Season: 2019-20
 
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Alloa Athletic v Dundee United
Once again it would have been hard to pick who was league leaders and who was battling to move away from the bottom of the league, Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson was making sure his side was going to battle in midfield with his team selection remembering how “The Wasps” defeated his side 1-0 in the last Friday night game on 4th October which Peter Grant’s side played attractive, passing and direct football on the evening.
The weather was not great with a strong wind but worse was to come when a blizzard appeared from nowhere thankfully for only fifteen minutes. The first chance fell to Liam Dick which was blocked at the last moment.
Possession in the first half was 50/50 however the best chances fell to the home side, the new United forward line twin treat of Lawrence Shankland and Rakish Bingham were starved of decent service.
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Alloa Athletic
“The Wasps” are still looking for their first win against John Robertson’s Inverness Caledonian side this season and once again this is a game Alloa will back on believing they could have claimed all three points and not being happy with a point away from home, Alloa had the best chances in the game.
As early as the fourth minute Kevin Cawley had a shot from 20 yards which took a deflection and went just wide. After nineteen minutes Kevin McHattie was short with a pass back and Robert Thomson got in behind, but from a tight angle knocked the ball across the face of the goal.
Although the home side had good possession they never looked like threatening Kieran Wright who was making his debut in the Alloa goal. After 35 minutes Alloa took the lead, Kevin O’Hara being bundled off the ball by Shaun Rooney, Iain Flannigan making no mistake from the penalty spot.
Indeed the visitors might have increased their lead in the next attack when Kevin O’Hara crossed to Kevin Cawley at the back post with Mark Ridgers having to pull off a fantastic save.
Sean Walsh returning to the Inverness side after breaking his foot for the second time in six months came on and supplied the cross for Jordan White to pounce on and knock in the equaliser. Although this gave Inverness a lift the game could still have been won by “The Wasps” who always looked dangerous on the break. Five minutes from time Kevin O’Hara again provided a great pass to Alloa substitute Alan Trouten who was denied the winner by another point black save by the Caley Thistle keeper.
Then late in time added on Jordan White had to watch as his header came off the top of the bar and away to safety.
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Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic
Victory at Palmerston Park, Dumfries against Queen of the South on Saturday kept a great run going by “The Wasps” at this ground, where they last lost in the league back on 23rd January, 2016. Collecting another three vital league points, which is now ten out of twelve points from their last four Ladbroke Championship matches.
Kevin O’Hara was the player catching the headlines again after scoring another double, that is now three doubles in last three matches, six goals taking his season tally to thirteen.
The Wasps would race into a two goal lead after fourteen minutes, this time Kevin O’Hara was the provider, getting down the left wing and crossing for Robert Thomson to score his second goal of the season.
Queen’s were struggling to get a foothold in the game but they took hope from the most unfortunate incidents. Jamie MacDonald was kicking the ball from the ground upfield when he felt a twinge in his hip and unfortunately had to leave the field of play.
This was a blow for the keeper who is still revered for his time at Queen’s and playing for them in a Scottish Cup Final. Andy Wilson who had just returned to “The Wasps” from Petershill got an early call and was to be one of the mainstays in Alloa returning with the three points.
Queen’s brought on ex Alloa striker Jack Hamilton at half-time for Gary Oliver and within seven minutes he had pulled a goal back, hesitancy in the Alloa defence allowed Hamilton to bundle the ball over the line. Six minutes later Stephen Dobbie does what Stephen Dobbie can do and scored with a vicious shot from just outside the box 2-2.
Alloa gradually played themselves back into the game, Ben Stirling replaced Blair Malcolm to make his debut after signing on loan from Hibernian. With the home side still looking for a winner, Alloa looked dangerous on the break. Kevin Cawley played the ball wide and Ben Stirling charged forward down the right wing, cutting inside Stephen Dobbie and floating a perfect cross into the box for Kevin O’Hara to fire home from close range and send the visiting fans home happy.
