Manager Post Brechin

23/11/13: JJ - "The advantage of the extra man is wasted because we did not get up on the play.

Listen to this Jim Jefferies Interview

Jim Jefferies was given food for thought with his team's and individual performances against Brechin City:-

"I thought we were excellent in the first half, we totally dominated the proceedings. You are worried about on the break because they have some experienced boys in Robb and Jackson. We were probably worthy of another goal or two but in the second half you can give credit, especially after having a man sent off. It would have been easy for them to say "well it's just not our day".

"We had a good opportunity with Ryan Thomson to make it 3-0, we had a great opportunity with Ryan Wallace to make it 3-0. When we didn't, then well 2-0 is a funny scoreline but the difference was a bit like last week when we played against ten men and did all the right things. We pushed up though only 1-0 up and needed that second goal to kill them off.

"Last week we did all the right things against ten men, today I thought we sat back and protected a 2-0 lead. The midfield players sat back, the two defenders sat too deep where if you noticed them in the first half they were virtually on the half way most of the time. In the second half we were on the edge of our box and made the pitch big.

"The advantage of the extra man is wasted because we did not get up on the play. There was not enough in terms of time to get to Allan Smith and Ryan Thomson because we were forced to play it long. The midfield players were only five yards in front of the back four. When you do that you are just making it hard for the opposition whether with ten men or eleven men. We had to get it pushed up, played into midfield, played forward but that is where the naivety comes from with a young side.

"It was a great learning lesson for them today and the goal was a big learning lesson because Callum Morris again should have put it out the park, he tried to shield it. I think he thought that the linesman was giving him a foul, I don't know if he did show that it was a foul for him but the referee gave it the other way and of course we switched off.

"We constantly tell them that whenever there is a free kick, get to the ball quickly and don't let them take it quick. Trouten found the boy in the box on his own and then they were queuing up to score. That gives them a lift but we dealt with it as soon as they pushed forward to try and get an equaliser there were gaps there.

"We should have had that third goal sooner rather than later. There is no doubt that we deserved to win the game. We made it a bit harder than it should have been against ten men. Last week we totally did the right things but today you saw the other side of it. The midfield boys like Shaun (Byrne), Josh (Falkingham) and Andy Geggan weren't as influential in the second half as they should have been because last week they were totally.

"You are not going to be too critical or give them too hard a time, its a learning curve for them and the most important thing is to come off the pitch with another three points in the bag. That is what we did."

The Manager praised the second Ryan to get a debut in as many games. Last Saturday it was Ryan Goodfellow, this week it was 17 year old Ryan Williamson:-

"Terrific. When Ross (Millen) failed a fitness test this morning there were two or three options. I could have put in Luke (Johnston) who has played at right back before or Andy Geggan back there. I have said all along that this young laddie is a great prospect. He still has a bit to learn, there was a couple of defensive things he hesitated over. But I thought he had an outstanding debut and going forward he is as good a young attacking full back as I have seen.

"Even though he has a lot to learn I thought that he was outstanding today. He kept driving and in fact we gave him a row for the second goal. When it was laid back to him, he should have shot. That is why Ryan Wallace gave him it because he was unmarked; he chose to do it the hard way - go into the box and work his magic, square it across and Ryan put it in. We will forgive him for not having a go himself.

"He was terrific today and it was good that he was at home. If you cannot put him in there after a lot of god reports and when I watch him myself in the 20s, I have always said that he has a great chance. As long as he keeps his feet on the ground, he has his father as an ex player with the club to keep him right on that score. He can be really pleased with his debut today because he was outstanding.

"He is a young kid remember. Ross Millen has done extremely well and it's a cup tie next week so it's food for thought."