McDonagh: Ton team-mates helped me get over error
Jamie McDonagh says Saturday was hugely frustrating for him on a personal level but revealed the support of his team-mates helped him get over the mistake that gifted Dunfermline their opening goal.
It was in the 12th minute that the Northern Irishman’s short headed backpass was read and punished by Michael Moffat to put the Pars in front.
His error followed Thomas O’Ware’s missed penalty and preceded another mistake in which Mark Russell also saw a pass to Derek Gaston pounced on by Moffat.
McDonagh admits to being extremely self critical and that he initially struggled to compose himself the slip-up – until the backing of the players around him saw him refocus his efforts and play a part in Aidan Nesbitt’s goal.
He told gmfc.net: “It’s very frustrating considering the way we lost the game; we made two mistakes. I made one, Marky has made a mistake as well and Tam has missed a penalty, but the boys battled on until the last minute and it just wasn’t our day today.
“When you make two mistakes it’s very frustrating, because if you hadn’t made those mistakes you don’t know what the game would have turned out.
“On a personal level, I’m kind of harsh on myself. I got caught in two minds [about] whether to let it drop and just hit it away or to just head it back. I went to head it back and he’s nipped in.
“For the next five minutes after that, I kept giving the ball away. But the lads got behind me and just gave me a push – the whole back four – and obviously you need that support when you’ve made a mistake.
“I like playing on the right with Forbesy [Ross Forbes]. We link up a lot, he comes in and I go wide, so playing on that side I enjoy it and we interchange well, and I was happy to have a bit in the goal.
“It was crucial we got the next goal because Gats [Derel Gaston] made a couple of saves after they got their goal and it could have put game to bed.
“We battled on, got the goal. I thought second half was a better performance than what the first half was and we could have got a draw out of the game.”
The Ton now face league leaders Hibs at Cappielow this weekend in match that will kick off at 5.15pm after being chosen for live coverage by BBC Alba, and
The 20-year-old added: “But we just had an off-day altogether and that happens in football. Hopefully, next we’ll kick on against Hibs and we’ll have a good game and get some points.
“I don’t think the lads will let this get us down – it’s just a blip in our run and we’ll carry on the good performances that we have been putting in.”
Images: David Bell
