Manager on Thursday

25/01/18: AJ - "We know that we have to put in a really good performance to go and get a result."

Allan Johnston agreed with the suggestion that Friday night`s match against the league leaders is a `must win` game if his side is to have any realistic chance of catching St Mirren. A home win would reduce the deficit to 12 points with the Fifers having a game in hand. A defeat would increase the gap to 18 points with 14 matches remaining. He commented:-

"It is a massive game, St Mirren are way ahead at the moment but it is up to us to try and pull them back and hopefully we can start doing that on Friday night."

After the big disappointment getting knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Morton, AJ felt that it would be easy for the players to pick themselves up.

"I don`t think that there was much wrong with the performance. We probably deserved to win, we created more chances and just got done by a classic sucker punch on the counterattack which has happened a couple of times against Morton unfortunately.

"We need to take our chances and got to be more clinical when they come along. First half we had a lot of the ball in good areas but obviously we have to score more goals.

"There is still a long way to go this season but it would be great to get the win. You never know the way football goes you can pick up suspensions, injuries, loss of form - nothing is ever guaranteed. We certainly don`t want St Mirren get any further ahead."

The manager is acutely aware of how end of season form can make or break a season. St Mirren took 18 points from their last nine league matches last season but Hibs went into free fall in 2013-2014 and took just seven points from their last 17 league matches.

"We just have to make sure that we focus on ourselves. We have to get back to the form that we were showing before the cup game, back to clean sheets and hopefully with the quality that we have got going forward score a few goals as well."

Trying to spoil Dunfermline`s revival is former Par Gavin Reilly. The 24 year old has scored 21 goals since moving to the Paisley club for the start of this season. The manager claimed that he brought Gavin to Dunfermline to score goals.

"I knew what he could do. When he was at Queen of the South he was just a young lad coming through but he was excellent."

Last season with the Pars he found the net only twice in 28 appearances and should he score on Friday night it will be his first ever goal at East End Park!

"I think it is fair to say that it was a disappointing season by his standards. It was probably just the way it came about. I think it was last minute when they told him that they were not part of their plans. Sometimes it is difficult to get your head round that. It is no surprise that he has done so well at St Mirren.

"They have got a lot of good players. For me their best player by far is the boy Morgan. That is why he has got a move to Celtic. He has been really consistent this season and probably been the difference between the majority of the teams this year. That is probably why St Mirren are top of the league.

"We will not focus on just one player. Obviously you have to be aware of what he brings to the team and what he is good at.

"Every club has really good players, we are the same as well - we have a lot of players who can hurt teams. We know that we have to put in a really good performance to go and get a result.

"St Mirren are playing with a bit of confidence just now and obviously they will be looking to react to the previous result against Aberdeen. I`m sure that they will come out with all guns firing.

"We have to make sure that our good players cause them problems and get the goals that we need."

The last time St Mirren visited East End Park they were defeated 3-0 and in the return at the Paisley there was not a lot between the teams. The manager felt that Saints have shown great consistency this season.

"That has probably been the difference between them and the majority of the teams. Their record is very good but we just hope that we upset them and trying and get the result we need."

There was no news on the transfer front and injured keeper Sean Murdoch got a scan this week and got an injection so it is hoped that is him now on the road to recovery. Other than that everybody is fit and desperate to play.

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