Irons rues costly mistakes

 Gretna boss Davie Irons was left frustrated with his side’s display in the 1-0 defeat to St Mirren on Saturday.

Billy Mehmet won the points for Saints in the 35th minute to keep the Black and Whites rooted to the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.

Irons was unhappy with the goal conceded and says they must cut out the defensive errors if they are to stay in touch with the other teams.

“We’re getting punished for mistakes and we keep emphasising that week-in, week-out,” he said. “We’re playing against better teams and better players and they are exposing them.”

“Once again today, we switched off at the vital time allowing Miranda to cross the ball into the box and Mehmet has scored from four or five yards. It was poor defending on our part.”

“At this level of football, if you make individual mistakes, you will be hurt by them and we’ve got to learn.”

“We need all eleven players to perform the best of their ability and their not doing that. Today’s performance was a complete contrast from that of two weeks ago when we played Celtic.”

“We’ve made things tough for ourselves now because there is a gap and we have to close it as soon as we can.”

“We knew all along that this league is a tough league and it is difficult to get points. The media will say it is a relegation fight we are in now but we knew that’s the way it was going to be.”

“There wasn’t a lot between the two sides but they took their chance when it came along,” Irons continued.

“We had to go for it in the second-half so we changed the system and the personnel. It left us a little exposed at the back but other than the disallowed goal, they never created many opportunities.”

“How we have not scored with the last kick of the game I don’t know.”