Manager Post Ayr United

22/0/14: JJ - "They were just terrific; it is as good a performance as we have had all season ...

 
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MATCH PICTURES
Jim Jefferies was pleased to get a good result against an Ayr United team who themselves have registered some good results this season:-

"They are up there in the top half of the league and played very well against Rangers last week, particularly in the first half when Cammy Bell kept them out.

"We thought that they would be well up for it today because they are one of the teams who are contesting (for a play off place). We knew Brechin were playing Stranraer and that they would maybe want to get a result here. I have to be honest, we didn't start that well because it could have been 2-2 in the first ten minutes.

Josh Falkingham v Ayr United

"Josh should maybe have hit it on the break in the opening minute and they went up the park and had two good chances to score. Then Faiss was right through, he normally scores early but he goes and puts it past the post. I was thinking 'what is this going to be today'?

Faissal El Bakhtaoui slips shot wide

"You could see when we got the first goal with a great strike from Forbes and the one right before half time must have been a real sickener for them. It was all about being professional in the second half. We stressed the fact that we had not to let them back into it. For me today Morris, after a wee shaky start, and Page were just outstanding. They never let them back into the game, we defended well, put their heads on everything that came in and closed people down well. It was just a great performance.

"The day was capped off with one terrific move. Forbes did tremendously well to flick it on down the wing for Shanks got options in the middle but he has taken it on like a striker does. What a great goal to finish.

"Even though Ayr could have scored a couple of goals we could easily have had a few ourselves. You could take a 3-0 victory against one of the teams in the top half. That is the first time for a long time that we have been really solid. We did that at East Fife and at Forfar after going 2-1 down to come back.

"These boys who have come in with the experience, strength and the quality that they have got meant that today I could leave out Wallace who has been great for us. I rested him because we have a game in midweek and next week (v Stranraer). That is why I took off Forbes and Hubby off when the game was won just to give them a break.

"It was one of those satisfying, professional performances today. It was thoroughly deserved."

The second goal was clearly converted by Lawrence Shankland but the Manager had to seek clarification from the on loan Dons player:-

"I asked at half time if it was in. Ross sort of half claimed it but Shanks did not want to claim it either. I said 'well was it in when you went to put it in?' and he said no, well I said 'it is your goal then, end of story.'

"He more than made up for it with the third one. What a terrific strike! We have scored a lot of goals against Ayr this season; down there we were 2-0 down in the league game down there and won 4-2, we have beaten them here 5-1 and the cup ties are understandably much tighter but it was another terrific result for us, especially at home where we always find that teams come and make it difficult.

"What pleased me today was the workrate of the team. When we lost the ball every single player was closed down, they pressed, they chased lost causes and put people under pressure. They were just terrific; it is as good a performance as we have had all season."

The gap is now fourteen points between Dunfermline and Ayr United and eleven between Dunfermline and Stranraer although the Stair Park side have two games in hand. The Manager felt that they were edging towards clinching second spot. Dunfermline have 11 games remaining and can reach a maximum of 83. Stranraer have 13 games left meaning that they could reach 78 points.

"You would think that fourteen points would take five games out of the eleven left. We want to finish second. Stranraer won today so we need to think about Arbroath first - they are fighting for their lives - and we need to go out and put on the same kind of performance, get the three points. As I said before the Forfar game if we could get the lion's share of the points out of these next games we take a big step to making it a little bit easier than it might be if we drop points to these teams. The players were magnificent, you couldn't ask for anymore."

Andy Geggan led out the team again against Ayr United and JJ was asked if the captaincy was going to change again in the wake of Josh Falkingham agreeing a new contract:-

"As I have said before, it is something that wasn't anybody's fault. Josh's sins were explained but you cannot shut the door after the horse has bolted. I want eleven captains out there. Being the captain is fine but everybody should be a captain out there. It was a situation where if you delay it too long you need players who want to go forward with the club and not want to leave. You need to set an example on the pitch. I think Josh was outstanding today, there were one or two decisions late on when he was brought down but he showed a lot of tenacity, in particular in the first half when he was getting in behind them down the right side.

"He got his contract and his future sorted out this week but these things happen. I cannot take it away from somebody to give it back but that's life and we just get on with it. We will make that decision next season and find out who is going to be captain then. Geggan has done nothing wrong and kept us going so we will leave it at that."

Just a minute from Ayr boss Mark Roberts