Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 24th Aug 201724/08/17: AJ - "We will just have to make sure that we are organised, don`t get caught on the counter and don`t get caught from a setpiece
On meeting the media on Thursday, Allan Johnston was still chuffed with his team`s victory over Falkirk last Saturday:-
"To beat your local rivals is always a wee bit special, especially when we struggled to do it last year. It is good to start this season with a win and hopefully there will be a few more by the end of the season. "
The Pars got off to a flying start with goals from Declan McManus and Joe Cardle within the opening eleven minutes. The manager talked about the team putting in an excellent good performance:-
"We have been starting games really well and scoring a lot of goals. Some of the boys are obviously playing at the top of their game, guys like Joe Cardle scoring goals and creating chances. It is all good just now."
Home wins over Inverness Caley Thistle and Falkirk have put the Pars in second place behind Dundee United after three Championship matches. Taking points off teams who many would have considered title challengers might well prove to be very important come the end of the campaign. AJ was delighted to win against those kind of teams.
"They have really good players some with Premier League experience and we just need to make sure that when we are away from we match that kind of performance and get a result away to teams like Dumbarton."
Dunfermline Athletic have played four away games this season, drawing against East Fife, Hearts and Livingston and losing at Ibrox. There is ever intention to alter fortunes when the Pars travel to the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium on Saturday:-
"It will be a hard game and might not be as open. They will probably sit in and try and hit you on the counterattack. They have a bit of pace going forward with guys like Mark Stewart and the boy Roy from Hearts as well.
"We will just have to make sure that we are organised, don`t get caught on the counter and don`t get caught from a setpiece because they have a lot of height in their team as well. We need to put in a similar type of performance in terms of creating chances and scoring goals."
The manager feels that the home victories have built up momentum and confidence.
"You have to go into games expecting to win and you can`t afford to take your foot off the pedal either. We have to make sure that you work as hard as we have been working, if not even harder, and if you are scoring goals then you are playing with a bit of confidence."
Last season the Pars drew one and won one at Dumbarton and the win took a long time coming. The manager was aware that last season the Sons of the Rock had an impressive home record and no doubt they will be trying to replicate that this season.
"It is a hard place to go with just the one stand, it is sometimes very open to the elements. It is maybe not the best environment in the world and the pitch isn`t great sometimes. That is when we need the fans to get right behind the players and encourage them. It helps than going to get the win."
The manager feels that this season`s Championship is going to be close and considers every game important not matter who the opposition is.
"They are all hard games and we have just got to make sure that we approach everyone fully focussed, desperate to go and get the win and work as hard as you possibly can.
"When you look at it there are no easy games where you could say `we will get an easy game there`. We have started the season really well, we are creating chances, we are scoring goals, we are defending well and you can see the competition that we have for places as well. Hopefully that will push us on for the remainder of the season."
Asked if he felt that Dundee United were still favourites for the title the Pars gaffer avoided a clear answer:-
"It doesn`t matter who are favourites, it is all about getting results on the pitch. I don`t think we were quoted at the start of the season amongst the top teams to be pushing for promotion. We finished fifth last season and we want to improve again and be challenging up at the top of the league. We just have to focus on ourselves."
Looking at the injured players and those available for the trip to Clydeside, AJ said that Nicky Clark joined in training for the first time that day.
"We will see how he is tomorrow and how he will react after the first session. It was the first time he was involved with full contact. He came through it fine but we will wait and see how he is.
"He has managed to keep the majority of his fitness by doing a lot of running over the last couple of weeks and then in the last week he has been getting the ball out. We just have to make sure that he is right because he is a big player for us obviously."
Allan agreed that it would be hard to change a winning team:-
"When you look at the options that we have going forward, everyone of them scores goals so it is a great position to be in."
The manager admitted that there was still potential to bring in one more player to his squad before the transfer window closes.
"We are looking to see if there are any players that we think could improve the squad. We are looking at where we are weak or maybe need a bit more competition. We are not going to be bringing in anyone who is not going to improve us."
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