Clean sheet trumps a top performance
DYLAN McGOWAN insists ending Hamilton’s winless run at home and keeping a clean sheet was more important than the performance in the 1-0 win over Edinburgh City.
His gaffer John Rankin described the display as “absolutely disgusting” after they edged the bottom side with an Akheem Rose strike just before half-time.
McGowan said: “With the run we’ve been on, especially at home, it was probably a day where the result was more important than the performance.
“You could see towards the end of the game, we needed to do more in an attacking sense and play more in their half.
“But it’s nice to be talking about things we can work on when we’ve won a game, rather than discussing a defeat in front of our fans.
“It was a much-needed result. We went through a run where we were conceding goals, which hadn’t been happening in the majority of the season, so it’s good to get back to keeping clean sheets.
“But we need to couple that with being ruthless at the other end of the pitch and make other teams defend. But we have to win games regardless of what our plans are at the end of the season.
“If it’s the play-offs, which is the most likely thing, then it’s important to go into them with a bit of momentum.”
Accies huffed and puffed until the 43rd minute when Tumilty whipped the ball into the near post and Rose fired low into the net.
The home side had a late scare when Alieu Faye was denied by a good stop from Accies keeper Dean Lyness.
City boss Michael McIndoe said: “Our average
age is 19 so that was a very good performance.”
Falkirk moved to within eight points of the title after leaving it late to win 2-1 at Stirling.
Having gone behind to Paul McLean’s early strike, Callumn Morrison levelled before sub Gary Oliver won it two minutes from time.
Annan pulled to within four points of Queen of the South by beating them 2-1.
Peter Murphy’s men were two up through firsthalf headers from Tommy Goss and Matty Douglas, with Gavin Reilly pulling one back for Queens.
Goals from Taylor Steven, Kurtis Roberts and Scott Taggart boosted Alloa’s play-off bid as they beat Kelty 3-0.
Kane Hester scored twice as Montrose beat Cove Rangers 4-1. Graham Webster and Blair Lyons also netted for the Mo with Conor Scully netting a consolation for Cove.