Reaction

Saturday’s defeat at the Bet Butler Stadium, Dumbarton was a poor result in a game when “The Wasps” started on the ascendancy and looked to take the game to the home side after they had lost 3-0 to Morton in midweek. The opening goal which is so important came about after referee Andrew Dallas had over ruled his assistant on the main stand side and gave a throw in to the home side, from this attack Mark Gilhaney swept a hopeful ball into the Alloa box which was missed by everyone and sneaked into the net at the back post after going in off the post. Alloa came back and Michael Doyle tried to open his account for the season but the best chance fell to Darren Young who at the back post knocked his effort off the legs of keeper Jamie Ewings. Worse was to follow two minutes into the second half when Garry Fleming scored the 2nd goal of the match with an effort very similar to the opening goal. Ross Caldwell presented Andy Kirk with a great cross, which he flicked past the home defence but Andy Kirk’s net bound header was again blocked by the home keeper. Ex Alloa player Scott Agnew made it three ten minutes from the end before Chris Kane increased the margin to 4-0. Alloa substitute Liam Caddis was then rewarded for shooting at goal when his effort was deflected past Jamie Ewings for a late consolation.

barry smith at dumbarton

The players all work hard and give their all for the club, they just need to have a stronger mentality at times when things aren’t going their way. It was a very disappointing afternoon for us and the boys all know that they can play a lot better. It was just a bad day at the office though, where we haven’t defended properly but that isn’t just down to the defenders. It was a whole team problem. In the first half, I thought we competed well and did the right things early on. There just seems to be that fear factor among the players when they concede a goal, we just seem to be very vulnerable and I can’t seem to get to the bottom of it. Every game from now until the end of the season is a big game for us now. We will look for a reaction from them against Morton but the players know themselves that the performance wasn’t good enough and they must improve if we are to take three points in that game.There is definitely enough quality in the team, that if we do go a goal down, we should be able to score. We just don’t seem to be taking our chances when they come along either. Some of the goals we lost in the match were really uncharacteristic from our point of view. We have got a good defensive record so it was unusual to concede four goals and in the manner that we lost them in. We can’t afford to concede a goal like that as early in the second half like we did because we didn’t get a chance to settle into the game in the second half. But then we need to react better to the situation.It is hard to slaughter them after a game like this where they have played well in stages and created chances but then we are conceding bad goals. I still have great confidence and belief in this team because I know they will do everything in their power to keep us in this division. I believe it, I just need the players to start believing in it.