Managers post Kilmarnock
Friday, 11th Feb 202212/02/22: Link to audio of both managers post match comments
- - Listen to this John Hughes interview
John Hughes was disappointed with the result but not for the first 70 minutes performance. He told the media post match:-
“I felt that in the first half we were in total control playing some great football. We were the far better team. We missed the penalty but it didn’t deter us in any shape or form. We played some good football in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half and got our goal but it spooked us a little bit.
“Once we got our goal we sat off it. That might be down to Kilmarnock, it maybe gave them a lift but we need to be better than that. We need to manage the game, look after it a little bit more and do the things that we were doing in the first half. It puts us on the front foot.
“So I’m really disappointed and disappointed with the goals but no matter what kind of goal that is scored against you there is always the disappointment that comes with it. We did enough to get something out of the game if not win the game but you always have to give your opponent credit as well.
“That last twenty minutes of the second half it was all Kilmarnock so we need to stand up to that and manage it better.”
You fielded Efe Ambrose for his first start today?
“He is brilliant, I love him to bits. He got done a bit for the first goal, he came out too early and the boys nicked it round him. These things happen, it is part and parcel of football. Football has a habit of not always going your way but I think that I have a real good bunch of boys in there.
“I think that you can see that. We are in a false position as far as I am concerned but football doesn’t owe you anything. Anything you get out of football you have to graft to go and get it. Big Efe will bring that experience, he is a good organiser and I really enjoy working with him.”
Eleven games left and two of them are against Kilmarnock so it should be important to master them?
“You can see that they are a good side, they have their ambition to go up and they will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. It was a good win for them because I fancied our chances today and I fancy our chances against any other team that we play against. I really have a great belief and trust in my boys.
“I’m honest enough to say that football doesn’t always go your way. We need to take this, take the hurt, roll our sleeves up and go again.”
The manager revealed that Reece Cole started in place of Dan Pybus because he had been a close covid contact and had to isolate:-
“Coley has been champing at the bit, he has got himself in good shape. He is a lovely footballer and we just need to see more energy, enthusiasm every day in training. If he does that technically and football wise it is not in question. Doing it every day, day in day out to be the best that you can be - if he can do that he will be in my starting eleven.
“He got a nick on the calf which was unfortunate but he has plenty talent. It might just have knocked us a bit having to make substitutions. Substitutions, sometimes they go for you, sometimes they go against you, sometimes they knock your rhythm- it is part and parcel of football.
Do you think that you can go on a run to get yourself back up that table?
“You have to. I am under no illusions how difficult it is going to be. Everybody in this league is capable of beating each other. We just need to stick together and hopefully get back to winnings ways against Partick. It is not an easy game but if we keep doing it right and do what we did and keep our foot on the pedal for the full 90 minutes then every team that we play against will know that they have been in a game.”
- - Hear the thoughts of Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes
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