Away point a step forward for Dools

Monday 19th November, 2018 at 11:21am

With another improved performance at the New Falkirk Stadium securing a point on the road for the Jags there was plenty from the 90 minutes to reflect positively. Some excellent passing moves weren’t rewarded with the goals that the play deserved and a stubborn defensive performance could, on another day, quite easily have secured a clean sheet.

Despite the positives though, Jags number nine 9, Kris Doolan, reflected on the match with an element of frustration that his side now sit on 10 and not 12 points. The Jags front man played 90 minutes but, like his teammates struggled to find space in the Falkirk box. In the end a 1-1 draw meant the end of seven straight defeats for the Maryhill men and definitely gives the side something to build on going into the free week.

Doolan spoke exclusively to ptfc.co.uk following the full time whistle:

“Performance wise it was a step forward that built on last week and I reckon we can take a bit of confidence from that game because we were the better side.

“Having said that I think that everyone is disappointed because it’s a game where we did actually make that breakthrough and take the lead but we let them back into it straight away which is obviously frustrating. We are always striving for the win which we didn’t get today, so obviously we aren’t completely satisfied but we have to take the positives from that and when we look back I know there were plenty to see in that performance.”

The club captain felt his side put together some fantastic passing moves with long periods of possession in possession. Falkirk’s defence were resolute though and stood strong to the sustained pressure applied by the visitors.

“I thought that, especially in the first half, we moved the ball well. We tried to move them from side to side and look for space and we did find that in patches. They were a well-drilled side as we knew they would be. We worked the ‘keeper a bit more in the second half but it still wasn’t enough and that’s something we’ll need to improve if we want to move up this table.

“They clearly had a game plan based on missing a couple of their more attacking threats but as forward thinking teams we have to challenge ourselves to break down the stubborn defences we come against every week.

“I think we missed a wee spark today but you can definitely see the work that is going in during the week is coming to fruition now. We need to keep our focus and build on what we have going into the Queen of the South game in a fortnight.”

It’s now two weeks until the Jags’ next fixture in Dumfries and while Doolan is always keen to get back on the pitch as soon as possible he knows the break will give the squad a valuable opportunity to get back to the training pitch without the pressure of a game looming on the Saturday.

“I love playing football, pure and simple, so I don’t like the break as much because I just want to get back on the pitch. I think after Saturday most of the players are the same and they want to get back out and build on the positive aspects of that performance. We really feel like we’re just a moment away from things really clicking and it would be great to be able to continue that straight away.

“The only way we are going to get that final piece of the puzzle though is by continuing the hard work we have put in so far. This week gives us a chance to take a step back and spend time on things that we might otherwise not get the chance to when were focused on the next game coming on Saturday.

“One thing is for sure though, whatever happens between now and then – we’ll be ready for Queen of the South in two weeks time.”

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