In the final ten minutes Queen’s threw everything at the Alloa goal but the defence and goalkeeper Andy Wilson stood resolute. Indeed Andy Wilson was to prove a match winner with fantastic saves from Stephen Dobbie and Jack Hamilton to break the home fans hearts.
Peter Grant after 3-2 victory at Dumfries
A great victory with the players once again showing fantastic character, we have had some of our players who have not been training for a number of weeks now and some putting themselves out there but still not match fit like Alan Trouten, Robert Thomson hadn’t trained all week, Stevie Hetherington, Jon Robertson and Kevin O’Hara hadn’t trained and then Jamie MacDonald has to go off with an injury after we were two goals up, that was a blow physiologically for the players, it doesn’t matter how good your next goalkeeper is the fact that Jamie had to go off lost us a bit of rhythm, Queen’s got it back to 2-2  and were making it difficult for us and put us under pressure the wind appeared to help them but we got it back again. The pleasing thing for me was how we got back into the game, I thought young Ben Stirling came on and was outstanding, his composure, aggression in the air, all the things we were looking for. It is the first time I have had a full bench all season and that is a big thing to have boys to come on and do a job and that was a strength, we just hope not to get any more injuries, it is unusual in the players who have been out like Andy Graham who hadn’t missed a game in five years.
Paddy Connolly had said to me we had been 3-0 up here at Palmerston before and drew 3-3, the boys were conscious of that and what shows greater character is the fact some of the players would have been involved in that game. For the winning goal Ben Stirling put his head down and made a fantastic move up the side of the pitch and delivered a fantastic ball in and Kevin O’Hara was there to do what he has been doing exceptionally well to put the ball in the net.
Jamie MacDonald felt a wee pop at the top of his hip just kicking the ball, he felt if it was his left foot he could have carried on but because it was his right which he kicks with predominately he had to come off, we are hoping it will not be too long, if he misses next week hopefully he might be fit for following week that’s what we hope but he will go in for a scan at Kilmarnock on Monday.
Andy Wilson only just returned to the club after a period on loan at Petershill where he had done well, he was fantastic I am delighted for him, young Chris Henry had been on the bench and I am always conscious of young boys not getting games of football so he went to Petershill to get match time, it is important that young players get time on the pitch. Andy pulled off magnificent saves although he will need to work on his kicking obviously, but the saves were match winning saves. The first eleven players look after themselves but your substitutes are so important and that’s why I said I was delighted to have a full bench today letting us adjust at certain times in the game.
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Alloa Athletic v Arbroath
Victory on Tuesday night against Arbroath was massive, it now brings us only one point behing Partick Thistle and only four points seperating teams from tenth to fifth in the league table.
This was a game the first goal was going to be so important and on the evening Kevin O’Hara proved to be the difference between the teams with a “Man of the match” performance. Kevin’s first goal after 24 minutes was after a succession of Alloa corners, Robbie Deas headed towards the goal and Kevin O’Hara pounced to open the scoring.
Arbroath tried to hit back immediately and Bobby Linn had to watch his shot from the left wing come back off the Alloa crossbar. Two minutes later Kevin O’Hara increased “The Wasps” lead his pace and finish was a joy to watch, 2-0.
Alloa were rampant at this time and that man O’Hara nearly rushed on to another long clearance with Derek Gaston making a last ditch save and five minutes later coming in from the wing watched as his shot went into the side netting.
In the second half Arbroath came more into the game and had plenty possession but Alloa defence stood firm. Five minutes from the end Liam Buchanan tried to increase the scoreline but keeper Derek Gaston made a fantastic save.
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Alloa Athletic v Inverness CT
Scottish Cup days are always special and this tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle was to turn out a five goal thriller, with end to end football but unfortunately in cup ties there can only be one winner and a late goal from Charlie Trafford was enough to see John Robertson’s men grab the all important winner, which to be fair could have went either way.
The Wasps came back twice from going behind with Inverness taking an early lead after only 8 minutes. Ten minutes later however Kevin O’Hara headed home at the near post to score the first equaliser.
