Due to holiday commitments at Stranraer, their media team has not been able to produce the normal highlights from Saturday’s match, but we hope these will be available at some stage.
The goals are available as part of the SPFL Lower League Round up on the SPFL YouTube channel at:
(at 10.12)
Gary Irvine Post Match Comments
Overall performance: “At half time I was scratching my head about what to say because it was a scrappy first half and there wasn’t much quality in the game. I told the players to keep believing and continue to ask Stranraer questions by getting the ball forward and putting pressure on their defence and eventually we would get a break and that is what happened.”
Second-half goals: “I felt in the second half we started to get better deliveries into the box and put more pressure on their goal. When the ball falls to Craig (Slater) he does well to control it and it’s a great finish to get us ahead. Then a few minutes later Stef (McCluskey) gets his reward for all his running and determination with another great finish. Both goals came about with us having a more direct approach which I am pleased about.”
Teamwork: “The two goals easily stood out as the highlights of the match and there probably wasn’t much else to speak about in terms of quality if I am honest. We knew it was going to be a tough battle and the key message to the lads was to stick together and keep grinding through the match and the result would come. I felt they did that for much of the game, and we deserved the win with the two great goals. Stranraer didn’t have any shots on target and so Marc didn’t have a save to make which means the defence did their job well. It was good to see that solid defensive performance. I thought we were good in the middle of the park as well with Jeebs (Gary Harkins) mopping up balls and protecting the back four. As usual, Slater was everywhere breaking up play and the fact that our two midfielders were doing that job in front of the back four added to the solidity of the overall team.”
Three points: “Before the game, I told the team I wanted to see attackers on the scoresheet and for the keeper and defence to get a clean sheet. Of course, the most important thing was to get the three points. So, I am delighted to tick all three boxes with everyone playing their part.”
On Steven Warnock’s first start for the Loons: “I brought Steven (Warnock) in for his first start but did question if that was the right thing as he is just back from injury and the surface might not suit his style of play. But he has been doing so well in training, bringing a freshness and something different to the squad and I wanted to give him an opportunity. Steven has all the ability in the world and Kilmarnock have high hopes for him. I thought that even though it wasn’t a pretty game Steven did well for the team and worked hard. Even on the surface, he showed moments of quality where he tried to put his foot on the ball.”
Securing a playoff spot: Of course, I am pleased we have guaranteed a play-off spot. It’s good to know that but I’ll be just as boring as I have been in the past and repeat that our aim is to finish second. We have held the second spot for most of the season and I have told the players that we need to get back there. I know that Annan won again and so there is a four-point gap, but we still have to play them, and we need to keep working hard getting wins and do all we can to achieve that second place.”
