Jim O'Brien Post Motherwell

"It is important that there is competition for places and when I came in here there wasn't as much of that beca

Jim O'Brien talked about the impressive 4-1 victory over Motherwell explaining that the players knew how important it was to collect all three points:-

"We had to win and we put on a decent performance for the supporters as well. Some of our play, especially in the first half, was outstanding.  The Manager stressed at half time that we had to keep going.  We did but it was better for them when they got a player sent off.  We took our foot off the gas a bit.  It wasn't good from that point of view but the result in the end was brilliant."

The performance against Motherwell registered the team's continual improvement as the fantastic run that Dunfermline have embarked on in the SPL, winning five of their last six league matches continues:-

"It is up there with our second half performance against Inverness. Some of the play was outstanding and for me personally getting my first goal here was great.  i didn't really want to go back to Celtic without scoring here. That was nice and settled me a bit especially with Scott scoring so quickly after. That took a bit of pressure off us and we could just get the ball down and play. That was important as well." 

Jim fires in his first ever SPL goal

 Why have we had to wait until now for everything to come together with the team?

"The Manager has got the foundations right because he wants to be here at this club. He is getting his team together and players getting back to fitness it creates competition for places.  Players are trying harder because they need to secure their place in the team. I think that is a big factor.

"The squad of guys we have got is tremendous. Some of the guys were not even on the bench against Motherwell - Stevie Crawford for example isn't even getting on the bench.  It is important that there is competition for places and when I came in here there wasn't as much of that because of injuries.

"We knew with St Mirren winning on Saturday that this was a massive game. We are just trying to look after ourselves and do the best we can, hopefully a result will go for us the other way but Motherwell will be sweating a bit now even though they only need a point. They will be missing Scott McDonald and Reynolds, they have probably been the best players for Motherwell this season. It's disappointing from that point of view but we are just worrying about ourselves.

 "I think Scott is going to appeal the red card because I thought it was an outrageous decision.  We were lucky enough to see it afterwards and it was never a penalty.  He just touched him on the shoulder and went to get to the other side of him and he just fell.  Hopefully that appeal will go through and we will have Scott for Saturday."

Jim O'Brien dismissed questions about the possibility of Gordon Strachan allowing his on loan player to turn out for Dunfermline against Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final:-

"I cannot really be worrying about things like that because of the important games coming up. We are making the league exciting by dragging another team into it so that is important for us."

Jim has made a big impact at Dunfermline and he would dearly love to represent them in the final even though it is against the club where he is hopeful his future lies:-

"I have got to know the guys here and been part of this team since I arrived. To play my part in keeping the guys up would be magnificent because you wouldn't want to see them going down and playing in the First Division next season.  It is a hard league to win and there a lot of good teams down there. There is only one team that comers up, it is a difficult one to get out of but with two games left it is exciting and we will just have to see what happens."

O'Brien has never changed his determination to play for Celtic and he would rather Dunfermline were his SPL opponents when he comes to East End Park with the champions next season:-

"Hopefully I can get a chance when I go back to get a run in the team if all goes well. Short term I am just concentrating on my play.  i am the fittest I have ever been and just enjoying my football."