Kilby boss blasts ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ performance
EAST KILBRIDE .......................... 2 GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS .... 2 Paul Thomson
Jim Paterson admits he read the riot act to his East Kilbride players after their “Jekyll and Hyde” performance on Saturday.
Kilby slipped up at home for the eighth time this season after they surrendered an early lead to Gala before fighting back to grab a point.
Goals from Ruari Paton and Kieran Gibbons was enough to share the spoils with the visitors, who netted through Marc Berry and Danny Galbraith.
Paterson admitted he was furious with their cavalier attitude after taking an early lead and he said: “The BSC game (in the Scottish Cup) was tough to take, but Saturday was the first time I’ve really lost it with the players.
“We were comfortable and doing everything right – then we just stopped. It was as if it was too easy for them and they took their foot off the gas.
“It was a real Jekyll and Hyde performance from them.
“Until the first goal I couldn’t fault them and that’s why it was so disappointing how the game panned out.”
Kilby took the lead after eight minutes when skipper Craig Malcolm threaded the ball through for Healy and his pass was turned home by Paton.
Midway through the half, Gala grabbed an equaliser when a deflected cross into the box caused chaos and Berry squeezed the ball over the line.
Within four minutes Gala had turned the game on its head. The visitors stole possession in the middle of the park and Murray slipped in Galbraith to slot the ball past McGinley.
Twelve minutes into the second half, EK salvaged a point when Gibbons linked up well with Healy before blasting home the leveller.
Kilby remain seventh in the table and Paterson is keen to ensure his players stay focused as the defending champions try to climb the table.
He added: “The buck stops with me.
“The season is petering out a bit and players are starting to think about next season, but it’s my job to motivate them to win games that will move us up the table.
“Last season every 90 minutes they were playing to win the league, now they are playing to try and get us up to sixth place and then fifth place.
“But we want to finish the season as high up the table as we can and I have to motivate the players.”
EK return to action on Sunday when they travel to Forthbank to take on Stirling University. Kick-off is 3pm.
“Stirling turned us over earlier in the season, so we need to make sure we are on it this weekend,” said Paterson.
“They train throughout the week, they’re young and athletic and we’ll need to match them.”
EK are sweating on the fitness of Sean Winter for Sunday after he injured his knee against Gala. The winger was a second half substitute, but hobbled off 10 minutes after coming on.