Manager on Monday

30/04/18: “Now, it’s up to us. The season’s not finished, there’s a lot to play for.

Allan Johnston is pleased that his side emerged from Saturday’s win over Dumbarton in confident mood. He felt that there were some great goals and commented:-

“It’s always good, no matter who you’re playing against, to score quality goals and we were unlucky not to score a couple more.

“So, it gives us a lot of confidence, and getting another clean sheet as well. The number of clean sheets we’ve had since January is great. We’re not losing goals, we’re hard to beat, so we’re going into the game full of confidence.”

It was the ambition to finish third but in the end fourth was the beast achievable. Some would think that the chance to build up an advantage at home in the first leg was the better outcome so is fourth place that bad?

“Maybe if it went to extra-time, that would be any advantage for the home team, I don’t know. But I don’t think there’s much of an advantage being home or away, the games are that close.

“Obviously, if we can go and get a good result on Tuesday night then it puts a lot of pressure on United. So, that’s what we’re looking to do. But we know it doesn’t matter, it’s over two legs, not just the one leg.

“I was at the Hamilton play-off against Hibs a few years ago and it was incredible when you saw how well Hibs played in the first-leg. They were cruising, 2-0 up, and then there was the comeback from Hamilton at Easter Road in the second-leg. So, it’s never over, it doesn’t matter whether you’re home or away.”

The performance against United up at Tannadice a few weeks ago will give the boys belief as most believed that Dunfermline should have won the game?

“We’ve said loads of time that we should probably have won against United. But those games are in the past now and it doesn’t matter what went before. It’s different players, a different time, and we’re going into the game full of confidence.

“I’m not sure what team United will play. they’ve chopped and changed their team quite a lot. So, we’ve just got to focus on ourselves.”

The comfortable nature of the win over Dumbarton meant that there was scope for players to be rested and withdrawn. The manager gave assurances that his players had come off for no other reasons:-

“Lee (Ashcroft) is fine. He had kind of had a knock over the last few weeks, so we were just making sure he was okay, just as a precaution, really. The other boys were taken off just to make sure they got a rest as well.

“It was a good opportunity to get boys off, you don’t get that chance very often. It was good to take boys off when we were in total control of the game. We could dictate the play, so it was a good game for us leading up to the Dundee United game.”

It is now up to the players to get the team back into the Premiership, That is the aim and the manager felt that the first stage had been captured muleteer:-

“Now, it’s up to us. The season’s not finished, there’s a lot to play for. You can see the boys have got the bit between their teeth, they’re really focused and they’re desperate to put a run of results together. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”

There was a big crowd on Saturday and people were buying tickets as soon as the game finished. Allan felt that was an unbelievable reaction.

“We were in training on Sunday and the queue for tickets was round the block. It just shows you the support we’ve got, and I’m sure up at Tannadice we’ll take a massive support. That’s why I don’t think it matters too much whether we’re home or away, because we’ll have a massive following no matter where it is.”

Sir Alex Ferguson was at East End on Saturday and he provoked inspiration by speaking to all the staff. AJ added:-

“It’s great when you meet guys like that, who have been right at the very top of the game and managed the best teams and the best players in the world. I’m sure that’s inspiration for the boys.”

The manager revealed that the advice given was very simple:-

“Just win! When you look at the record he’s got, it’s incredible. He’s a winner. If there’s anything to take from meeting guys like that it’s realising what it takes to win. I’m sure that must have got through to his players, his work ethic and his winning mentality.”

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