Stefan Laird

Highland News & Media

Elgin City assistant manager Stefan Laird saw big improvements in City's 2-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat at Caley Thistle from Saturday's 'terrible' display against Raith Rovers.

Transcript

00:00We did get improvement. Listen, we had to be. We were terrible on Saturday.

00:04Not like ourselves. Unorganised, poor mentality, didn't have a good structure.

00:10So we needed to see more of that tonight. I thought for the first 15 minutes we were really good.

00:14I thought we started the game well. I thought we competed.

00:18Don't get me wrong, we've got to be uncomfortable here because they're a good side.

00:24They're sharp, they're fit, they move the ball well. They're going to do well this year in League One.

00:30And good luck to them, and I hope they do. But I thought for the first 15 minutes we were good.

00:34And then as we do at times, and we've certainly got to cut out, we're in no danger at all.

00:42And we give away a horrendous goal. We just can't do.

00:47And that's something that, you know, that's why we went out of the playoffs against Annen,

00:51having that 20-minute spell across two games.

00:54And the players don't have that excuse this season.

00:56So we need to see a bit more leadership and a bit more maturity.

01:00In those areas of the game. And cut out the silly mistakes.

01:03We got in at half-time. We had the same chat as I'm having with you now.

01:07And then we went back out. And I thought, to be fair, to us in the second half, I thought we were good.

01:11I thought for long periods. If not being the better team, it was absolutely 50-50.

01:16And I thought we were in control for large portions of it.

01:18And I thought, more importantly for probably us as a coaching staff,

01:21we were in control at times when we didn't have the ball.

01:24And that's what we built our foundation on last year.

01:27And yes, we want to improve as a team on the ball.

01:29We've got a couple of better ballplayers in our team this season.

01:33But we need to be organised. We need good structure.

01:35We need to press well. We need to counter-press.

01:37And we need to be a difficult, horrible team to play against.

01:40Which I felt as if we were last season.

01:42So I don't want us to sacrifice any of that as we begin to evolve on the ball.

01:46So that was pleasing in the second half.

01:49But the old gripe that I'm going to have is,

01:52we create two or three glorious chances in transition.

01:56And we don't take them.

01:57And we have two 1v1s in the box.

02:01I don't think the keeper has to make a good save.

02:03I think the finishes are poor.

02:04I don't think they're great saves.

02:06He's got to save them.

02:08But we've got to score.

02:09We've got to do better with one of them.

02:10And then I think Kane's one where he goes down the side of the defenders.

02:13Good striker play.

02:14And that is a decent save.

02:15If it is near post.

02:16We've got to score one of those three goals.

02:18And I think with 20 minutes, 15 minutes to go,

02:20if we score one of them, then it's game on.

02:24But, no, I can't complain about the second half in particular.

02:28I thought we began to look a wee bit more like ourselves.

02:31I thought in particular, I thought Jack McKeever was absolutely outstanding in the second half.

02:36Rotating in and out.

02:37He played in the 10, played in the 6, went out onto the right.

02:40Rotated inside.

02:41Combinations.

02:41I thought he controlled the game.

02:42I thought he was really, really, really good.

02:44Just being, sort of, getting bodies and minutes onto the pitch.

02:48We moved him out of the central area.

02:49Else he would have been even more influential.

02:51So, no, I was pleased.

02:52I was pleased with the second half.

02:53And pleased overall, but frustrated to concede the two goals.

02:57And obviously not win the game.

02:58We will have been Holyھی.

02:58We will make some good eggs.

02:59Peace.

03:00Peace.

03:01Peace.

03:02Peace.

03:25Peace.

03:27Peace.

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