Dumbarton 1-3 Alloa Athletic
Posted in Dumbarton FC at 23:22 on 8 August 2009
The Rock, 8/8/09
Well, we’re not Dumbarton nil.
But we should be. Despite the announcer giving our goal to Ben Gordon, it was an og. (I see the BBC red button says it was Grant who headed it past his own keeper.)
Whether the result would have been different if we had scored first I don’t know. Certainly Michael Crawford had at least two good saves, one before and one after Alloa had opened the scoring. And if Ross Clark had put his header in instead of past the post at 0-0….
Defensive blunders cost us. The first when Geggan and Smith got switched at full back and never sorted themselves out, all compounded by Ben Gordon’s misjudgement and lack of midfield tracking back. The second when Geggan was pulled out of position again and Smith was then left exposed and couldn’t prevent the cross. The less said about Mick Dunlop’s mistake for the third the better.
And I wasn’t convinced by Michael White in goal when he took over at half time.
Stevie Murray looked found out to me. Whenever he got the ball he was surrounded by three Alloa players and couldn’t do anything with it. Only when he played simple balls straight away was he in any way effective.
The midfield lacked balance. No dig. McStay needed? Onebrow remarked to me that Craig and Murray were trying to do the same job and so were Clark and Chaplain. Plus there didn’t seem to be a set formation, the midfield were all roaming all over the place.
The stand side linesman was atrocious all game and contributed to Dennis McLaughlin’s frustration but he still really should have known better than to kick a guy right in front of the ref.
The pre-match flag unfurling (photos to come later) and remembrance of Gordon Lennon seemed to take all the passion from the crowd; and the team. I’m glad I was there to witness that, though, it was an emotional moment. Pity the result couldn’t have been better.
9/8/09 Edited to add: I meant to say that I thought Alloa showed their familiarity with this division. They were assured and comfortable on the ball throughout and, despite Crawford’s saves, never really looked troubled.
Tags: Alloa Athletic, Football
Onebrow
9 August 2009 at 14:06
Chapman really needs to sort the midfield out. I think we should probably play with Murray wide left, McStay holding alongside Ross Clark, with perhaps Chris Craig wide right. Carcary should be pushed up front alongside Roddy Hunter seems to be the way to go for Arbroath.
Denzel was a stupid idiot. He should be warned not to commit petulant fouls.
My main issue with the team was that I couldn’t even work out the intended formation. Was it 4-4-1-1, 4-3-2-1, 4-3-3, 4-2-2-2? Who knows?
Alan Findlay
9 August 2009 at 17:40
It was a poor result for us yesterday. David Crawford inbetween the sticks for Alloa played very well indeed and like you Jack I thought their team looked comfortable and strong.
Formation? Started off as 4-1-3-2 but quickly became 4 at the back with the rest doing as they pleased!
Onebrow
9 August 2009 at 18:04
Who was charged with being the holding midfielder then? There was no sign of any player attempting to play that role.
bigrab
10 August 2009 at 06:57
Whilst I have seen worse (much worse) and I thought we were a bit unfortunate, Alloa were clinical where it mattered and punished our mistakes. I think McStay should be given a try in midfield and we really have not much time to sort out the defence.