Managers post Ayr United
Tuesday, 3rd Dec 201903/12/19: link to audio of both managers’ post match comments
- - Listen to Stevie Crawford comments
The 1-0 away over third placed Ayr United was described by Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford as “very pleasing”. He told the media after the match:-
“We came down and changed the shape tonight. It is not an easy place to come at the best of times but I thought after Saturday’s game we should freshen it up a bit. Obviously Paul Paton was an enforced change, he had a calf injury, but to a man the boys were really good tonight. They created the best chances albeit it was a nerve racking last five minutes with some of the corner kicks, Cammy Gill has pulled off really good saves and we are delighted to go up the road with three points.
“We have had praise for some of our stuff this season in terms of playing football but I still thought there were phases of play that were very good. We cut them open a few times and I thought there were times when we were going to score from chances.
“It was a different type of performance coming away from home and making it hard for Ayr United who at times giving up possession of the ball.
“Everyone of them to a man stuck to the task and we reap the rewards because we probably carried a wee bit of luck to edge the win.”
Chances for Kyle Turner but Kevin Nisbet who scored the all important goal?
“Let’s not get carried away, Kevin was excellent but he would be the first to say that the delivery and move leading up to the goal was excellent. I think Kyle had a chance that myself and Jason thought had gone in. He just never caught right or the Ayr defender has done well.
“There were chances, even in the first half we had a couple, proper goalscoring chances so it says a lot for the boys coming down to Ayr United who are a good side. They have a right good attacking threat, they have done well since coming up to the Championship and it says a lot that we are delighted to come away from here with the win because I have a lot of respect for Ayr as a football club.”
Ayr bombarded the Dunfermline goal in the last ten minutes but Stevie felt that the break of 24 days without a game had maybe worked against Mark Kerr’s team:-
“Sometimes it can work for you but probably Mark will be frustrated that they have not had a game for a number of weeks. It is a case of looking after yourselves and I thought we did that to a man tonight.
“It is always pleasing when you get a clean sheet but that comes collectively and they have given the boys a base tonight to go on and win the game. As much as Kevin will get the headlines for scoring the goal and Greg creating, Ryan Dow again was excellent in his performance but starting at the back from Cammy and the back four they were excellent as well. Tom Beadling, Kyle Turner and Harry Cochrane in front of them.”
How does it feel to look at the league table and see yourself sitting fourth?
“It is a nice feeling but it is one where we cannot get too carried away with. It is such a competitive league, we have a difficult game coming up against Morton at the weekend and it is a much nicer feeling being in a play off position but anybody can beat anybody in this league and we just need to make sure that we recover properly tomorrow. Look after the boys who have played the two games on Thursday, train the other ones and then prepare properly on Friday for the game.”
How is Lee Ashcroft?
“He took a sore one. I think he has had six stitches in his head, he was keen to try and play on. That is Lee for you! I think again he showed character because on another day he might have come off as soon as he took the head knock.
“Lee has been great, I think putting him back to right centre half suits Lee better, he looks more comfortable there. I have just said to them in there that we are starting to things in Lee that I personally didn’t personally see in him.
“I am not singling him out but last season Lee probably didn’t have one of his best seasons for Dunfermline. What we have seen in recent months now is a consistency from Lee that is helping this team climb the league.”
Morton up next?
“When you are winning games of football you look forward to them. We have just got to watch because you can use the word comfortable. Morton are a good side, Hoppy knows this league inside out and we have just got to make sure that the team that we pick on Saturday gives that opportunity to pick up more wins.”
Changes for tonight’s match shows the strength of your squad?
“Credit to Kevin and John, the medical staff I think Euan Murray s going to be out until the turn of the year and there is a wee issue with Tom Lang but there are boys who never even got on the park tonight who will be extremely disappointed and it is how you man manage boys like that.
“Tom Beadling has come in for the last two games after being out for a spell and you can see from his performance in the last two games what it means to him. I know that there will be boys frustrated but in the right way. They only want to do well for the club which bodes well for us.”
Kevin Nisbet came off with a knock in the 81st minute, is he okay?
“He was happy with his goal so Kevin is fine. It is just that he worked extremely hard at the weekend. He played an hour against Partick and he has led the line well for us tonight again. If Kevin doesn’t make it and there is a concern over that we have boys who are more than capable of stepping in.”
- - Listen to Ayr manager Mark Kerr
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