Manager Post Arbroath

19/07/16: AJ - "Once everybody is fit we are going to have a really strong squad ...

Allan Johnston was happy with the win over Arbroath but did think that his team had been a bit sluggish in the first half and speculated that it might be because of the 26 degree temperature that the match started in. He told the media post match:-

"It was maybe because of the weather, it was really hot and we never got the tempo up in the game. I thought we totally dominated it in the second half and could probably have scored a lot more goals.

"We created a lot of chances in the second half, passed the ball through them and you could see from some of the tackles that they were getting a bit frustrated because they couldn`t get near the boys. That is what the boys are like when they start passing the ball."

It was the team`s first competitive game and even Arbroath`s Dick Campbell confessed he was impressed by the Pars pace. Allan Johnston commented:-

"First half wasn`t good enough but once we started moving the ball quicker we looked a far better team. Obviously it was good to score a few goals.

"Gavin Reilly has put in two really good balls for the goals and the third goal was a cracker. Kallum Higginbotham turned and hit a quality pass in for Ryan Williamson who put a great ball into the box. Moffat was in the right position to finish it off. Good goals and if we had been even more clinical could have scored more. The pleasing thing is the clean sheet as well."

The manager was especially pleased with his latest signing Kallum Higginbotham whose income from Kilmarnock helped attract a player of his calibre.

"We are delighted to get him on board. He is a player with ability. He has missed pre season so these games are like a catch up for him. I am sure that he will be a massive player for us this year. He is desperate to get his career back on track.

"Players like that give us good competition. I thought Lewis Spence came on and did really well in the middle of the park. Paul McMullan came on but is missing a bit of game time. Once everybody is fit we are going to have a really strong squad and still trying to bring in another one at least."

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