Reaction

“The Wasps” went down to their third defeat in their last four games in the league, the difference between the teams on the day was that Queen of the South took their chances and scored the important first goal, from which they took confidence. Certainly Alloa manager Paul Hartley was disappointed to lose the match but knows the team were creating their own chances but need to be more clinical in front of goal. Alloa started brightly and Andy Kirk and Stephen Simmons had chances to put the visitors in front before Queens got the break through after 30 minutes. In the second half Alloa again started well but were hit with a third goal for Queens against the run of play. Full credit to the Alloa Athletic players who never gave in and substitute Ross Caldwell, making his debut after joining from Hibernian on loan on Friday pulled a goal back and had the opportunity the close the gap further but shot over the bar. Next Saturday Dumbarton will visit Recreation Park in a game “The Wasps” will look to bounce back, looking to get back into winning ways.

paul hartley after defeat in dumfries

In terms of the goals we lost today we could have done better, but in terms of our attacking play today I can’t criticise my players, I thought we were excellent at times, however the difference was that they took their chances and we didn’t. Disappointed in the manner we lost the goals, we work a lot on the defensive side of our game at stopping crosses and they got two of their goals in that way, we allowed too many crosses into our box today. It was two easy goals to prevent for my liking but in our attacking side of the game we had some good performances in terms of how we played and passed it and moved and we put them under pressure at times. We started the game really well in the first 15-20 minutes we were looking good and I was enjoying it and then they got the opening goal  which changed the game, it is a disappointing result and we must look to bounce back next week. Good for Ross Caldwell to score his goal, I thought he did well and after coming on, he looked a threat, a good presence and a good finish for his goal, which was one of the pleasing aspects with Ross getting his goal, I’m sure he will do well for us. We started the second half very well and were on top, the first time Queen’s go up the park they scored their third goal, that’s the thing you have to concentrate for the full ninety minutes and at times today we switched off in our defensive part of our game but as I have said in our attacking game we looked a threat with really good play and moments in the second half, but we need to get back to winning ways next week. We are still wanting to look upwards, it is a tough league and there is no easy games so we need to get back on track and pick a team to win the game next week. At half-time I said to the players, one goal and we are back in this game, what I did ask them is don’t give up, keep going all the way and fight till the end and they did that, they keep fighting till the end and never gave up and showed good spirit amongst themselves. Things got a bit heated with one or two challenges which were let away with but that’s the way it goes. Jason Marr had to go off, he was struggling with a thigh injury, so we are down on another centre half so I might need to see if I can bring someone else in and try and improve the squad. It was a nothing when I was sent to the stand, I thought the play should have been stopped, I said I thought the play should have been stopped, cause the lad had a head injury, he is in the dressing room just now with concussion, and to be fair in hindsight, maybe our players didn’t see it either in terms of putting the ball out of play. I didn’t swear at the ref, just thought the game should have been stopped because Liam Caddis had taken a head knock, but the ref decided to send me to the stand, so I just need to get on with it. He said it was my action in which I threw my arms, but I didn’t swear or anything.