Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark said their Pyramid Play-off Final first leg clash with Spartans was a “terrible game” after the sides battled out a draw in the fight to play in League Two next season.
Clark was unimpressed with his side’s performance against the Lowland League champions, as Luke Graham’s first half opener for Rovers was cancelled out by an Ayrton Sonkur own goal in the second half.
Despite still being very much in the tie, the Wee Rovers manager was frustrated at the way the football was played in both halves of the game, as his side now look to make home advantage count in Saturday’s crucial second leg.
He said: “I have got to say first and foremost that I thought it was a terrible game of football.
“The first half wasn’t great, the second half deteriorated which was really poor.
“Was it nervousness? The situation? It is hard to put your finger on it but I know that we can do so much better and that is the bit that massively disappoints me.
“It is still very much in our own hands and it is up to us to try and do the job next week.”
Graham gave Rovers the lead that Clark would have been looking for six minutes before half-time, but the 66th minute own goal gave the home side something to cling to for the all-or-nothing second leg at Cliftonhill.
Not taking advantage of the early lead in the game was another frustration for the Rovers boss, as he was looking to go into next week with an advantage that the Coatbridge side could build on.
He said: “I thought we would do that today (build on their lead) to be honest with you.
“We did get hemmed in a little bit with the way Spartans play, just a long ball and challenging for second balls, but that is what we have to defend better.
“We did lose a really, really poor goal, and it isn’t the first time that has happened.
“When you are in different levels of the league then sometimes you are going to make mistakes, so we are disappointed with that. But as I said, it is all to play for next week.”
• Rovers have told fans the second leg will be an all-ticket event, due to the expectation that they will sell out before the weekend.
Ticket details will be available on Rovers’ social media pages, with a season ticket priority period included.
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