A late Tom Walsh goal grabbed Saints a share of the points against Falkirk this evening and caretaker manager, Allan McManus was more than pleased by what he saw from his side. He said:
“Delighted to get a point on the board, to be fair I think we deserved a point. I don’t think we played as fluently as we did last week, to be fair Falkirk are a very well organised team. The goal that we lose is typical of what has been happening all season, it’s a horrible deflection and we’re one down. But all credit to the boys in the first half as they have done what I have asked them to do, to be patient with the ball and pass it and they got into some decent areas.
“In the second half I thought we huffed and puffed a wee bit more and I thought the players started to doubt themselves a wee bit for periods. But I said to them at half-time that if it takes till the 89th or 90th minute we have got to keep going, as long as you work your backside off we’ll get back into the game. And all credit to Walshy, he has been absolutely magnificent in training this week and it was a real dilemma to not start him today. He has been very professional about it and I knew that when he got on the pitch that he would make an impact on the game, and he certainly done that.”
Saints once again lost a goal of a freak nature as a wild deflection spun the ball past Jamie Langfield, but Allan reckons the breaks will go in Saints favour before too long. He said:
“It happened last week, it’s happened this week, it’s happened all season. You can see the reaction in the stadium, the fans are thinking ‘here we go again’, there is nothing you can do about it. You just have to get on with it because as the season goes on it will turn for us and we’ll get those wee breaks but again I can’t fault the work rate, their effort and how they played. As I said, we weren’t just as fluid as last week moving the ball but they still tried to pass it. It gives us something for the new management team to build on.
“There has been a lot of criticism thrown at them [the players], everybody is entitled to their opinion but sometimes it has been unjust I think to them, and all credit to them they have absolutely worked their backside off since I’ve been fortunate enough to work with them. I had no doubts they would continue to work and they deserved that point.”
The late goal seemed to revitalise Saints and they looked the more likely side to win the match after the equaliser. Allan said:
“I think that’s what the guys needed just to get a wee bit of positivity and it was the same last week when they got a goal in front and then back level, it gives teams the confidence. You know, where we are in the league just now players won’t be as confident as they usually are but all credit to them, they pushed on and didn’t just sit in and looked to go and get that win. It wasn’t to be but it gives us a point to build on.”
As we await the appointment of a new manager, Allan reflects on his time as caretaker boss. He said:
“We’ll be back in on Monday and start preparing for next week’s game. Whenever a new manager comes in he will take over the reigns but until I’m told otherwise I’ll do my best to prepare the boys for next week’s game against Hibs.
“I’ve absolutely loved it. I keep saying that it is not about me but I’ve absolutely enjoyed my time, I have learned a lot about myself. Something that I thought that I might not be interested in doing but to be fair it has gave me a wee taster. Maybe the next five, ten years, who knows? But I’ve got a lot to learn still and I am more than happy doing what I’m doing at the Academy just now which is a fantastic job.”
