Manager on Tuesday

01/05/12: Not Mission Impossible and no May Day from Jim Jefferies.

"When I walked in to Dunfermline I knew how Tom Cruise felt in Mission Impossible!" was Jim Jefferies summation of how incredible a job it might be to save Dunfermline from relegation.

"I said to the players, given that there was a four point gap at that time that it wasn't impossible, there is still a chance. I wouldn't have taken the job if it was impossible. I believed that there was a chance. There are a lot of things that can happen but we just need to look after ourselves."

He has stressed that the Pars relegation rivals, Hibs still have their destiny in their own hands:-

"There is nothing we can do to control that unless they slip up and we keep winning to take advantage of it. We just need to go into the game at Inverness trying to win it and we will see where that takes us. If it gets to the game against Hibs with all to play for it should be pretty exciting."

The Manager has noticed a lift in his players and is delighted to point out that others are saying that the momentum is now with Dunfermline who have taken four points from the last six. The Pars have scored seven goals while Hibs have not scored in their last two games and subsequently have no points to show for it. He warned:-

"Momentum can come to a halt very quickly and the only way to keep it going is to keep picking up points. Who knows what the situation will be after Wednesday night. We can only look after ourselves. It is never easy at Inverness but with the position that both clubs are in and the way that they have played, there isn't a game that isn't difficult. We certainly have a better chance than when we were sitting here a week ago."

Jim Jefferies recognised the significance of a clean sheet against Aberdeen and he felt that the team's outfield play was better at St Mirren. He felt that Dunfermline gave away too much possession in the first half on Saturday and got caught in the situation of needing to win but not wanting to concede.

"Probably the first half didn't suit us. We changed things just before the goal and once we got the goal we kept them under pressure. Aberdeen players who saw a lot of the ball in the first half didn't see so much in the second half. We played better at St Mirren but didn't defend as well. On Saturday we defended better."

Aberdeen's chances were restricted despite having the bulk of the first half possession. Chris Smith was barely tested and the Manager has been pleased with his keeper's performance since taking over.

"I had a word with him and I could not blame him for any of the goals he has let in since. If I was being harsh, maybe one but there isn't a goalkeeper who hasn't lost goals from mistakes. Bringing in Bernardo has helped him because he has competition for a place. Bernardo has shown in training that if we ever need him he is capable but right now is not the right time to change it.

"Chris has a lot of experience of the Scottish game and so far he has never let me down. I have seen him play well when he was at St Mirren.. He went through a bad spell where his confidence must have taken a knock but I couldn't criticise how he has played for me. There are players who have done a lot worse in losing goals than Chris and they are still in the team."

On player availability the gaffer explained that Martin Hardie has been suffering from a bug, possibly the same one that sidelined club captain Austin McCann on Saturday. Steven McDougall missed training on Monday but returned on Tuesday. Liam Buchanan is back in training following a back problem. Jordan McMillan is also back fit and available for the trip to Inverness.