Managers Post Falkirk

09/10/20: Link to audio of both managers post match comments

The pleasing thing for the manager, he warned might seem stupid. Stevie Crawford told the press after the 2-0 win over Falkirk:-

“The fifteen minutes leading up to half time, when Falkirk got into the game we actually found a way of finding a goal. That is the pleasing thing as a manager, if you don’t concede a goal you have always got a chance of winning it.

“Those fifteen minutes were the important ones for me. We addressed a couple of wee things at half time. We asked Declan to sit playing off Gary Miller to allow Steven Whittaker and Fraser Murray to go man for man with the other two midfield players. I thought Declan’s link up and awareness to allow us to play on the front foot was exceptional.”

Dom Thomas’ contribution with two assists for Euan Murray’s goals could also be called exceptional. SC said:-

“One of the attractions in bringing Dom Thomas to the club as we saw when he faced up to Scott Mercer and won the corner for the second goal as well with being aggressive in his forward play, is his delivery. I thought we looked a threat all night from set plays and created a number of chances and possibly we could have scored more.

“The really pleasing thing with Dom was that he was attracted to play for Dunfermline in the Championship. That was a great thing for me as a manager, it wasn’t having to convince Dom to come here. He had a great loan spell here with us last year and it shows at 24 years of age that he felt the it was the right club for him, the right fit and I said when I signed him, it is not what you see of Dom Thomas on the park, he is actually a great character about the place.

“He has a good manner with him and with the boys he knows when to have a laugh and when to take things seriously.”

Asked if there was any disappointment in the derby game victory that there were no fans in the stadium to share it with Stevie has a one word response:-

“No. We will enjoy it. I probably didn’t enjoy the Dumbarton result the way that I should have and didn’t allow the players to enjoy it because they were in the next day and talking about the next game. You forget when you are on the coaching side that they have actually won a game of football. It was their first game since March.

“Tonight I am going to enjoy it, let them enjoy it. They will be off tomorrow and I know what this means to the fans. I was lucky enough to play for the club and we had good days against Falkirk and we had bad days. It is a great way for the players to connect with the fans, they will have seen it on the television tonight. We are not getting carried away with ourselves and enjoy it because sometimes it takes a while to play in games like this and you end up losing games. No, it is very pleasing.”

The manager had no news about the fixture against Kilmarnock on Tuesday of next week.

“I said after the Dumbarton game, Tuesday’s game is on as far as we are concerned. It is something that we cannot control. Whatever team Alex (Dyer) manages to put out, we will fully focus on the job in hand.

“It is brilliant that we have managed two clean sheets and two victories but it is not getting ahead of ourselves. I said after Tuesday’s game as well that Kilmarnock have been back for months now, it is not an ideal situation that they find themselves in. They will have to win the game to give themselves an opportunity. It is going to be a big ask and we will see with the medical staff where we are with injuries.”

Asked to comment on the fairness of awarding a 3-0 win to Falkirk for the Kilmarnock match not going ahead and how that might affect the goal difference in the group, Stevie replied:-

“I just think that it is a hard situation that Kilmarnock find themselves in. I don’t want to speak for Kilmarnock because my responsibility is to look after Dunfermline. I do sympathise with them though because I think we will face it at some point. I genuinely do. I don’t want to be standing here talking about Kilmarnock finding themselves in that position.

“I think the virus is spiking again. With my passion for Scottish football, I want Scottish football survive. I don’t want to see Kilmarnock or whoever it is next that have to face us experience this. We have to stick together and be respectful that they are facing something that they probably don’t want to as a club. We have to focus on ourselves.”

The match saw Paul Watson and Euan Murray for a partnership in central defence for consecutive matches, was Stevie pleased with their success?

“We had seven new players out tonight and I am thankful that the board and chairman backed us to bring in what we have brought in over the summer. For as much as it is early days I think you can see Paul Watson and Euan Murray, I hate the word comfortable when you are talking about defenders, but there is a connection there with them and potential there for a good partnership.

“Lewis Mayo is away with the (Scotland) Under 21s today. He will be chapping on the door to get in and Lewis Martin can get a good week’s training under him and see where he is at. There is competition for places now.”

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