For the neutral it was a great cup tie with action at each end, Kevin O’Hara so nearly put “The Wasps” in front but his effort just went past the post. Liam Buchanan was next to watch Inverness keeper Mark ridgers pull off a wonderful save to stop him scoring early in the second half.
Just after the hour mark Jordan White, who has been a thorn in the flesh of Alloa before put Inverness back in front. Peter Grant then introduced both new loan signing Lee Connelly for Liam Buchanan and Robert Thomson for Adam Brown who looked to have picked up an injury, both players made an impact coming on from the bench. Lee Connelly broke down the left wing and crossed for Kevin O’Hara to score his ninth goal of the season and his second goal of the game to draw level at 2-2.
At this stage in the game it would be difficult to choose a winner with little between the sides other than physicality with the highlanders always looking a threat in the air. Four minutes from the end when a draw looked more likely Charlie Trafford was to head home inside the Alloa box and knock “The Wasps” out of the cup.
In the final five or six minutes Alloa threw everything at the Inverness goal but it stood firm. It had been a cup tie which went to the last kick of the ball but Alloa disappointed in getting nothing for their effort.
We now get back to Ladbrokes SPFL Championship action on Tuesday night when we will face Arbroath at the Indodrill Stadium in a massive game for the club.
peter grant after scottish cup exit
Obviously disappointed to go out of the cup, we got ourselves back into the game at 2-2 and in general in the game we were always in it, people keep telling me about the saves Jamie MacDonald makes but Mark Ridgers had a couple of wonder saves today. As a result I think it is an unfair result to be honest with you but that is what football is it is never kind to you and we have found it difficult to beat Inverness this season, they are a big side and sometimes when you are six foot plus and they are a big side not just one or two off their players over six foot, it makes it difficult to pick them up all the time but we have to be better on the second ball, we have a habit of watching the ball on the first header and I think that’s what cost us late at the end today.
Another two great goals by Kevin O’Hara and that’s why we are delighted to keep him, I think that was very important for us, but you have to give credit to Robert Thomson who came on and did well as did young Lee Connelly who came on for his debut. We had guys out there who hadn’t trained for a while giving everything that they have got and sometimes maybe the fatigue causes the concentration levels at times to fall, these guys are working every day of their lives and sometimes fatigue kicks in and I genuinely think that can happen and I think that’s what happened at the set play, if you don’t win the first ball you definitely need to win the second.
The Scottish Cup is so special everybody loves to be involved in it, it is a great platform for any professional footballer to try and go as far as you can, you always want to put yourself out their when people come to watch Scottish Cup ties that’s what it is all about and that’s why we are disappointed to have went out of the completion.
The boys will now have to pick themselves up and go again on Tuesday night, every game for us now between now and the end of the season is big but this game is massive there is no way of getting away from that, there is not one bigger than the other and I keep going back and people will laugh, on the last day of last season three teams could have went down and yes we know we will be fighting right till the death. Hopefully we will keep trying to get bodies in to add to the squad but it is very difficult because of the financials, not what we are offering but just to get them here – to pay them, stay in hotels whatever, the part we are part-time. Its different if you are full-time you can bring them in and keep them all week, we have to get them here, take them back down the road and bring them here and it works out too expensive and we cannot pay premier league wages that is just impossible for us but we are trying. I have a great group of boys here but it is just having them all fully fit, we will try to get another one or two in but then we have an opportunity to do ourselves justice.
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Alloa Athletic v Partick Thistle
Alloa Athletic and Partick Thistle met for the third occasion in the Ladbrokes Championship this season and remarkably all the games have ended 1-1. However on this occasion some contenious decisions were to grab the headlines rather than the fact it was a good end to end advert for good attacking football from both teams.
The first big call was as early as the 9th minute when Kevin O’Hara’s shot looked as if Scott fox had scopped it from behind the line.
