Manager on Thursday

09/08/18: AJ - “We have had a good start to the season and it is about maintaining that.

Following the 3-2 win at Tannadice in the first league match of the season, manager Allan Johnston is pleased that his side have now set a standard that they have to make sure they continue. He reflected on the club’s first win over Dundee United in sixteen matches between them:-

“We knew that we would have to put in a good performance to get a result there. We did that and I don’t think that there were any failures, everybody played really well.”

He did caution however that it was only the first game of the season and that there is a long way to go:-

“You can see how competitive the league is, we are not going to take anything for granted. It was a great performance, we have had a good start to the season and it is about maintaining that.

“I think we will do that with the quality we have got and some of the injured boys coming back giving us competition for places. Hopefully that keeps standards high.”

Dunfermline went behind to a Nicky Clark goal just before half time but three second half goals put them comfortably ahead before losing a late consolidation goal to another Pars player from last season, Fraser Aird. Though never happy to lose goals the gaffer felt that to come back to win gave a really positive message to his players:-

“It is massive for the players to know that it doesn’t matter if they lose a goal. They will come back, if they score one, we will score two hopefully. They have got that belief that they can score goals.

“We have a lot of creativity in our team and have boys who can make a difference in the final third especially with their pace and their quality. I wouldn’t imagine there will be many defences who will like playing against them.”

The three goals were all different and were scored by three of the summer signings, AJ was particularly pleased with Jackson Longridge’s second goal in two trips to Dundee:-

“It is always good when you see new players come in and hit the ground running. You can see that Jackson (Longridge) likes to get into the box to try and score goals. That is what you are wanting your wing backs to do.”

“It is good when you see boys who are playing a little deeper, guys like Louis Longridge and Joe Thomson scoring goals. We probably never got enough goals from the middle of the park last year. It is great when you have a goal threat from there.”

The gaffer expressed his frustration that such a good performance still leaked two goals:-

“You need to defend as well. It is something that we cannot allow to happen because you cannot score three goals every week.”

It did not go unnoticed that two ex Pars players scored against their old team and of course there will be another two - Calum Morris and Declan McManus trying to repeat that on Saturday for Ross County. AJ continued:-

“As a player you always enjoy going back and playing against a team you were at before. It is always that bit special. It is great that we came out on top but we just have to focus on the next game.

“We are again up against two boys who did really well for us in the opposition side. We have to make sure that we put in a really good performance to keep them quiet.

“We wanted to keep them, they are good players but the two of them got a new agent, an English guy who said to them that he would get them a move down south but sometimes things don’t work out. They have ended up at Ross County. We wish them well, they did well for the club. They were two good players but obviously opponents now. We have to make sure that we go out and put in a good performance so we get the win at the end of the day.

“There is good team spirit, all the boys get on really well. They are all similar ages with similar interests. We know that is going to be a tough test at the weekend. Ross County are probably the favourites to win the league given their budget and what they have spent.”

The Irn Bru Cup competition means that the club faces two games in four days, both against Highland teams as the home match against Ross County is followed by a tie away to the Irn Bru Cup holders, Inverness Caley Thistle. The manager admitted that there will be changes for the match on Tuesday night:-

“I think it will be a good chance for some who maybe haven’t played enough games to get some game time. There will definitely be quite a few changes for that.”

Reviewing the injury situation in the wake of the match at Tannadice, Allan said:-

“Danny Devine got a sore one last weekend in the last couple of minutes but he should be fine for the weekend. A couple of other boys got a couple of sore ones as well but everybody is fine and we should have a full squad to pick from.

“Lewis Martin and Sean Murdoch are still missing. Tom Beadling trained today for the first time with us, so that is great that he is on the way back. He still has a bit to go in terms of fitness and sharpness but he has done a lot of work to make sure that he is strong and as fit as he can be. We are starting to get boys back

“Ryan (Williamson) and Higgy (Kallum Higginbotham) are back from suspension, everyone is doing well and you can see the competition is good. I have decisions to make especially after such a good performance last week.”

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