MONTROSE MCLEAN-ED OUT AND HETHER-STUNNED!

By Gary McKenzie
November 30 2002

Scottish League Division 3. Saturday 30 November 2002, Links Park, Montrose. Montrose 0 Albion Rovers 1 (McLean 78). Full report follows...

Montrose's poor run of form continues with another defeat, and we haven't won a game now for three months.

The game started brightly for Montrose, although the strike force of Kerrigan and Henderson, with Kevin Webster supporting, couldn't convert any chances. Henderson had a particularly good chance and sklaffed the shot. Even so, the signs were promising, and Montrose were playing some good football.

The second half started in much the same vein and it began to look like we were heading for a no score draw. Rovers manager sussed this out and brought on a forward for a midfielder. The gamble paid off, and after Montrose conceded a corner, there was a goalmouth scramble. The ball was cleared off the line a couple of times but the beleaguered Mo defence couldn't keep out McLean's header on 78 minutes and Rovers were in front.

Sheran brought on Gilzean for Kerrigan and the home support were stunned into silence. Indeed, Gilzean was unlucky as he only lasted a matter of minutes, sustaining a head knock and he was replaced by Thomson. Some of the home crowd, frustrated at Gilzean's lack of worthwhile action this season, heckled him as he left the pitch, and he was clearly unimpressed.

Christie made way for Chris Webster, but Rovers had reverted to 4-4-2 by this time, and though the Mo finished the stronger, this is yet another disappointing result. We just cannot seem to convert a reasonable number of the chances we create.

Three months is too long to go without a win in the league, and John Sheran surely must be feeling the pressure. Will he stay or will he go? The supporters are understandably unhappy with results, and with the impression that some players are not playing to their potential. They are also flummoxed with some of the substitutions and tactical decisions made by the manager. If the rumours of dressing room disquiet are also true, then it would appear that the combination of factors will result in further disappointments and heartache before too long, without a fundamental shake-up at the club.

Mo team

McGlynn, Gibson, Christie, McQuillan, Ferguson, Kevin Webster, Conway, Johnson, McKinnon, Kerrigan, Henderson.

Subs: Gilzean, Budd, Chris Webster, Thompson, Campbell.