Reaction

Once again on Saturday, “The Wasps” were left wondering why, after a late St.Mirren goal against the run of play, denied them to take anything from a game they, especially in the second half played very well, created good chances but could not get the ball past the experienced Jamie Langfield in the St. Mirren goal, who broke the Alloa players hearts with a wonderful one handed save to deny Michael Duffy and a certain Alloa goal. The players didn’t get any breaks on the day and the late goal was a cruel blow.

jack ross after defeat to st mirren

It was another tough defeat to take, especially for the players, I’m not gutted for myself but it is for them, the players, I’ve just left a very quiet dressing room. I thought the players were terrific, in the first half we competed well, there wasn’t a lot in the game but in the second half they were very, very good, I would defy anybody to say otherwise, we were the better team by a stretch, played really well, created good opportunities, I don’t think it was bad finishing, just we needed a wee bit fortune at times, so it was cruel. I have said for a while now, the position we have found ourselves in, if we were going to get out of that position- we will need to be dragged out of the league, we will certainly not go out with just a wee pat on the head. The players have done that in the main since I have come to the club, pride was the thing I asked the players to show today and they showed that in abundance, so I have not one bit of complaint about the performance, the players didn’t deserve that result – but it’s a results business. Nothing I can say will change that, the only thing if they are looking to learn something from today is remember how they feel, try and use that as motivation so they don’t want to feel that pain again.

Michael Duffy was outstanding, he has been a great success for us, it will be beneficial for him over his career, he is a lovely boy with a terrific attitude, I think for the last couple weeks he has not been at his best, his work rate could not be questioned but he didn’t look just as sharp, even in the first half today but in the second half today we asked him to do a couple of different things at half-time and in the second half he was terrific and showed what he has in his locker, he has attributes which make him a threat to defenders, a times it is just getting him to believe in himself enough, believe it or not players are not always arrogant and full of themselves, a lot of them doubt themselves in a lot of ways and you have to make them believe in themselves and was shown in the second half when he was terrific, I couldn’t ask any more from him.

We have known the position we are in for a while now, so we knew we had to win games, today we played very well, especially in the second half but to be fair lady luck has not been kind to us, at times things just wouldn’t fall our way at the right time, maybe it’s just not meant to be, but the spirit the players have shown has been terrific, and I heard supporters going away from today’s game hugely frustrated but proud of the performance of the team. There were a few key moments in the game, not least some of the saves Jamie Langfield produced but he is a very good goalkeeper who played a long time in the Premier League, they had a number of players in their team today who played in the Premier League last season and we were better than them, but his save was a fantastic save, he was not only going the wrong way but the shot is hit with terrific power.