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jack ross after defeat at cappielow

The first half I wasn’t happy, I think I have been quiet fulsome in my praise in terms of how the players have performed in the past, but in the first half I think we dipped well below that, they knew that themselves, but strangely enough I thought in the second half we were a lot better, a lot more like themselves. However there are fine margins and although we had opportunities it looked like it was us who were more likely to grab an equaliser than we were to concede at the other end, I wasn’t happy with the decision in the part which leads to the third goal, thereafter I thought the only thing we can learn from it was that we were a little bit ragged towards the end of the game and we could have conceded more which would have put a harsh reflection on the score line – so first half disappointed, second half pleased with their reaction, with the fine margin in our favour we could have easily got ourselves in a position to get something from the game but then end up with nothing, which at times you just have to accept.

The save from Mitch Megginson at 2-1 was a crucial part of the game, it was a really good save, because I was right in line with it and Michael Duffy tried to put in the rebound, it was a terrific block from one of their centre half’s. On reflection it was an important part in the game, who knows what have happened if that had went in, but in a game in which Morton score four goals they usually deserve to win the football match, it was round an important part in the game, we were having a good spell and looking the most likely team at that period to score, but we didn’t, when you don’t it means that the next goal can kill you off.

Nothing today has changed what I have said to the players – It is very easy to play football when things are going well for you but it is much more of a test of character and hopefully our players will have stages in their careers when things are going better for them, it is easy to buckle or say it is to hard or just give in, but I don’t think the players are doing that and what we must do is approach every game positively and try and win it, regardless of what the outcome of that is, so I try and prepare them as best as I can before each game and it is a good test of character for them because the easiest thing human nature dictates is to say this is too difficult but they have not done that and I don’t believe they will.

To come away with nothing at Cappielow on Saturday, after all the effort the players put in is really frustrating. The players themselves are frustrated by the recent run of results but know they can still turn things around. Once again on Saturday it turned into a game of “first goal the winner” , the margins in this league are tighter than ever and looking back the players know when chances come along they must be taken at this level or you will be punished. However, it took a wonder strike from a second half free kick for Greenock Morton to claim full points at Cappielow and seperate the teams. The Wasps will now face Queen of the South next Saturday at the Indodrill Stadium, after James Fowler’s men were defeated 4-1 at Dumfries by Livingston which pushed “The Wasps” to the foot of the table.

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danny lennon at cappielow

Disappointed with the result, but we know just how challenging and difficult this league is, but once again today to put in a performance, especially in the first half, it’s difficult to take that we again take nothing from the game. The difference was the one piece of brilliance which won Greenock Morton the game today, it was a fantastic free kick, what we have to address is the challenges and the free kicks we give away and there is fine lines between controlled aggression and rash, rushing in there challenges and giving the referee the opportunity to give a free kick, I thought personally it was a foul but there is such fine lines within decisions in every game. I thought in the first half we did well and the points were there for the taking, but where we had to improve was in that final third, continually I feel we are still trying to look for that perfect pass or that extra touch to set us up, and more often than not at this minute in time when we do take that extra touch we lose out on that pass that we are looking for, which has been going against us. I’m a great believer if you don’t buy a raffle ticket you cannot win, so we need to take the most of our chances when they are presented.

We know the challenge which we have signed up for at the start of the season, teams will defend deep and once again the first goal was going to prove so important. It is even more disappointing to find ourselves now bottom of the league after other results today, but we know that it is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and we are getting a lot closer to teams and our stats within the games are improving but the biggest stat that we must improve on at this time is that when we do have that bit of ascendancy at any given stage we must make it count and take our opportunities when they arise that’s the frustrating part. Michael Chopra had a great chance in the first half and he will be disappointed he didn’t put it away but he scored some great goals at the end of last season to keep us in this Division and there is no reason why he cannot reach these levels again and he will. Every single game for us is crucial and we again are disappointed we didn’t take something out of our past two games which we have lost 1-0, we know what this football club have achieved in the past three seasons staying in this fantastic league and we have to try and emulate that to go beyond that and achieve a fourth consecutive season in the Championship.

I believe in every one of the boys in that dressing room and there are some, I look at Jason Marr’s performances in the last four or five weeks where he has been exceptional and these are the levels we should be reaching, Colin Hamilton is now settling in to the games in away we knew he could. Morton being a full time team get far more time with their players to work on things, I can’t always come out with that excuse but the players are getting to know my style of play better and they are also getting to know me better and I am getting to know them better as well, but the most important thing is I can get the maximum out of these players, it is also the players own responsibility not only with us on a Tuesday or Thursday but they do take it on for themselves to do that wee bit extra, we have some great pros so that is not a big ask.

At the end of the day we cannot legislate for a piece of brilliance which wins the game, it was a worthy goal to win any game. What we have to look at is the fact people might say we have not replaced Liam Buchanan, but where do you replace a player like that? Apart from Liam Buchanan who scored 17 goals last season the likes of Kevin Cawley got 5 goals , but at this time we cannot rely on one person we need everybody to be looking to get on the score sheet be it Andy McNeil or David Crawford, but we cannot get ourselves down to low , yes we are disappointed and we will wake up the same as the fans because we are passionate about the game and have that washing machine going within our belly, here we go and you will be hiding from people at work but you cannot get to low, also on the high’s we mustn’t get carried away. Our joy and our fulfilment will be at the end of this season whether we are playing in this league for a fourth consecutive season and that’s what will count in May not where we are just now that is you aim.

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barry smith at cappielow

Cappielow is a difficult place to come, but the boys started the game better than they have been doing in previous weeks and I think it gave us something to work with. I thought in the first half we did very well and in the second half, it’s what’s this league is all about – grinding out results and I am delighted the hard work, effort, commitment that the players have put in. Scott pulled off an important save from David Robertson, but I think he has done that all season and credit to him, when Morton had their chances he has pulled off the saves when required, but it was a great team effort, which is the most important factor, the team when required were able to grind out such an important result today. We are now looking forward to our next game on Tuesday night against Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy, but hopefully the players can take a bit of confidence knowing if we have to grind out a result we will and if we get the chance to go and play, which is difficult in this league then we will go and try and play, people have said this is a big win but it is three points. We are at a stage in the season it’s a good three points. We want to concentrate on what we do and not get drawn on other results elsewhere – teams will pick up points and lose points from now till the end of the season, as long as we pick up more and look after ourselves that’s the main thing. At the end it looked like we could have had a penalty kick, the slide marks are certainly inside the box, but the referee has not given it, we have won the game, it didn’t matter as much but it would have been a different story had we not won. Tuesday night will be another tough challenge but one the boys should go into that game feeling good and better about themselves and looking to take today’s performance into Tuesday’s game.

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.

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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.