Managers Post Dundee United

31/03/12: JM - "I don't think anybody from Dunfermline could complain about the spirit, the will and the work rate they put in today

Jim Jefferies knew that the trip to Tannadice was going to be a difficult game for Dunfermline and he was proved right:-

"They are the form team with just one defeat in the last ten games. I have got to say that I thought we contained them very well with the way we set up in the first half. I don't think Chris Smith had a lot to do, they probably had a little bit more possession than we did but we were nice and solid. For a wee spell in the first half we had a couple of sniffs at the goal that we might have taken.

"The crucial thing is what you say at half time that you know that they are going to up it coming down the hill to their favourite end. They were probably getting a few choice words and so it was important to concentrate and not give away anything. Especially in the opening ten or fifteen minutes, you have to be focussed but we weren't.

"We lost a goal from a long throw. I don't know how it happened, Jon Daly had a poke at it and it has gone in. That sets you back but at 1-0 for a wee spell you were trying to get back in the game. As the game wore on you think 'we are not looking like scoring' and you change it to bring forward players on. That left us a little open and the second goal killed us.

"It was quality from Mackay-Stevens to get in behind us, get to the line and then cut back. We didn't pick up the runner which again you talk about and emphasise but if you don't, you get punished and that's what happened.

"After that a lot of players who maybe weren't really in the game at that time and being contained, started to flourish. The third goal was a result of that. The game was won and we were a little flat.

"As long as they keep doing what they are doing, I don't think anybody from Dunfermline could complain about the spirit, the will and the work rate they put in today but at times the quality you need to keep people out wasn't there. That bit of quality in the final third wasn't there to finish them off."

The Manager admitted that it was a worry as to where the goals were going to come from:-

"We had plenty of forward players on there but sometimes at this level they are finding it hard to score goals. When it is like that you are hoping that your defenders can keep them out. It is something that has plagued them all season and I cannot sort that in ten days. It is about picking up points, so depending on how things go tomorrow (when Hibs are away to ICT) we might be worse off or we might not be.

"We will wait and see, take it into the next game and if they do extend it then the following week we might have closed it again. Then we could go into the last five games with it all to play for. That is when you are playing teams down the bottom half of the league and who knows what will happen."

The Manager felt that his team was set up well. Martin Hardie did well for the team added Jim Jefferies:-

"He was always picking up the ball. Dundee United have been having a lot of success down the left hand side but we seemed to snuff that out today with Jordan MacMillan, who doesn't normally play in that position. When we opened up they did get down their left hand side to punish us. It was one of those things; you do not get any points for 1-0, you have to try and get a goal to get something out of it but we got punished when we made mistakes."

Dundee United manager Peter Houston was pleased but relieved to secure a 3-0 win:-

"We started the game well and Robbie Neilson missed a good chance but they came right into it and were a threat to us. We were too deep, the game was too long and we spoke about that at half time.

"The message was to just to go back to the first fifteen minutes where I thought we played well. We had to be patient and the worry was the fans being impatient. We were too deep and couldn't get up in the game. We weren't winning second balls and if we had pressed the game higher up the pitch we might get some rewards.

"They came out for the second half and pressed the ball quicker and together as a team. The good thing about it was getting the early goal. When you get an early goal against a team who are fighting for their lives and who did make it difficult, that helps. They opened up a wee bit and we kicked on again. We ended up comfortable winners but Dunfermline worked really hard and showed a good spirit.

"I was really worried about today's game before the start. All week I have been thinking about the fact that Jim, being the motivator that I know he is and good at it, would have Dunfermline right up at it and ready for it. And he did.

"It wasn't until the second goal went in that I felt more comfortable. I am delighted with two things - scoring another three goals, keeping a clean sheet. Maybe three things, three points" he added.