Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 16th Aug 201816/08/18: AJ - “We know that we are going to have to be at our very best to play against them.”
Allan Johnston is sure that his players will relish the opportunity to test themselves against Premier League players when Hearts are the visitors to East End Park for Saturday’s Betfred Cup tie:-
“This is a massive game for us, we are really looking forward to it. It is going no to be a tough test, Hearts are a top team with top players. I have played alongside guys like Naismith before and for me, he is in excellent form and probably their main danger man.
“We have watched their last few games and he is probably the the one who is creating the majority of chances. He gets into areas where he can pick the ball up and cause teams problems. He is a goal threat who can see the passes that other players can’t see.
“We know that we are going to have to be at our very best to play against them.” Referring back to the disappointment of losing their last home match against Ross County on Saturday, AJ added:-
“We have to make sure that we don’t lose soft goals as we did at the weekend. I don’t think there was much wrong with our performance, especially first half when there wasn’t much between the teams.
“Against top teams like Hearts you have to defend well, you have got to be solid. Obviously with the players we have got, with the pace that we have got hopefully we can cause them problems going forward.”
That was certainly the case last season when the teams met in this Betfred Cup competition at Tynecastle. The Fifers drew 2-2 but received many plaudits for their performance, one that led to the dismissal of the Capital city’s coach Ian Cathro and ultimately the appointment of Craig Levein. The Pars gaffer praised the way their new manager’s Jambos played.
“They are totally turned around and that is credit to Craig Levein. He has done a great job, obviously they have recruited really well and you can see a strength they have now.
“They are not soft, they look solid and look as though they are playing for each other. They have energy and desire. Craig has done a great job turning it around.”
Hearts fans have been buying up the match tickets and coupled with the fantastic support the Pars have, this should be a match played in a great atmosphere. AJ continued:-
“There is nothing better as a player to play this in these big games and to test yourself against the best players. They are top of the Premier League so what an opportunity it is for our lads to go out and express themselves and show that they can play at that level.”
The manager will warn his team that Craig Levein has a style of play that suits his team and he knows how to win.
“I am sure that he will have his team really well organised and is one who even though he probably looks at us and says it is not a Premier League team, he still sets up to be as strong as he can to go and try and win the game because that is the mentality that he has got.
“I am sure that they will be desperate to get a result. The message will be not to take anything for granted since we got a result there last year and to make sure that they don’t come out and just go through the motions.
“He will have them well fired up and it has the makings of a right good game.”
Allan Johnston concedes that his side is real different from the one fielded at Tynecastle last year and so not much can be compared with Saturday’s meeting:-
“We have a lot of new players as well as them. I don’t think last year’s result and last year’s performance will make any difference. It is good that we have started the season well. We played against Motherwell on pre season, we have played against Dundee and put in really good performances but we know that this is a step up.”
Danny Devine is back fully fit and Tom Beadling came through 60 minutes in Tuesday night’s Irn Bru Cup Match in Inverness. Lewis Martin and Sean Murdoch are the only two squad members missing for this weekend.
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