Manager Post Airdrieonians
Saturday, 17th Jan 2015John Potter had to settle for a 2-2 draw for the second league match running and understandably he felt that it was another disappointment:-
- - Listen to this John Potter interview
"I thought we started the first half pretty poor. We just couldn't cope with the front two and long balls up the pitch. We weren't winning our headers, we weren't winning second balls and we got too deep.
"That was sloppy play and we lost a sloppy goal again. Allan Smith got a penalty and we managed to get back in it. We ended the first half a bit better but it was poor for us.
"The second half was pretty similar, we couldn't really get going again. We lost a goal from a corner. We have been working on setpieces but again there were people not doing their jobs.
"I think the substitutions gave us a pick up. We got a good goal from Michael Moffat and then I thought we were the better team for the last fifteen to twenty minutes. We just couldn't get the winner. Overall I thought we were okay without being great.
"I don't know why it took us so long to get going. We had a good week training but we didn't start the game properly given the way they played. Jim Lister was winning a lot of balls, Bryan Prunty was making runs off and the defenders weren't dealing with them it was as simple as that.
"We seemed to get a bit nervous and not doing the right things. That is when you have to stand up and get counted. We didn't do that but we managed to get in at half time a bit lucky that it was a draw because they had chances."
The introduction of subs Ryan Wallace and Michael Moffat worked to alter the way the game was going. Moffat scored within five minutes of coming off the bench:-
"They gave us a bit more. I was trying to get guys on to score goals. I am delighted for Michael to get his goal, he took it really well and he could have won it in the end. The three linked up well together but we need to sort ourselves out at the back. We have been working on setpieces all week but when somebody switches off we lose a goal and that is disappointing."
Many of the Pars players sunk towards the ground at the final whistle possibly realising that no win would mean another hard week of training every day. Potter observed that he thought his team looked the fitter towards the end of the match but confirmed that hard work would be on the agenda from now until the end of the season to try and get points.
The manager gave an assessment of his two new signings and revealed that Jim Paterson was subbed midway through the first half as a precaution:-
"He hurt his groin early on and you could see that he was not moving properly. I thought Kyle McAusland looked strong, he did well in the middle of the park but tired towards the end. That is his first game in a month and he has not even trained that much.
"I thought Andy Barrowman was the opposite, he took a while to get going and towards the end he looked stronger with the players round about him. He was asked to do a certain job with guys coming off him. He held the ball up better toward the end. I am pleased with the two of them but there will be loads more to come from the three of them."
With Morton the side's next opponents the manager felt that he could take strength from the urgency shown in the last twenty minutes:-
"I don't think that we have had that recently when we have gone behind; we have looked defeated at times and a bit soft. There wasn't that today, there was a reaction when they went 2-1 down. I did think that we were going to score and even when it went to 2-2 we were pushing to get that winner as well.
"That is one pleasing thing from the game, we did show desire to get back into the game."
The manager was also able to confirm that central defender Jonathan Page had returned to East Fife on loan until the end of the season.
- - Listen to Airdrieonians manager Garry Bollan`s thoughts
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