Four minutes later it was Thistle who were claiming a goal when Sean McGinty’s netbound header was cleared off the line by Kevin Cawley. Ex thistle striker Liam Buchanan was shotting on sight and was unfortunate with a couple of efforts which just cleared the bar. just after the half hour Kenny Miller had a fantastic effort which Jamie MacDonald did well to push over the bar.
Alloa took the lead after 62 minutes when Adam Brown scored for the second game in succession, his shot taking a defelection of Steven Saunders past Scott Fox in the Thistle goal.
On 72 minutes referee David Munro awarded Partick Thistle a penalty, claiming the ball had struck Robbie Deas on the hand, Stuart Bannigan took the kick which was saved by Jamie MacDonald who was in inspirational form.
Two minutes later the referee awarded Thistle their second penalty of the day, with the ball heading beyond the back post and over the bar Joe Cardle went down under a challenge from Blair Malcolm. Stuart Bannigan again took the responsibilty and scored to draw the game level.
The visitors had the better of possesion in the second period and finished the game strongly, however “The Wasps” held firm and the game ended 1-1. Given the fact manager Peter Grant was without three first team regulars in Andy Graham, Alan Trouten and Liam Dick a draw was a fair result in the end.
Peter grant after draw at partick thistle
Frustration is probably an understatement today, I think some of the decisions, which I said after the first penalty, he is desperate to give another one, I had hardly had said the words out of my mouth and the second penalty kick was given. I just thought how can the ball travel 30 yards by the post and over the bar become a penalty kick? I have watched it back, Joe Cardle has actually fell and young Blair Malcolm puts his hands on his back as Cardle’s fell and he gives a penalty kick which was disgusting to be perfectly honest with you.
I thought it was a proper game with two teams trying to win, Jamie MacDonald had some great saves from distance, which is what we expect from him but their goalkeeper also had to make great saves as well, it was a good Championship game, just disappointed that it will be remembered for the wrong headlines.
I have been asked did the effort in the first half cross the line when Scott Fox appeared to scoop it back, when Scott saved, it actually hits the net when he saves it but I couldn’t pass judgement on that one. This is where the dialogue with referee’s, or their supervisors who come to the games would help, rather than come back later and agree that was an error or mistake because if these were penalty kicks, God Almighty! There is no point trying to speak to the officials after the game, it’s a waste of time. Managers lose their jobs, players get criticized for missing chances, there could be ten guys watching up stairs but it doesn’t matter because nobody hears want they do. It is unfortunate on the linesman because I was battering his ears and I have sympathy with them, there was an incident in the middle of the pitch just after Kevin Cawley had been smashed for the same thing and that’s the frustration I now do not know what is a free kick or penalty kick. If he is saying it was handball in the box then the ball that drops over the players arm right at the death in this corner, hits him on the back of his arm, the boy doesn’t mean it but it hits his hand, so if the first one was a penalty kick then that also must be a penalty kick and that’s the frustration but I did believe it was a proper game, as I said when Ian McCall went in at Partick Thistle they would be the least of my worries because they would have enough players and quality to be fine.
Now all of a sudden we have a wee run but we still have players unavailable and I think people forget that, we are doing this with guys who have came in and to a man have been excellent, I have been chuffed with them, last week I said I was proud of them and they keep going again today but there were periods in the game we should see out. If we go 1-0 in front we should stay in front, because we are good enough with the ball to do that but to do that you need a little help at times and I do not think we are getting that.
Everybody’s talking about Jamie MacDonald and nobody was touching him, it has worked very well for us and Jamie remembering he hadn’t played for over a year, he has said that himself and he is a fantastic professional, our situation is as soon as Neil Parry is fit, Jamie has to go back but Neil is a long way off to being fit, so I am hoping we can keep Jamie but that is not in our hands, medically we can keep him on an emergency loan but we never know what Kilmarnock might want to do with a change of management at the club.
