Saturday 20th July, 2013 at 1:56pm
There is understandably something a bit false about pre-season games lacking, as they do, a competitive edge. When speaking to [link:HOME] after the defeat at Arbroath manager Alan Archibald summed things up pretty well when he said;
“We need a competitive game to kick us into shape”, before continuing;
“Pre-season is frustrating; I said midway through the first half that the game felt like an end of season game to be honest. I don’t know if that was down to the game being at the seaside or not but there was no real urgency about it.”
Alan went on;
“The first half I thought was fine. We had a few chances, there was some good play. Things that we’ve worked on were good and the pressing was good. Second half though we started very poorly and that continued. It was slackness that cost us the goal. The only positives from the second half were the substitutes, who I thought all acquitted themselves well especially the two kids. David Wilson picked up a knock earlier in pre-season and that’s really the only reason that he hasn’t been involved more than he has.”
And what of the performance of new loan signing Henoc Mukendi?
“It’s new surroundings for him and it’s new team mates for him; he only met the boys yesterday. It was good to get him some game time and I thought that he showed some good touches and he was fine. I think playing against Arbroath he will learn what playing football in Scotland is all about; it’s very physical.”
Alan went on;
“The overall fitness is good. There are still one or two that need a bit more. Jordan McMillan, for example, hasn’t played many games and it was good to be able to give him the full 90 minutes today. Sean Welsh and Stuart Bannigan are obviously still missing. They are a big loss and I think you can see that. Stuart we hope will be back training on Monday and with the start of the season now just under 2 weeks away we hope that he will be ready. Sean though will be struggling to be ready for the start of the season.”
There was another absentee against Arbroath?
“Steven Lawless we left out today because his partner was going into labour and the baby could have arrived at any time. He wanted to come but we told him just to leave it which turned out to be the right decision as his partner gave birth to a baby girl. We are all delighted for them.”
The away pre-season games are now over and it will be back home to Firhill next for the friendly with AEL Limassol. Like us all, Alan will be glad to be back at Firhill.
“I’ll be glad to get back playing at Firhill; the only reason we haven’t is because the pitch hasn’t been ready.
