LOAN EXPERIENCE 'PAYING OFF' SAYS ALEC CLELAND

Under-twenties boss Alec Cleland was delighted by Tuesday night’s performance against Dunfermline, and is impressed by his squad’s attitude towards playing.

“It was a good result, and at the end of the day, Dunfermline had a young side out, but I just said to make sure the boys’ attitude was good. The manager was there and watching; so was the chairman, so it’s really important that they go in with the right attitude. I thought it was first class tonight. Dunfermline made it really hard for us in the first half. They sat with ten men behind the ball and it was really difficult to break them down, but we were creating enough chances and at half time I just said to be patient - the goal would come and it did come. It was a bit scrappy in the end but we got the goal that I thought we deserved. We were unlucky a couple of times and we hit the post, but it was a tight game up until then.”

Keen to avoid a repeat of last week’s second half display, Alec put the focus on defending well against Dunfermline.

“Last week’s result was one of the things we pointed out at the start of the game. We couldn’t have a repeat of last week where we were so dominant first half at 3-0 up, and then we let it slip and could have only drawn the game 3-3 quite easily. I wanted them to focus on the defensive side of things. We’re so threatening going forward – we’ve got so much pace and so much good movement, we’ve got midfielders who can penetrate balls – we’ve got everything there and I know we can score goals, so I just wanted them to focus on the other side and make sure defensively we were sound. I wanted them to concentrate on that for this game and I thought they did it really well.”

Sitting second only on goal difference, Cleland knows that both the first team players and the under-twenties are combining well on the field, and knows that Saints will continue to flourish even if the squad needs rotating.

“Being top is good for us, because we are playing well and scoring goals. Twenties games are different because you never know what team you’re going to have. You could have first team boys mixed in with under-twenties or you could have a young under-twenty team, so you’ve just got to wait and see. Who need games is also important. It’s important for first team boys to come down and get games, so that if they’re required for the first team on a Saturday then they’ve got their match fitness up. That’s the reason we’ve got Brad McKay, Liam Caddis, Chris Kane and Craig Thomson in because they need games. Again, next week it might be a young twenties side, and that’s good as well. It’s good to work with them and it’s good to have the first teamers come down because they certainly help the young ones in the team.”

Most of all, Alec has put this season’s success down to having so many players out on loan, gaining first team experience and playing week in, week out.

“We’re seeing the benefit of so many young players being out on loan, and this season has shown that. To have so many young players out, Jason Kerr, Connor McLaren, Jordan Millar in goals to name but a few, and to have them all playing, which they are, is great. We didn’t need to play Liam Gordon tonight, because he had obviously been playing with Elgin. George Hunter is another one who’s been playing quite regularly, so we’re absolutely delighted with that, and we’re starting to see the benefits. They’re getting plenty football – sometimes two full 90 minute games a week – which is brilliant, and that’s where you get better in games and we can see the development. Callum and I still think there are more players in the under-twenties that could benefit from being out on loan. It’s great for us and it’s great for the League 1 and League 2 teams who are taking them – they’re getting the benefits as well.”

interview by Ross Gardiner