Reaction

Alloa Athletic had problems even before they kicked a ball at East End Park on Tuesday night, there were players stuck in traffic jams on the way to the game, therefore manager Allan Maitland after announcing his team for the Co-operative Insurance Cup 2nd Round tie against Dunfermline Athletic was then forced to make three changes to his original team. Steven McKeown and Graeme Brown were replaced in the starting eleven by Scot Buist and John Grant, while Jamie Hay was replaced on the bench by Francis Kelly, Steven McKeown managed to be on the bench, but Andy Scott had to replace Graeme Brown who was not going to be at the ground in time for kick-off. The manager then had to go with the players who had arrived and this unsettled us at the beginning of the game Ironically the only goal of the game was scored as earlier as the eighth minute with Dunfermline’s first shot at goal.

manager after dunfermline athletic game

At the goal we allowed Andy Kirk to run unopposed and I thought Jellie could have done better, but he said to me, gaffer the shot was flying and it was almost past me before I moved, so you have to give Andy Kirk a bit of credit for the strike. The second half we got a grip of the things and played so much better, obviously from their point of view a one goal lead is near enough and the longer it stayed at one the deeper they got, but we played with a lot of spirit, and all the things that have been missing in our play recently, it helped with Brown Ferguson and Dougie Wilson back in the team, we were so much better, great movement, Kyle was better and we only lack that cutting edge at the moment, but if we take that display into our league form, starting on Saturday against Stranraer, we will not be far away from being a good team again, the display against Dunfermline Athletic proved that but we need to make sure we carry on from that display now in our league form. Young Gregg Spence again came on for the final eleven minutes and did very well, we need to keep Bomber and Jinky fit for Saturday and let’s hope David McClune and Andy Ferguson are also available again after injury. Jamie Stevenson went off after only 16 minutes at East End Park after feeling his hamstring tighten which is a worry for Saturday, but we will have to wait and see.