Manager Mark Warburton has demanded a reaction from the players following the disappointing defeat to Hibernian at Easter Road at the last time of asking.
With the unbeaten and winning run coming to an end following the two one defeat, Warburton explained to the Official Site in his pre Alloa press conference, that whilst everyone was rightly disappointed and he felt we could’ve done better on the day, there’s no need to build the defeat into what it isn’t because it’s football and sometimes you lose – but when you lose that’s when you show a reaction and that’s what he expects to see this weekend.
In some ways the defeat could be a blessing as it will ensure focus and make sure that complacency doesn’t creep in and send us into a real dip of form.
‘We`ve played 12 and we have won 11 games. We`ve just checked and we are one point ahead of where Hearts were at this stage last season. It puts the boys back on focus and back on track. We`ve trained well this week, and we are eager for 3pm on Saturday. It is important that you learn from every game. You can`t say that and then not act on it from our point of view we have to be better – every day we have to do that. As a group we are moving forward and hopefully we will send out a statement on Saturday.’
As for the positives from the game, there were plenty in his mind although the one statistic wasn’t in our favour.
‘The stats tell us that in the first 15 minutes we were a little bit hesitant in getting out to the ball with our new shape. We got started and dominated possession 65-35. We had a lot of the ball and there were chances for Lee, Tav and Waggy etc. but we didn`t take them and there were some good saves as well. There were opportunities, and we need to be more clinical, but they know that. You look at the highest levels of the game – and it is all about taking your chances. But they are a great group, and there is no doubt about their reaction. We don`t have to tell them what their reaction should be as they came up with the right one. They are focussed. They were angry and frustrated last week, but they have handled it in the right way. But there is a lot to be positive about. We are not happy about losing a game of football – but we`ve played 12, won 11, and we are in good shape.’
Warburton added that if anybody had said at the start of the season we’d have eleven wins from twelve he would’ve more than taken that, especially as we find ourselves five points clear in the table – and he doubts he’s alone in that – so again disappointment yes, but not an over the top reaction.
‘You always learn something from every game you play. We asked the players what they would do – would they as they were or would they move forward? Their reaction was never in doubt – we focussed it and trained well this week, and we are in good shape.’
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