Broomhill Away – Post Match Thoughts
Q: 0-0 today, what were your thoughts on the game?
KH: It certainly wasn’t a classic. It wasn’t one for the spectators and it kind of looked like we were playing against a team that didn’t want to get beat. They made life difficult and there wasn’t much football on show.
I felt that we created lots of chances, the better chances and, in terms of performance-wise, that’s all that’s missing today. I thought we won the midfield battle and we were well on top. I thought we controlled the game for 80 minutes, other than the first 10 minutes where they put us under pressure.
After we got through that 10 minute spell, there was only one team who really looked like they were going to win the game.
Q: As you said, lots of chances through the game. Which one was the best one we had today?
KH: Liam (Buchanan) had a good opportunity in the first half and I don’t know how the guy’s managed to get a toe on it. He probably should have hit it a bit quicker.
Even in the second half, we’ve had a few chances. Liam again had that header which just goes past the post, the goalie’s made a save in the last minute of the game from Liam but I’m not going to criticise them for missing chances as long as they make the goalkeeper work, as long as the goalkeeper has to save it.
We’re creating chances and that’s all I can ask for.
Q: A fourth clean sheet in a row now, what’s going right defensively right now?
KH: We’re in better positions, we’re taking less risks and that gives you a platform in a game. As long as you’re not conceding goals, if we continue to do that, we’ll give ourselves the best opportunity to win football games.
Q: There were first league appearances for Ali Shrive and Craig Smith today, how do you feel they got on?
KH: They both did well. Craig got a knock in the first half and we thought we might have to take him off but he got through it.
It wasn’t a game for the midfielders to get on the ball and make things happen. The pitch wasn’t the best and it was about winning second balls. The team who won the most second balls would have the best chances today.
Q: Talking of the pitch, how much do the players have to change their style to suit the conditions?
KH: You saw it at the beginning of the second half, there was a pass to Blair Sneddon and it’s bobbled and it’s went out for a throw in and it plays a massive part.
We set up today to play down the sides of the pitch and it transpired we couldn’t. It’s rutted on both sides of the pitch and the middle of the pitch was the best part of it. As I said, we just had to win the second balls in the middle of the pitch and play from there.
As I alluded to at the start, it looked like there would be one team that would win this fixture and I thought it was us.
Q: Looking ahead to next Saturday against Tranent at home, is there much you’re looking to change from now until then?
KH: Scoring goals.
As the games keep going on, we’re in a situation where Gala (Fairydean Rovers) are going to run out of games pretty soon. The point means they’ll probably have to win two of their last four or five.
I’ve said it for weeks now, we will win games. It might come right down to the wire but we will win games. Nobody’s panicking. If we keep putting in workmanlike performances like we have, we will get results.
Q: Tranent next week might see someone you know really well, Darren Smith, in the opposite dugout. How does it feel to come up against someone you know so well?
KH: It’s alright, Darren and I probably won’t speak to each other from Tuesday onwards. We catch up pretty regularly.
It doesn’t really matter who is in the dugout. He has a team that he’ll put out that he thinks is going to win a game of football, as I do. We’re not going to fall about it or dislike each other over what happens next Saturday so I’m looking forward to it.