We have played really well, probably about 3 or 4 times maximum we have not played well, I just think incidents when you are playing against teams with a big support and they are behind that goal and there is half a decision going to go and the crowd make a roar and I played with a team which was similar so I know what it is like there are decisions being made and they are not the correct decisions and that happened today but it has also happened before. It happened at Dunfermline we were winning 1-0 and the ball hit their strikers hand and leads to a goal it is no goal, the ball came off the boy Nisbet, he didn’t try to handle it but it came up hit his arm and he played it to the side and they score and got an equaliser, so that’s where my frustration comes from – I just do not know what a free kick is nowadays and every week you ask the linesman and I feel sorry for them because I am bursting their ears at times but they need to agree with the referee on the pitch, so they can surely see because I am watching it but they don’t ask the referee or come back and that is annoying.
Thistle finished the game strongly so maybe a draw was a fair result at the end of the day, but the way we drew the game was disappointing.
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Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic
“The Wasps” ended the decade with an impressive victory over Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park, a venue which “The Wasps” have been unbeaten on their last six visits.
However, the Alloa Athletic supporters suffered a double shock prior to the kick-off with both captain Andy Graham and top goalscorer, Alan Trouten not fit and unable to feature in the game, Alan Trouten having scored six goals against “The Pars” in past two seasons.
Dunfermline would have noticed the omissions and were putting the Alloa defence under early pressure. Kevin Nisbet had to watch as Jamie MacDonald pulled off a fantastic double save to deny the striker who is on a rich vein off form, scoring nine goals in the past six games. Eventually the home side took the lead through that man Nisbet with a header across the goal.
The reaction of “the Wasps” was instant with Adam Brown scoring after the home keeper could only push out a cross ball, this is Adam’s second senior goal and both against Dunfermline Athletic.
Five minutes later things got worse for the home side, Joshua Edward’s clearance was charged down by Kevin Cawley into the path of Kevin O’Hara, who lashed home the opportunity to give “The Wasps” the lead.
In the second half Dunfermline had the bulk of the possession but it was Alloa who looked the more likely to score on the break. Sixty six minutes into the game they got their reward when Jon Robertson made a fantastic run into the Dunfermline box only for Kevin Nisbet to make a forward’s challenge in the box for a definate penalty, Iain Flannigan stepped forward to score with ease and composure, remarkably his first goal of the season.
We know we will lose games, but it was important to end the run of games without victory before the end of the year and decade. If the players show this level of concentration, work rate and endeavour in the second half of the season , we will be able to start looking up the table and remove any fears of relegation.
peter grant after victory at east end park
Delighted, I can’t think of a prouder performance as a coach, not just because of the result but considering I was actually picking and organising the team only an hour before the game due to injuries and giving the players the best chance possible to try and see if they were fit and then move the positions around depending who we could put out on the park.
It is fantastic credit to the boys, some played not fully fit and I think the guts and determination showed won the game. We weren’t brilliant on the ball today but against the ball we were brilliant to a man, but we cannot forget in the first half Jamie MacDonald had a wonderful double save at an important time in the game for us but I think we deserved that due to the work ethic we put in.
Every manager has a game plan but is about the players carrying it out and I think they deserve great credit for that. People will say to me about the squad being small, the reason it is small and I have said this many times, because there are not many guys who can come into this squad, which might sound crazy when we are bottom of the league, but they would need to come in and improve this group, which will take a special type of character. We had Alan Trouten and Andy Graham coming in today and trying to get themselves fit, we had Kevin O’Hara putting himself fit because they all want to play, Jon Robertson in recent weeks has moved from position to position and Scott Taggart having to cover at centre back today, so you have to give them unbelievable credit for that. Managers all have a plan sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but it is the diligence of the players and their will to put the work in. It is easy when you are at the top of the league, but when you are at the bottom of the league and trying to do as we trying to do and play the way we do and show that type of performance at a very difficult venue I can’t be any prouder.
Kevin O’Hara has been sensational for me although I’ve had to play him in different positions but I have always said I want to play him as a striker because having watched him as a young boy and he was moved from left to right and I understand why people put him out wide because of his pace but credit to him he worked his socks off, considering he only trained on Thursday for twenty minutes, delighted with him and that’s seven goals already this season, but to man I was delighted with all my players today and I am really proud of them.
