With off pitch financial issues taking the headlines in recent times again, manager Ally McCoist was glad to get back to the football, and he was delighted with the ‘perseverance’ of the team to keep plugging away against Forfar and securing two well deserved goals inside of the final 15 minutes of the game to take all three points again.
Goals from Bilel Mohsni and substitute David Templeton where enough on the night and it was no more than we deserved really.
Speaking to the Official Site following the game, the gaffer said.
‘Without being disrespectful to Dick Campbell because his hospitality is first class, I’ll be glad we don’t have to come up here again this season. We certainly got a tough game and it was a great three points. We scored two good goals and the second one in particular was fantastic. We kept another clean sheet and Steve Simonsen came in to make an outstanding save so it has been a good night.’
McCoist goes on to say that in the first half we weren’t really at it as he would’ve hoped, but in saying that the first half did go roughly as he expected it to because he knew Forfar would make a battle of it, so not being clear or overly dominating in the first 45 minutes wasn’t really an issue for him. However second half we were much better and the game opened up more and we took advantage of that.
‘We knew it would be tough and that Forfar’s lads would run about like their lives depended on it. Fair play to them for that. They made it extremely difficult for us but we said, if we kept the tempo up and kept the ball moving we would get stronger. That’s how it proved.’
Having struggled with injuries so far this season, Ally also had huge praise for Templeton’s impact in the game, and said that’s what he is capable of doing when he’s on the ball.
‘It was an absolutely tremendous goal. To be fair, the one thing that’s prevented him from first team action is injuries. He has had a disappointing run but anybody would know that when he’s fit, he’ll certainly be involved in our squad.’
Having already referenced goalkeeper Steve Simonsen’s late save in the game, in his club debut to boot, McCoist said it was one of the best saves that he’s seen all season so far at any level.
Simonsen wasn’t expected to be in the starting line up, but No 1 Cammy Bell’s partner went into labour before the game, so obviously the expectant father to be was allowed to be by her side, so in some ways the three points could be dedicated to their new baby girl.
‘It was a tremendous save, and I had a good view of it. Steve was going one way then changed direction when the ball was deflected and he got a hand on it, but having seen it again, it was a big hand at that. It was a great stop.’
Share this article
