McGregor: Spartans Loss A 'Steep Learning Curve'

Darren McGregor admits it was “sore” for the Dev Squad to be “put to the sword” by Spartans in the KDM Evolution Trophy. 

Despite promising performances against Forfar Athletic and Stirling Albion in recent weeks not resulting in points gained, there were many positives to take away from those encounters against solid SPFL opposition.

However, Saturday’s 5-1 defeat to Spartans, who are currently joint-top of William Hill League Two, was well below the standards set for the team, according to the Dev Squad head coach.

“It was a classic example of a men's team against an academy team,” McGregor told Hibs TV. “I thought they were stronger than us in every area of the pitch and that was reflected in the scoreline. Sometimes you say after a game it wasn't a 5-1 game, but that actually was a 5-1 game. It's a steep learning curve because this is a good League Two team.

“We were just below the standards we've set throughout the season and it's difficult to understand why that was, but it's up to the lads to try and figure that out, and for us to do analysis and look over it, to try and make them better. 

“I've been really pleased with the last two games,” McGregor added. “We touched on Forfar, we touched on Stirling, I think we were well in those games and probably deserved a draw in one if not two of them.

“So, to come here and get put to the sword like that is sore because I know how hard the lads have worked up until this point. The lads have hit such high standards and they've fallen below them today.”

Despite the defeat, McGregor can still see the positives – in that there is always learnings to take away from every match and attention returning to Under-19 league action this month.

“It's difficult for me in there because I've got standards, but at the same time we're still dealing with lads that are developing and are learning, so we have to take a step back and think, what is there to learn from this? 

“There's always learning, there's learning in winning, there's learning in defeat, so I'm learning as well. 

“As I say, we'll do the analysis on it and by the time next week comes, it's put to bed and then we'll look forward to Rangers, which is the next Under-19s game.

“We'll look forward to that, we'll look forward to making ourselves better and trying to be better as a collective and individually as well.”