Managers post Forfar

12/04/14: JJ "We have got there with three games to go and these boys deserve a lot of credit."

Listen to this Jim Jefferies post match interview

MATCH PICTURES
Jim Jefferies feels that his players deserve lots of credit for achieving their goal of second place in League One. Speaking after the draw against Forfar Athletic clinched the runners up spot, the Dunfermline manager said:-

"To do it with three games to go just shows you the work put in and the hard work. We said before the game that it was always going to be hard. We were in a great position and that allowed me to do what I'd planned to do - to make a few changes. I made five changes, changed the system. That is the best we have played - in the first half - for weeks. It was in terrible conditions; swirling wind and on a bumpy, bouncy pitch.

"The second half was a wee bit flatter than the first half but in these situations it is not easy. We missed a few chances, they had a couple of chances but overall we knew that we were in a good position.

"I said before the game that there would be changes and there will be a lot of changes next week as well. Those who didn't play today will play next week because I have to work towards the play offs now.

"I thought that there were a lot of positives for us today. It was a difficult day to play football. With balls into the box when they have some big lads, the bounce of the ball can be difference between winning.

"In the second half Whittle put in a great ball and how Thommo missed it I just do not know. I thought we were the better team; in the first half we had them on the back foot for most of the game. We had some great balls in from corners where we were a little unlucky.

"Some of the boys were saying that the one that came out off the underside of the bar was over the line. At the end of the day the point was enough to finish what we set out to do; to be second. Every one of those players deserves credit but we have to use the games now sensibly sensibility, rest some boys and it will be a totally different team that will play next week and then the week after at Arbroath. I don't think that there will be many of the first team boys who will play against Rangers when the first leg of the play offs is only three days away.

"Second was achieved, it doesn't matter how you do it. We have done that with great play in the early part of the season. Just lately our big concern is that the way we played for most of the season, would allow that bit of tiredness.  That would come from the way they play in games and (the way they) train and it must take its toll. I think that crept in at the back end of the season.

"I thought there was a bit of a buzz about us today, particularly in the first half. We kept the pressure on them but they defended well and had a couple of opportunities in the second half when Hilson did well to get in behind us and get crosses in. That was always going to happen but you could see that we had some great chances as well.

"We are just delighted to get over the line and now we can prepare properly. It helps the club too because financially it is a lot healthier than finishing third. We have achieved that. We knew Rangers were going to be strong but it is now just about being nice and fresh and buzzing, we will do that."

JJ confessed that he had selected a more experienced team the previous Saturday against Airdrie:-

"I knew that would be a tough game, and we lost!  It was to a wonder free kick and a last minute breakdown. Overall we were the better team against a team that was fighting for its life but that is what you are going to get. Over the last six weeks the teams at the bottom have got results. That has helped us and Stranraer and Ayr United have not been finding it easy. We haven't either because these teams want to keep from relegation.

"Some of them like Forfar and Stenhousemuir have been fighting for that last play off place. We have not got any of those worries now, we are there. We have some good young players who have come through this season.

"I said to them before the game that it is not the most experienced who will play in the play offs. Some of them will get a chance next week and then we will make a decision on just how we are going to go about it. It will depend upon who we are playing of course.

"We created more chances today than we have done it the last two or three games. That is what pleased me but there is still room for improvement; we had that great move near the end where Josh found Whitts and he rushed it when they were queuing up waiting for a good delivery. He will turn around and say "well I delivered the last one and you didn't put it away".

"There is a lift off their shoulders that we have achieved their target and everybody at the club should be delighted that we can focus on the play offs. There are never any guarantees in play offs but these players will give 110% for this club and will try and do it for the supporters."

Dick Campbell claimed that the only team that deserved to win the game was Forfar but Jim Jefferies stressed that although Forfar had chances to score, so too did Dunfermline.

"Dick will always say that. When we beat them 4-2 he said that they should have won it. When we beat them 6-2 they said that they should have won it. So we will just take that with a pinch of salt. He knows that his team were delighted to get a point today. They were outplayed in the first half. Second half they made a bit more of the wind advantage; they definitely had a couple of good chances to score but you could not say that Dunfermline didn't either. We scored and weren't given it.

"We are trying to get the goals but just haven't been getting the breaks in front of goal. We deserved a couple of breaks today because there have been spells when everything has been going against us."

Despite a few boos at the final whistle, JJ had praise for the Dunfermline supporters for sticking with his team.

"We had to prepare for a division that Rangers were always going to be favourites to win. The avenue of the play offs meant that we wanted to get the second place. We are delighted and praise should not go amiss just because in the last two or three weeks we have struggled to get across that line. Stranraer have struggled to get across the line, Ayr have struggled but that is what happens. We have got there with three games to go and these boys deserve a lot of credit."

Dick Campbell`s post match reaction