Manager post U20s match
Monday, 12th Jan 201512/01/15:- JP "I would like to apologise to all the fans that went..... We will work hard, morning and afternoon to fix it."
John Potter spoke to the website after he played the second half of the Under 20s match against Hibs on Monday night. He was disappointed to come out on the wrong side of a five goal scoreline and especially unhappy to concede all three goals at corner kicks from the left.
"The first goal was just flicked on into the front area and somebody lost their man. The second goal was the exact same really. The third Andy Geggan just lost his man. Three simple goals but I have to admit that they were the better team in the first half.
"Hibs moved the ball better but from open play Faissal El Bakhtaoui had two good chances. They didn't have great chances but scored two goals from setpieces. In the second half we started better but they got their goal."
The gaffer was especially pleased to see the character in his team to get it back to 3-2, he continued:-
"We came on strong again, showed good fitness when we could have just chucked it. We didn't and could have got the equaliser towards the end. Plenty of positives from the game but the negative side of it is defending from setpieces,"
The manager had been forced to come on for the second half because of an injury to his young centre half Jordan Orru but he was adamant that there was no way he was fit for two games in the one week. Another option open to him on the striking front was also reminded to him as James Thomas hit two late goals:-
"I wasn't going to play but had to come in having not played for a bit. It is good to get a good feel for the players out there when you play with them. James I played just off the striker first half but it didn't really suit him so I played him right up top.
"He has good movement and he is a threat in the box. He is clever and he took his goals well. Those are the type of goals that he scores. He was excellent and he is developing all the time."
The 17 year old was unlucky not to earn a penalty in the last minute of the ninety:-
"He was going into the box and he was dragged back. I thought it was a definite but the referee didn't give it."
There was no news on the player front although he had not had time to listen to all the messages on his phone:-
"Nothing new but I thought some of the guys who played tonight played well. Faissal played well, Andy Stirling showed glimpses in the second half and James Thomas scored two goals when other guys are not doing it. He is knocking at the door, he has played in one first team game and scored a goal.
"There are guys there who did not do themselves any harm to try and get involved in the first team on Saturday. There are a couple there that might be under consideration."
Since Saturday the players have been in every day, the gaffer continued:-
"I had them in on Sunday, had a chat, worked them really hard, worked them really hard this morning, they had a game tonight and we will be in all week because Saturday was just not acceptable.
"We spoke to the players and behalf of all of them and us, I would like to apologise to all the fans that went. The players and staff know that the performance on Saturday was unacceptable and we will work hard, morning and afternoon to fix it. Hopefully we will get a better result on Saturday."
The opposition on Saturday is Airdrieonians and there is a need to make up for a disappointing 3-1 defeat there a month ago:-
"That was probably our most disappointing ninety minutes of the season. We never played the whole game and it is up to us to go and do it this week. It is a difficult game but we have to be more confident in ourselves and have a belief to do well on Saturday."
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