brilliant result and I am very proud of them.

In terms of possession and chances that was probably the best we have played this season.  We haven’t always created as many chances and at times have starved our strikers,  today we created good opportunities, coming here we had a game plan – I had already watched Morton and I thought that our game plan worked.  It was important to try and stretch their back four and I thought we did that but our overall performance as a team was excellent.  The back four did well but our keeper did not have a lot to do.  Kevin Cawley was excellent in his work ethic in getting forward.   I am really pleased for the team.  Declan McManus is a little bit frustrated for not scoring his first goal for the club since coming on loan from Aberdeen, he went so close today when he rounded their keeper but went a little wide and his shot struck the post,  he is still young – he is a kid who has scored a lot of goals for Aberdeen at Under 20 level but it is a different step up in senior football – he will get his goals and needs to be patient – he is a bit down but we will pick him up again.  Our ambition is still to stay in the league at the end of the season – can we stay in the league – we are new to it – we are up against seven full time clubs – but who knows were football can take you – if we can keep playing like that every week – we keep attacking and even at 2-0 we were looking to increase our lead. Who knows what can happen in football.
0 - 2
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Alloa Athletic v Hamilton Academical

“The Wasps” defeated league leaders Hamilton Accies to gain a vital three points, proving on their day they are a match for any of the sides we have played already this season in the new SPFL Championship. Hamilton in the first half, showed just how good a team they are and Paul Hartley’s men had to show great concentration to keep the league leaders from scoring. The incident which was to change the game all appeared to be in slow motion, Jason Marr’s netbound header went past the keeper and Alex Neil, instinctively saved the ball, preventing a goal, which was missed by the referee and far side linesman, after the Alloa players appealed and the referee took a tumble, the standside linesman confirmed what had happened – Alex Neil was then sent off and Ryan McCord scored the resultant penalty. In the second half the ten men of Hamilton still had their fair share of possession but “The Wasps” used the extra width and space and took the game when possible to the visitors but were denied a cushion of a second goal, Kevin Cawley came closest but headed over from a good position. Iain Flannigan made his Alloa debut and fitted in well, Paul Hartley’s side played football and defended well when required.

 

paul hartley after defeating league leaders

This is a great three points for us because they are the league leaders and they had been unbeaten until now so we are pleased about it. A clean sheet for us as well was a nice bonus for us. Obviously, the sending off changes the game but I thought we defended really well, we were resolute and then we hit them on the break in numbers at times. Those three points were vital for us. We were pleased to get back on track after two league defeats in a row but we know things are going to be a little bit up and down this year for us in the league. We just need to try and show a little bit more consistency now. I thought overall we were worthy winners and I am delighted because they are a good team, they pass the ball well and they are at the top of the league for a reason. So it is pleasing to be the first team to beat them in the league this season, we know we are hard to beat here at Recreation Park. I praised the guys in the dressing for how well we limited them in terms of chances. They tested us with a lot of cross balls and played from back to front a lot but I thought the back four and especially the two centre backs stood up to the threat well. When you then have a keeper like Scott Bain behind you just mop things up, then it was very comfortable. This win sums everything up about our team, it is all about how well we have done so far and I have to give the players credit. They work hard every week and they thoroughly deserved the three points. Bouncing back from the Raith Rovers game was hard having played so well at Starks Park, but that’s what happens in football. No one gave us a chance in this match but I always felt with the group of players that I have here that we had a chance of winning and that’s exactly what we did. Luckily for us, the linesman on the near side had seen the penalty incident because the referee missed it. It was a stonewall penalty and a sending off as the ball was going in anyway.
1 - 0
Full Time

Raith Rovers v Alloa Athletic

Football can be a very unforgiving sport and in the new SPFL Championship, Alloa Athletic know they will need to take their chances as they strive to consolate their position this season in a higher division. This was a very open, hard fought game which turned in the home sides favour after Alloa striker Andy Kirk, missed a great opportunity with 16 minutes of the game remaining which would have put “The Wasps” back in front at a stage in the game when they were looking the more likely side to go on and win the points. There will be no easy games in this league and Raith Rovers will have known they were in a game, but the players once again could not be faulted for effort and will need to pick themselves up for the visit next Saturday of league leaders Hamilton Accies to Recreation Park.

