Peterhead manager Jim McInally bemoaned his team’s missed opportunities after Alloa edged out the Blue Toon in the Scottish Cup.
The Buchan men failed to find a way past Neil Parry, who made several fine stops, and Jamie Longworth came off the bench to drive home a 74th-minute winner.
McInally said: “I thought we were the better team until about 20 minutes into the second half when Alloa started to pose a threat, which was not a surprise because they have good players.
“The one thing I did say to my team was that we don’t want to fall behind because they can then pick you off. But when you miss the chances we missed the inevitable is going to happen.
“We missed two or three one-on-ones and you cannot afford to pass up those against a team like Alloa, who have got good, clever players.”
Frustration got the better of McInally in the second period when he was sent to the stand by referee Euan Anderson for speaking out of turn.
The Blue Toon manager added: “I just don’t like that referee, that is the bottom line. He has refereed our games seven times and we have maybe lost seven times and if you look back over those games, you would find a lot of controversy there. I said something to the assistant referee and that was it.”
McInally was happier with his team’s display and, despite the defeat, believes Peterhead can get back on track when they resume their League 1 campaign next week. He added: “I hate going out of the Scottish Cup at this period and it has happened to us in the last three years, but we have two home league games coming up, so it gives us a chance to get up the table.”