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Alloa Athletic v Morton
Saturday’s defeat to Greenock Morton was a difficult result to take given how much of the game “The Wasps” had along with opportunities created. However the bottom line is it is about taking your chances and sometimes having to make your own luck.
The manager was able to bring back Liam Dick & Iain Flannigan after a period out through suspension but unfortunately had two do without his two top goalscorers Alan Trouten and Kevin O’Hara, Liam Buchanan & Robert Thomson both starting the game up front.
Once again Alloa produced a lot of good football but lacked the killer touch in front of goal, taking an extra touch and then the chance was gone. The closest “The Wasps” came to opening the scoring was when Liam Buchanan looked to have timed his sortie into the box, only for the referee to cancel his effort for offside which VAR might have suggested otherwise.
When the opening goal came it has to say in was a cracker and something Nicky Cadden had threatened to do earlier in the game, he will not strike a ball more cleanly. However losing a second goal three minutes later was a bigger shock and one which ultimately won the game for David Hopkin and his Morton team
To the players credit they never gave in but the current deepth of squad gave the manager little attacking options from the bench. When the squad is fully fit they haved proved to be the equal of any team in the league, but when the squad suffers injuries or suspensions it is stretched and in need of more options.
Like other managers, Peter Grant will be looking to strenghen his squad in the January transfer window, however it is a tough time to attract players to the club and players waiting until end of January before committing themselves.
Sitting at the bottom of the league is not a place we will want to be, however we must stay strong and look to move up the table, keep on believing.
Peter grant after home defeat to morton
We lost the game in a ten minute spell, we knew that Morton would put us under pressure from crosses and second balls but the way we lost the first goal, we defended it then tried to play out of defence and got caught which was silly, the ball came back in and you can see the wonder strike and sometimes a strike like that can give yourself a lift. We then don’t pick up and it’s the one thing Morton will always do is ask questions at the back, we knew Morton would put crosses into our box and that is the time our concentration levels needed to be at our best and we got caught out again in that ten minute period which cost us the game.
A lot of people were telling me the goal we had chalked off for offside looked like in was on side but Morton manager David Hopkin could also say his side should have had a penalty it is unfair the game is so quick now and I understand that, I have battered referee’s left right and centre so I think this time I have to be fair I have not seen the incidents back their penalty claim or our goal. We all know goals change games and I am not sure Nicky Cadden will score a better goal, it was a wonderful strike but that’s when you have to show your metal and concentrate during that period and we didn’t do that well and that’s what cost us the second goal.
I think we get into great positions especially in the first half but the final ball was not good enough, Morton defended well so you need to give them credit, we got into good areas but when we had the opportunity to have a strike we took an extra touch and that’s why I go down to one touch training because I think, why take an extra touch because you will not get that opportunity, even at the highest level you get minimal time and at our level as well it is very difficult because you are playing against decent players. We have to have the belief to strike the ball early, it can deflect off somebody but get a shot away. We can speak about Jermaine Defoe and he is the best to work with because it is touch and bang and he showed that last night against Hibernian, and we need to get into that habit and there were opportunities we could have done that and that changes the game completely because in between both boxes we are playing a lot of good stuff but what wins you games and trophies and keeps you in leagues is what you do in your own box and in the opposition box and unfortunately we have not been clinical enough or defended well enough in our own box. It is frustrating; yes we had our two main strikers out today and guys on the bench just to make up numbers so it is difficult when we don’t have a lot to change it and that is something I have learned, so we will have to look at it not just changing the personnel, then you have to change everything, especially today and I don’t mean to be disrespectful the players on the bench were not the type of players to change the way and get us goals and that is something we need to look at.
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Ayr United v Alloa Athletic
“The Wasps” for the first time this season suffered their third defeat in a row going down 2-1 to Ayr United at Somerset Park, who had their goalkeeper Ross Doohan to thank for earning them all three points after he made a great save right at the end to deny a goalbound Liam Buchanan shot, so tight are the margins in this league.