 

paul hartley at starks park

Andy Kirk’s chance is a big moment in the game and it looks easier to score but there is nothing you can say about it. The lad was distraught about it in the dressing room after the game – he knows he should score – but that’s the way it goes sometimes. You go through your career and that is what life is like for a striker. You miss chances your a villain but if you score you’re a hero. Andy has been in the game long enough to know that but he is still very disappointed and I am not going to criticise him. I think the game turned on that moment a wee bit and gives Raith a lift. We done well to get back into things at various points throughout the match. I thought it was a really good game of football. We came here, tried to have a go and were positive. We score a really good first goal and they come back into it and get their goal when we fail to stop the cross. I am disappointed with that because we had worked on it all week to deal with Cardle when he comes inside to keep him in his left foot but he got inside and puts in a good ball which evades everyone and goes straight in. We then started the second half sloppy and then we fought back again and get our rewards with the penalty. We were on the ascendency when they got their goal and then they hit us on the break when we are trying to chase the game. It comes down to stopping crosses again so we have to go away now and analyse the goals that we conceded and see what we can do better. With their fourth goal, we got caught out trying to go for it – yes we must do better –  but I have no regrets because we’ve got to have a go and that’s the way that we play. Every one game is a tough one in this division and obviously Hamilton next up will be no different. We have to just keep at it, we have a squad of players and that’s what we have to work with and I cannot fault them for their effort or attitude. We maybe just have to be a little bit more street wise at times. Calum Elliot is a good player and we knew he would be a handful in the game having had him in our squad last year. We know his qualities – he holds the ball up well and brings other players into the game – he scores a terrific goal from his point of view but for us it is poor defensively. On the other hand there is loads of positives to take into the next game. We have come to a tough venue, scored two goals and we try and play the right way. We have created loads of chances so we will try to keep that going next week.
4 - 2
Full Time

Alloa Athletic v Dumbarton

“The Wasps” lost their unbeaten home record in the league this season, going down to another penalty kick. not for the first time the season Alloa have lost a game by the tightest of margins, having conceded at penalty after gaining the initiative in the second half of this match. Dumbarton had opened the scoring in time added on in the first half, but in the second period, Alloa took a strong hod in the game for the first time and derservedly equalised through Stephen Simmons, at this stage in the game it was the home side who were calling the tune, but ex Alloa keeper Jamie Ewings was to make vital saves which keep his side in the game before they snatched the vital winning goal after Jason Marr had fouled Andy Graham in the box. Alloa again pushed for an equaliser, but found Jamie Ewings in top form dening his old club.

 

paul hartley after defeat to dumbarton

I was happy with our second half performance, but I didn’t think we got going in the first half, the second half we did put them under pressure far more pressure especially their back four and we got our rewards with a great set piece and a great finish, I thought we were on top at that time but we gave away a penalty, you just can’t make tackles in the box, we have conceded three penalties already this season – by diving into challenges, that we shouldn’t be making and we were punished. We then had to chase the game a bit after that, but I thought we came out strong in the second half and were on top for large spells. The lead up to the winning goal it was never a free kick on this side but sometimes you don’t get these decisions, but Jason Marr went into a challenge in the box which was punished, you cannot make these challenges unless you are going to win the ball, but we just need to move on. James Creaney had to go off with a badly bruised ankle – so we will have to assess him over the next couple of days and see how he is but we have a fairly strong squad and we have an equal replacement in Jason Marr.  Every game is tough in this division there is no easy game but we knew that when we came into the league so we will be well prepared and go again on Tuesday when we train and will look forward to the game on Saturday against Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy, where we will look to be back on our game.
1 - 2
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Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

“The Wasps” gained their first point on the road this season, but it was at a cost, with Eddie Ferns likely to be sidelined for a couple months after fracturing his jaw in a collision with Queen’s keeper Calum Antell. In a game where there was little direct saves for either keeper to make, the visitors, Alloa Athletic came the closest to scoring in a game where one goal was likely to be enough to secure the victory. Andy Kirk was the man who went closest to scoring, firstly with a header in early in the game and later he had a net bound shot which needed to be tipped round the post. Paul Hartley gave a debut in the second half to 19 year old Alex Salmon who has joined the club on loan from Carlisle United, the youngster showed flashes and good speed in a game he only met his new team mates prior to kick-off at Dumfries.

 

paul hartley at dumfries

Is it a good away point or an opportunity missed? A bit of both, we got no shortage of effort but chances were limited. It was not a classic game, we did well, being away from home, and it was another clean sheet for us, we have a real strong mentality at the way we defend as a team, there was not many clear cut chances today, but we probably had the best of them, however I think it was a better away point for us and our first point on the road this season.  I think we have started the season pretty well.  Following the mid-week game against Aberdeen which went to extra time and penalties I think our players kept going and their attitude was again fantastic, to not get beaten, which we showed again today, we defended really well, we tried to break in numbers and we tried to pass the ball even though it was not a classic game it was probably a better point for us than Queen of the South being the home team. Unfortunately I think Eddie Ferns will need to go to hospital as he possibly has a broken jaw, young Alex Salmon, the young lad that came in did well.  I think we have a strong enough squad at the moment and will look to get more players in January time if necessary.  We have a great group of players there that work so hard for each other- to go to Aberdeen through the week play 90 minutes and then extra time we had a clean sheet and that is what we are calling the clean sheet mentality.  I said to the guys at half time maybe one goal will win the game both teams tried to have a go and get the goal.  I will now give the players plenty of time off as I think they deserve it, they have played well, we will train on Tuesday and then they will be off for a short spell.
0 - 0
Full Time