Why Edinburgh City boss contemplated FIVE half-time subs in 3-2 defeat to Stirling Albion

Edinburgh City manager, James McDonaugh, considered making five changes at half-time as his team trailed Stirling Albion 3-0 at home. (Photo by Euan Cherry / SNS Group)

The Citizens, who had been in fine form of late, were simply not at the races as visitors Albion found themselves 3-0 to the good at the half-time interval on Saturday.

And although there was a late rally from the hosts during an improved second-half showing at Ainslie Park, City succumbed to their fourth defeat of the campaign and now trail league leaders Queen’s Park by ten points.

“We were absolutely awful in the first half and that’s not to take any credit away from the opposition,” McDonaugh said afterwards. “I thought we defended like amateurs, really poor. But it wasn’t just the defence. We tried to be offensive playing Alex Harris, Josh Campbell and Blair Henderson but Blair was kind of just running about on his own.

“There were players in the first half that didn’t contribute anything to the team and that is not acceptable. You can’t legislate for how bad that was in the first half and I’ve told them that.

“The second half was a lot better but to be 3-0 down at half-time at home isn’t good enough.

“I was tempted to make five changes at half-time, I have to be honest. I was pretty close to doing it but I thought if I make them all at once and we get an injury, trying to come back from 3-0 with ten men would be a non-starter so that stopped me. The subs I did make made an impact to be fair to those guys, particularly Robbie McIntyre.

“We have to get better and it’s clear as day that there a lot of teams we are going to have to fight with if we are to get into the play-offs.”

The home side welcomed back skipper Craig Thomson into the fold, although McDonaugh was required to make a late change when striker Gabby McGill pulled up with a hamstring problem in the warm-up and was replaced by Harris.

The third-placed Binos have been in good form themselves this season and deservedly went ahead in the 25th minute. Winger Andy Ryan was afforded ample time to pick out the run of Jack Leith and the Stirling player made no mistake in sending the ball high past goalkeeper Calum Antell.

Any response from City failed to materialise and Kevin Rutkiewicz’s men doubled their advantage ten minutes later when Declan Byrne was quickest to react following a Ryan effort that had come back off the post.

The hosts fell further behind when Ryan headed home Byrne’s cross at the near post and that prompted McDonaugh to make a raft of substitutions at the interval.

McIntyre was one who entered the the fray and the full-back reduced the arrears with a fine drive from outside the box before Liam Brown’s sweet strike set up a grandstand finish with 13 minutes remaining.

City threw the kitchen sink in the closing stages but couldn’t find an equaliser.

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