Managers post Stranraer

11/01/14: JJ - "Fans certainly get their money's worth here.

Listen to this Jim Jefferies post Stranraer interview

Jim Jefferies felt that his team put up a terrific performance to come back twice from behind to beat their nearest challengers for second place.

"Fans certainly get their money's worth here. We went behind after missing a penalty. It was a great move - obviously a stonewall penalty but I was more disappointed with Ryan Wallace. He has been taking penalties well and he has always had a ten yard run up, so why he changed it to a two yard run up I cannot understand. It was just a bad decision from him.

"They go up the park and get a lift. It was a poor goal from our point of view. We switched off at the corner; the boy (Bell) is good in the air but he didn't need to be because it was waist height he headed it in from. That was just naivety and so we found ourselves up against it.

"We came back well from the corner and I felt that most of the football came from Dunfermline today. We played some great football, we were patient. I know the crowd can sometimes want it forward early but that is not our style. I was glad that the players didn't resort to just punting the ball up the park. You could see us trying to build from the back, they tried to find people in midfield and get them working. That's what paid off.

"We had a lot of the ball and played some good moves. Then we got back on level terms and started the second half reasonably well. They got one free kick and again they got a free header. We have not picked up and that just should not happen. I wasn't happy with that. Whoever was marking him wasn't doing his job right.

"From 2-1 down what a tremendous spirit we showed but we kept plugging away, got a good goal ourselves. Shaun Byrne gave me heart attacks there because I thought he should have slotted it away before it hit the goalkeeper and spun in.

"Back on level terms, you could see that there was a little spring in their step and it was great that Lawrence (Shankland) came up with the winner. In fact he just missed a header before that from a great move and a great ball in from Drummond. He is annoyed that he did not make contact because it was a great opportunity but he made up for it with great reaction after a shot from Josh Falkingham.

"We had control of the game but against a big strong, well organised, experienced  team they were going to push until the end. When Faissal was sent off they put their centre half up just to throw balls into the box. That was the only way that Stranraer would have scored. The couple of chances in the first half were bad errors by us that alllowed them in but overall I think we played the better football.

"They were difficult because they were well drilled and were organised. That is three times that we have beaten them now and they are supposed to be the form team. Dunfermline showed that they have a bit of form about them as well."

After scoring on his debut last Saturday, Faissal El Bakhtaoui went from hero to potential villain, Asked about the red card shown to Faissal in 85th minute after an exchange with former Par Steven Bell, the Manager said:-

"After pulling his jersey Faiss said that he stood on his ankle, but I said that according to John Potter and Craig Dargo - because I did not see what happened - they said he lashed out a little with his feet. It is a learning curve for him and I said 'you just can't do that Faiss, you got your foul, take your foul and leave it at that'. Apart from that the laddie had another good game today, he looked sharp and always looked like a problem.

"I had Allan Smith warming up to come on for him and give him a bit of a break for the last ten minutes and he goes and gets sent off. I don't think Allan was too pleased with him either!

"It was just a terrific result when you consider Morris and Whittle were out today. Josh had just come back and for me was a wee bit off the pace in the first half. He was trying to protect his hand and we asked him if it was too sore to come off but he was okay. He went on and you could see a different player in the second half. He led the team well."

No doubt with the one match suspension next week for central defender Kerr Young in his mind, the Manager added:-

"It was a good all round performance. We hope to get Callum Morris and Alex Whittle back as soon as possible. Boys like Ross Drummond came in and showed that they can do a job and even though we have a small squad they are all getting a chance to play at first team level through these injuries. I have to say that they are taking their opportunities because today Lewis Martin was our best player by far. He was outstanding today for a young seventeen year old. He was immense today against two difficult strikers who are on form in this league at the moment. It was a tough ask and he came through it with flying colours."

Listen to Jim Jefferies post Stranraer interview

Listen to Stranraer manager post match