Consistency marks success
Sunday, 8th Nov 2015"We have been quite a consistent back four in the last three or four games, you get familiar with each other and you learn what they are going to do.
Marc McAusland was both happy to help the Pars defence achieve their fifth consecutive league shut out and disappointed at the lack of a winning goal at the other end. Marc said that things just did not work out in front of the opposition goal.
"We had chances to win it but decisions in the final third let us down and we only have got ourselves to blame." Marc had no chance to add his assistance to the cause with not one corner to go up for in the first half "that doesn't happen too often" he added.
The former St Mirren captain was presented the Man of the Match award for a contribution that kept out the League One leading goalscorer, Rory McAllister. Marc had come across McAllister at under 19 level when St Mirren played Inverness.
"It has been a while since I came up against him, he is still a similar player - big, competitive and a good finisher. We just tried to keep it tight and not let him get any chances. We did our job and kept a clean sheet. Leighton McIntosh had a good few chances down the right hand side, he was possibly their best player today.
"We just needed to prevent goals and we did that with a little bit of luck on the first half. One hit the post but that was their only clear chance on the first half. They came into it a bit in the second half and we were a bit fortunate not to have a penalty given against us. It could have been a penalty when Ben got across Rory McAllister and brought him down. The ref gave a bye kick to us but it could have gone either way."
The five shutouts in a row in League One confirms the success of the partnership Marc McAusland has formed with Ben Richards-Everton since they came together at the end of September.
"We are getting a unity together and forming a good partnership. We just need to keep it going. We have been quite a consistent back four in the last three or four games, you get familiar with each other and you learn what they are going to do. That is a good positive for us, hopefully we can keep the clean sheets coming."
The developing drought of goals contrasts with the ways the goals flooded in at the start of the season. Marc said:-
"It is just one of those things that happens to every club. Hopefully we can kick on next week and get back to winning ways with a few goals. The boys should not be too downhearted about it they have had a great season so far and they just need to kick on."
With league leaders Ayr United being held to a draw at Brechin, the 0-0 with Peterhead was an opportunity lost, Marc continued:-
"You don't know that until you come off but we could have capitalised on them dropping points and being at the top of the table but the positive is that we have not lost any ground on them. We are still a point behind but hopefully we can turn that around if Ayr slip up next week."
The next three games are all away from home and for Marc the Excelsior Stadium, Cliftonhill and Somerset Park are all grounds he has visited before in reserve and under 19 matches.
"Celtic played their reserve games at Excelsior and I have played at the other two. I am looking forward to the next game and kicking on in training on Monday."
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