Manager post Ayr United

Saturday, 19th Apr 2014

19/04/14: JJ - "We came down here with intentions of leaving boys out and it worked out

Jim Jefferies felt that Dunfermline were the better team in the first half, maybe should have take their chances to be two ahead but then dismissed the result as being much less important than the performance.

He had demonstrated his desire to blood new players into the team and rest some that had been virtually ever present during this League One campaign. After making five changes the previous Saturday he followed that up with six against Ayr Inited:-

"We are more pleased about coming down here to play an Ayr United team that is probably their strongest on paper, with a team that had players - except for two, Forbes and Grainger - all of whom had come through our youth system. We are including Whittle and Faissal in that because they joined us as youngsters.

Shaun Byrne: product of DAFC youth system

"It is fantastic for the club that they can come down here and play a tram that has everything to play for in terms of trying to qualify for a play off place. For us to have as much of the game as we did, speaks volumes for the squad that we have got.

"We said to them that Ayr would look at the team sheet and think that this could be their day. That is maybe a little bit cheeky and disrespectful but I would be the same in the dressing room trying to motivate them to go.

"It is not a go at Ayr for saying that, but it is just a natural thing to think that there are a few boys missing and here is a challenge to go out and show why you are in the team and we have a lot of faith in you.

"So I thought that they did great and after we scored we were right on top. We had one kicked off the line and it looked like we were going to make it 2-0 before it ever looked like going 1-1.

"That was the danger and we switched off at a corner, they got a wee break when it came back off the bar to the boy (Alan Forrest) and he stuck it away. That changed the momentum of the game because they then knew that they had got back on level terms and they were going to come down the hill with the wind.

"They would put balls into the box because they have some good strikers but I thought we coped great. We changed things around later when one or two boys tired. We started with three at the back, four across the middle and Forbes playing off the front two. It was an attacking line up for a young side but lately we just changed it back to our normal. We still tried to keep two strikers up and everybody played their part in what was an excellent performance.

"The result at this stage is not relevant to us because we have qualified (for the play offs) but the performance is important. There were a lot of pluses. That team did themselves credit and the club credit, for coming to a difficult place with Ayr with a lot to play for.

"Once they got an equaliser we coped with the pressure. Kerr Young has not played for a while, you have Danny in there at left back and two young kids. I thought Lewis Spence had a terrific game today but everybody worked their socks off today to play for each other. That was the pleasing thing in that performance."

The Dunfermline goal was scored by Ryan Thomson and JJ had praise for the 23 year old:-

"Ryan is not prolific but he sometimes comes up with important goals. It is good to get back because he has had a hell of a time with injury. We tried to get him back a couple of weeks ago but only lasted about fifteen minutes because he got another knock. With Shankland struggling with his groin at the moment, Jordan Moore not available, Ryan Wallace out, we are a wee bit short upfront.

"We always intended to play Thommo today and probably next week as well. The more games he gets before the play offs the more match fitness he will get. That is what is lacking in him but in and around the box he is always a threat and a danger.

"He gives us that we bit of presence that we have not got otherwise. He played well today as well and made it hard for them. He won his fair share of winners and led the line really well.

"There were a lot of good performances; Shaun Byrne played well, wee Spencey played well, they all worked hard. The boys at the back did great. We didn't have a failure today.

"Look at who we left out today, that just speaks volumes for the squad and what we are trying to do here. It was very very encouraging today for the future."

Alex Whittle was injured and substituted after just an hour of the game. JJ couldn't believe that a foul was given for what was a 50/50 challenge:-

"It could have gone either way, in fact it shouldn't have gone anyway. It was a 50/50 that should have been allowed to go on but he has come off second best. It is just a knock and so at that stage it was just about taking him off, making sure because of what we have got ahead. We didn't risk anything.

"When Spence tired it was good to have someone like Andy Geggan with his experience to come on. It shored it up a wee bit and made sure that at the least they came away with something. They did that.

"I felt that of we had got a second goal quickly after we had got the first then we would have gone on to win today. That might have deflated them but they got the lift and tried to push forward again, tried to get a bit of momentum from getting that lift but we came through that. That was pleasing.

"Ryan Goodfellow had a great save from Forrest just after that. There were a couple of touches around about the box but so had we. They had a kick off the line and the keeper had a great save from Kerr Young.

"We came down here with intentions of leaving boys out and it worked out as well because Forbes was on four bookings and he got booked today. He will maybe miss the Rangers game but that is him clear for the play offs. It has worked out in our favour."