Oran Kearney hails St Mirren’s fighting spirit

Posted Sunday, January 20, 2019 by PA

St Miiren manager Oran Kearney praised his players’ fighting spirit after they came from two goals down to defeat Alloa 3-2 in the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round.

The Championship side had led through goals from Alan Trouten and Kevin Cawley but second-half strikes from Cody Cooke, Ethan Erhahon and Kyle McAllister helped the Paisley side, who had debutant Brad Lyons sent off in the first half, avoid an embarrassing exit.

Kearney said: “It was a rollercoaster of emotions because in the first 25 minutes everything was going well and we were unlucky not to take the lead with Brad’s header off the bar.

“You are happy with that, and then all of a sudden you are 2-0 down and thinking ‘where did this come from?” and you have a sending off as well. It was crazy but that is cup football. I have to give the boys credit for coming through this.

“I have been in cup competitions long enough that I would have taken 2-2 and then dealt with the replay. But it was a grandstand finish from us. The new players don’t have the scars from the past and we have a (strong) mentality there now.”

The Northern Irishman credited Cooke’s goal after 68 minute for sparking the fightback after the Englishman followed in Simeon Jackson’s shot after it had been saved.

He added: “People will say it is a tap-in but Simeon has struck it from 25 yards and Cody has gambled. It was the game-changer for me.”

Alloa manager Jim Goodwin accepted responsibility for the defeat.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed a lot of plaudits in the last two or three months but today I need to take responsibility for that second half. It’s on me.”