The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Loons suffering fromlack of confidence, says Young
Veteran midfielder admits Bollan’s men have to ‘start performing’
within20seconds, formerHeartsstriker Graham Weir restored parity with a wonderfully crisp low shot from 20 yards.
Rose keeper Ally Adams pulled off a marvellous point-blank save to deny Travis in the dying embers as Forfar attempted to regain the lead but, given the circumstances, there was no real late bombardment.
With their dismal form now reading one win in 15 matches, Young believes their afternoon in Lothian summed up the fragility within the dressing room at Station Park.
“We should have won, we were in a winning position,” said the 35-year-old.
“I think a lot of what happened is down to how we have been playing lately.
“Idon’tthinkthere’salotofconfidence in the dressing room, but hopefully the new manager can change that.
“I had to laugh when the keeper (Adams) pulls off that incredible save at the end. It is just the way things go when you are on a run like this.
“We need to start performing on the park. We have done it in flashes, but we need to see games out. We just need to work hard to get out of this rut.
“We are not the first team to go on a run like that and we won’t be the last.
“At the start of the season, we looked like one of the best sides in the league, albeit that seems like a long time ago.
“We do have quality, there’s a lot in the locker. It’s frustrating that we don’t seem to be putting it together. But the only ones that will get us out of this sticky situation are ourselves.”
It could have been much worse for the League One outfit. Linlithgow Rose struck the post through McKenzie in the first half, while Travis headed against his own crossbar.
Travis, a stand-out for Forfar, also cleared a Blair Batchelor effort off the line.
While Forfar will feel like they should have seen out the victory after claiming a 3-1lead, theycouldhaveeasilybeenoutof theScottishCupthismorningiftheRosey Posey had been more clinical, especially in the first 45 minutes.
Young admitted as much, before acknowledging that was “embarrassing” solace to take from a match against a junior side who played most of the second half with 10 men.
The sides meet again at Station Park next Tuesday and, with the fifth round draw set to take place at Hampden this evening, Bollan’s men will know exactly what they are playing for.
“We need to give massive respect to Linlithgow, too,” emphasised Young.
“Their manager (David McGlynn) has put a really good side together and we’ll go again in the replay.
“Itcouldhavebeenadifferentoutcome andthepositivethingisthatwearestillin the hat this morning, although it is a bit embarrassing to say that after the position we were in.”