Managers Post Alloa

26/08/08: "At times we never had that, we never had enough options. Alloa were excellent in the second half; they put us under a lot of pressure."

MATCH PICTURES
A win over Alloa Athletic was what the Manager wanted but Jim McIntyre was left counting the cost as first Stephen Glass, then Greg Shields and next Kevin Harper were forced to withdraw with hamstring injuries:-

"It was a costly victory. Three injuries didn't help us but all credit to Alloa, they came and put on a great performance. The enforced substitutions, bringing two boys on unsettled things. Bell has not played; he played just half an hour on Saturday and has missed a whole pre season.

Kevin Harper followed Stephen Glass and Greg Shields to the treatment room

"I brought Simon Wiles on as well who has done a pre season but not played any games. That does affect things and we had to move a left back into the left of central defence as well. I will not use that as an excuse. I just thought at times we were a wee bit sloppy with our passing. It invites pressure on you and then the other team gets a lift from that.

"In the first half hour we played really well and knocked the ball about well. We switched the play well which we spoke about doing, and got some great crosses in, but just weren't ruthless enough.

"I expect four in the box. We work on runs from midfield, if the wide man is on the ball two strikers plus a central midfielder and the opposite wide man getting in the box.  At times we never had that, we never had enough options. Alloa were excellent in the second half; they put us under a lot of pressure."

Alloa Manager Alan Maitland:-

"We had players stuck on the Kincardine Bridge. We had a problem with that earlier in the season and it really disrupted the game so I decided just to go with the players who were there.

"We allowed Kirk run unopposed and I thought our goalie should have done better but as he said to me 'gaffer it was flying, it was almost past me before I moved'.  You have to give Andy a bit of credit for the strike.

"We got a grip of things in the second half, played so much better. From their point of view one is never enough and the longer it stays at one, the deeper they got. We played with a lot of spirit tonight and were so much better. We just lack that cutting edge at the moment."