The conditions were far from ideal as the game started with torrential rain and a swirling cutting wind blowing havoc. Ayr had the benefit in the first half and made good use of conditions, shooting on sight.
They went ahead after only six minutes, Alan Forrest’s cross headed towards goal by Ross Docherty, before the unfortunate Jon Robertson headed the ball in the other corner away from Jamie MacDonald. Six minutes later Ross Docherty again found fortunate in the fact he headed downwards into the ground and the ball bounced up high past Jamie MacDonald.
Again giving teams two goals of a start is not helping and “The Wasps” had to thank Jamie MacDonald who produced top drawer saves from Craig Moore & Stephen Kelly in a first half Alloa had to dig deep.
Manager Peter Grant was limited to options with Liam Dick serving the second of his two match suspension after being red carded against Inverness CT and Iain Flannigan was serving a one match suspension after a accumulation of yellow cards, Adam Brown returned to the bench after missing last 4 games after injury against Dunfermline Athletic, young Cameron O’Donnell made his first start for the club and did well in the first half, nearly scoring with a header just before half-time before Adam Brown was introduced for the second half.
The conditions improved in the second half and Alloa began to work their way back into the game with Kevin O’Hara looking dangerous. On 67 minutes he was to score his sixth goal of the season a long ball out of defence was headed down by Andy Graham then flicked on by Alan Trouten to Kevin O’Hara who thundered his shot high into the top corner of the net.
The players to their credit kept going and looked the more likely to score, their best opportunity came in the final minute when Robert Thomson battled well to get a cross into the box which fell ti Liam Buchanan, but his netbound effort was saved by at outstretched toe of keeper Ross Doohan to deny Alloa a share of the points.
peter grant at somerset park
The two goals we lost today were very poor goals to lose and I know people can blame the conditions which were very difficult in the first half, but the way we play we try to keep the ball on the deck, but defending set plays in these conditions is more difficult. For the first goal we were slow getting out pressing the ball and at the second goal it was a mishit shot and the boy breaks in and gets a goal, we knew we would have to dig in and the conditions affected the first half,  I thought Ayr United deserved to be in front, because of the pressure they put us under but in the second half if we had scored with the chance right at the end, I think it would have been only fair had we scored, but that’s football when you are down and miss that chance and if there is anybody I wanted it to fall to it was Liam Buchanan or Alan Trouten, it was a great save, not a bad miss.
I do not look at Partick Thistle, even when they were at the bottom of the table, I said I thought they would be fine, they have the players and a full squad, they have two squads of players so I don’t see them having a problem, they are just needing a run of football and a bit of belief, for the rest of us we have guys going out on the pitch at times, who are unfit, that is one of the problems we have at this moment and having to play youngsters. Young Cammy O’Donnell came in from the start today and did very well, it was just a tactical switch at half-time, Adam Brown coming on after a period out through injury and because he has a wonderful strike on him, we also had a couple of suspensions but the one thing about my squad is they all want to play. Robbie Deas is on loan from Celtic and part of the deal is he had to play for them in midweek and he has a bit of a tight hamstring, so it is not easy, but the great credit I have to give to the players, is it is easy to throw the towel in when you are bottom of the league or say you are not fit but all these boys are desperate to play, so for that reason I was really disappointed to lose the game I thought we at least merited a point.
We stay positive in our approach but we realise you have a problem when you are not winning games of football, that’s the job we are paid to do – coaches, managers, players together, but I would also have liked to have come here and played rubbish and won, but that was not the case and I have a great belief in these guys, I know the way we can play and I know we will create chances and get opportunities but there is a long way to go in this season. I keep saying even in the last day of the season last year there were three different teams who could have went down on the day and that’s where we need to take it, but I would be more worried if we didn’t have the quality of player and hopefully we can bring in some guys to help over the Christmas period in the transfer window.
We need to start winning games but we also need to start taking the chances when they fall to us and can’t keep conceding the goals we have, simple goals which leave us chasing the games.
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