Managers post Raith Rovers
Sunday, 2nd Jan 202202/01/21: link to audio of John Hughes and John McGlynn’s post match interview
- - Listen to this John Hughes interview
The Dunfermline Athletic manager John Hughes felt that his side had the better chances in this Fife derby and given the first half chances was really disappointed not to go in at half time with a lead:-
“I felt the disappointment in the dressing room but we had a second half to play and the two teams were evenly matched up. We ran out of steam in the last twenty minutes because we had to put a lot of work in and we had to freshen it up.
“Toddy might have had a couple of goals from the header and the one at the edge of the box. McCann might have had a goal when he shot but if he might have squared it. We had the better chances and enough to win any football match.
“I was pleased with Steven Lawless’ contribution although we were worried if he could last the full ninety. We were constantly shouting from the bench ‘how are you?’ but he played in a number of positions because we tweaked it a wee bit to get O’Hara on. He has done very very well for someone who has not played a lot of football ove the last three or four months.”
Dan Pybus was another one who has not played much recently but he came in and gave you a shift?
“He had to. You probably noticed that there were one or two missing because they had been pinged with close contact. Dorrans has not got covid, he has just been a close contact, wee Kai (Kennedy) is another one but it is like that throughout, you just need to get on with it. Dan has come in and he has done very very well. He has done himself no harm whatsoever in terms of his effort and commitment.
“I think Dorrans will be back in the next two days but I don’t think that we will see Kai again since Rangers have done a recall. He will be going back to Rangers. We missed him tonight, even when he was here on loan he did well at Raith Rovers. It would have been nice that he could have been here tonight and got a shot of it to give us a nice going away present.”
Asked if that was a position where he would look to strengthen in the January transfer window, the manager replied:-
“That’s a good question, I am not really going specific - if there are good flair players available will will go and try and do it because, even at Kilmarnock I saw Dowser and Toddy playing in wide areas and more energetic. I have got Lawless who can play in the wide areas and we are waiting on Dom Thomas coming back. It is whatever comes in really if we can get two or three in to help them.”
Lewis Martin was named on the bench so is he one of the new signings?
“Yes, Lewis is one of them. He is still a wee bit short, he still needs a few games but he has acquitted himself very well to get himself in shape. He still has a bit to go and we have given him a deal until the end of the season. It is all incentive based, it is up to him to go and show me what he has got.”
He must be delighted just to be on the bench after being out for so much time?
“I feel for him, it was great that he signed the contract but we have to be very very careful in terms of all the medical side. We have taken the chance on him between now and the end of the season. Lewis can play right back, left back, centre half or centre midfield so that spins my plates so much. That was a massive, massive part of signing Lewis.”
How big a miss was the absence of the fans today?
“It was murder, football is not the same without fans. I am quite sure they would have made a difference, it is eerie and like a training game at times. We need our supporters back.
“I am really pleased with my boys who were playing against a right good Raith Rovers team, they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. I felt that we had the better chances and enough to win the match.”
- - Hear John McGlynn’s comments
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