Reaction

“The Wasps” returned to the top of the league after defeating Brechin City at a rain soaked Glebe Park today, the only goal of the game scored by Jason Marr his 2nd winning goal this season having already scored the winning goal versus Inverness CT in the Betfred Cup. Manager Jim Goodwin made two changes to the side which defeated Bala Town last Saturday – himself and Andy Graham returning to the side with Ben Gordon & Graeme Holmes dropping to the bench.

Alloa started well and it was the home side who would have been delighted to go in at half-time all square, however after 69 minutes Jason Marr was to score the only goal of the game to clinch all three points for Jim Goodwin, getting off to the best possible start to his young managerial career, collecting all three points against the league leaders away from home and finishing the day top of the league.

jim goodwin gets off to a winning start

Today was fantastic, I have really been looking forward to the game all week, the boys reaction to me getting the manager’s job has been fantastic, I can’t thank them enough and I think it showed in our performance today, we could have had a couple of goals in the first half to make life a wee bit easier for ourselves but just delighted with the commitment, desire and in the last six or seven minutes bodies on the line, every single one of them just desperate to get the three points, it’s a fantastic three points when you see the other results around us and the win puts us back on top of the league, which is where we want to be, it’s a massive step in the right direction.

I said a long time ago, when Jack Ross was in charge, the group of players which we have are fantastic and I think that is why the chairman was inundated with CV’s because every manager out of work knew, looking at the squad how good we are and I have been very fortunate to be given the opportunity and I just want to carry on the good work Jack has done and I can’t thank the lads enough for their effort. Tuesday and Thursday nights training was fantastic and today they took on the messages that I was asking them and to a man they were brilliant.

We have to keep our feet on the ground and realise it is only the end of the first quarter of the season but we have played everyone now and we know what everyone of the other teams are like. We had a little blip dropping two points at Stenhousemuir being 2-0 up and getting beaten in our last home game by Airdrieonians it was important that we put that spell behind us and get back to winning ways. I stressed during the week and prior to today’s game that clean sheets were important because we will always score goals we are so dangerous going forward, we have great players in attacking parts of the pitch, it was so important defensively, big Neil Parry hasn’t had much to do all day and he then pulls out an absolute wonder save at the end, that’s what he is there to do, delighted for me as a young manager in my first job, it is important to get that first win as soon as possible, absolutely over the moon.

I had a couple of really difficult decisions to make today, making a couple of changes and these are difficult conversations with the lads because we went down to Bala in Wales and played really well, won 4-2. I have to say that the boys took it really well, they were very respectful and of course they are disappointed, I can’t tell you the number of times I have had the same thing through the years, from managers telling me I was not starting, it is a horrible feeling, so I completely understand the situation the boys are in, they were great and put that feeling behind them and were supportive of the starting eleven. That’s what we have got a great squad and the boys on the bench want us the win just us the starting eleven do, we are blessed to have that.

You can see why Brechin City were at the top of the league, I think big Darren has them well organised and the three centre half’s are big aggressive boys who defend their box really well, there was never going to be much in today’s game, they passed the ball really well and I thought they had spells in the game but overall we were the better team and I don’t think anybody could argue that, but great credit to Brechin who were sitting at the top of the table, we respect every team we come up against, people have suggested it will be about Alloa and Livingston but Brechin will also be right in the mix because they have some very good individuals and have a great team spirit, so fair play to them.