Reaction

Jim Goodwin will reflect on the match at Coatbridge on Saturday knowing that on the day the team didn’t do enough to win after going 1 – 0 ahead in the first half, the first time the team has gone ahead in a league match since defeating Stenhousemuir on the 5th November, 2016, 4-1 at the Indodrill Stadium. Any team can beat another at any given time in this league and there are no easy matches.

The players are giving the manager everything but in the second half Albion Rovers came right back into the match showing the form which allowed them to defeat Livingston, Airdrieonians, Brechin City & Q.O.S. this season. Our focus has not changed and the players look to go out and win every match to try and gain us promotion at the end of the season by achieving at least a top four spot. Next week we face Livingston in another huge game for the club, knowing we must win if we are to catch the Almondvale club in the chase for the title.

jim goodwin after draw at coatbridge

I think it probably was a fair result, I thought it was a game of two halves, we were the better team in the first half but credit to Albion Rovers they were the better team in the second half, they put us under a lot of pressure. The game got a little bit stretched for my liking to be honest with you, I didn’t think we managed the game well enough in the second half, we allowed Albion Rovers the opportunity to break on us on numerous occasions, I tried to make changes to stem that but I think it is a good point in the end to be honest with you, although the draws are killing us, I think on the way the game was going in the second half I think it was a decent point.

Disappointed after going in front, it was the first time we have went ahead in a game for a wee while so we were sitting at half-time delighted to be a goal up, but getting clean sheets are massive as well, it was a good goal from Albion Rovers point of view but disappointed with our marking. It was a decent ball in around our near post but I would need to see it back, the lads dug in which they had to do at the end because Albion Rovers were throwing everything at us that’s why I think it was a valuable point in the end.

Andy Wilson was excellent in goal, I was delighted with him I had every confidence in him before the game, he trains with the first team every week and he is certainly a fantastic prospect in the future, he is a decent size he is still growing he is only a young 18 year old lad, but his kicking and distribution and he came for one in the second half and punched it clear, he has a great temperament as well and he is quite a laid back guy so I was reluctant to go out and get another goalkeeper when I knew the quality of Andy so delighted for him really pleased just disappointed we couldn’t get him a clean sheet which I thought his performance deserved.

Adding Dylan Mackin to our squad in midweek , a another player I was delighted to bring to the club, that is probably us done now in the January transfer window, I don’t need any more in and I don’t really want to lose anyone, however we might try to get one or two of the young boys out on loan to try and get them some senior experience, I don’t want to have them sitting on the bench and not getting any game time, so if we can get one or two away to the right clubs we consider that but delighted to get Dylan, Frank and Stefan in and hopefully Stefan’s back is not too bad after taking a sore one today, I think the three additions we have made have certainly improved us and that was always our aim looking for boys to kick us on at this important part of the season.

Next Saturday’s match against Livingston is huge, they are all big games there is no easy games in this league we were well aware of how difficult a task it was going to be today against a good Albion Rovers side and Livingston will be no different they are top of the table for a reason, they have a very good team but it’s a game we have to go and win it’s as simple as that.