Jim Jefferies Post Berwick

19/07/14: JJ - "It has been a worthwhile exercise."

Listen to these Jim Jefferies` comments

"While it was still 2-1 we were just a bit sloppy in defence, sitting off and allowing them to play the runner in but we got a good block on it. We had good chances for Shaun Byrne, Allan Smith and Alex Whittle at the end but that was all created because the tempo of the football was far better. We passed it better and controlled the game better than we did in the first half. That is what we are looking for, so for me it was a night and day performance - first half not good enough - but it is pre season and that is when you find these things out.

"There were just one or two that we weren't happy with but when we changed it about in the second half and got the right formation as well - we tried a different formation, we tried three at the back, four, one and two but when we went to a 4-3-3 it looked much better. I am really really happy with the second half.

"One or two players looked sharper today than they have done in the last two or three days. I thought Allan Smith came on today and looked sharp; Forbes looked a bit better and Andy Geggan has missed a lot of training looked a little sluggish against Hibs in midweek - it is a hard game to go into when it is your first game. Today he looked much more like Andy Geggan should be and it was him who set up the pass for Andy Stirling to cross.

"Stirling was the only concern, he felt his hamstring going a wee bit so we had to get him off. Hopefully that will clear up in a day or two and he will not be a doubt for next week."

The manager feels that he has a much better idea now just what his starting eleven will be next Saturday against Raith Rovers:-

"When the boys came on in the second half against Hibs we looked decent and put one or two in my thoughts but then they today one or two who did impress on Tuesday didn't do so well. That is what you use these pre season games for. At the end of the day it is up to them to take the opportunity whether they are playing 45 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes.

"After pre season it takes one or two players two or three games under their belts to start to come again. We are not casting anybody off, what we are saying is that we have to pick the side who look sharpest in training and pre season matches. Right now apart from one or two areas where we know we have competition for, basically the team is in my mind and what formation we are going to play so it has been a worthwhile exercise."

Asked for his opinion on him, Jim Jefferies praised Ryan Williamson for his contribution:-

"He had more end product in the second half than he had in the first half - getting into the box and setting up things. He is very capable of that and he is a terrific young player. He has got tremendous pace and he showed in the second half that he could cause a lot of trouble.

"It was also nice to see Michael Moffat get off the mark. He links well and plays some neat touches. He didn't have a lot of support in the first half because Ryan Wallace was coming far too deep and I know Ryan is trying to get his fitness but we said 'look you need to get a partnership going, you are away up the right wing, away back into midfield, stay up beside him so that when gets the ball he has got somebody to play with'.

"He made a difference in the second half when he stayed up the pitch. You can see that he is way short of match fitness - that's why I wanted to give him 90 today so that he can get that fitness back as quick as he can.

"Michael's was a great finish off a great move and in the six yard box he will be there on the end of it. It was a great ball from Andy."