Jim Jefferies Post Hibs

07/05/12: JJ - "Our game plan was to make sure that we did not concede early and we went and lost the three goals.

Jim Jefferies called Dunfermline's defeat as self inflicted and pointed out that Hibs were far more determined to defend well than his team were.

"It was our last chance tonight to put some pressure on going into the last game. Hibs were always favourites and the result at Aberdeen that put them close to getting over the line. Then we came here to Easter Road, thinking if we could take it down to the last game, but we threw it all away in fifteen minutes.

"We actually started quite well. After the three goals we were probably the better side in football terms because we did get in behind them a few times. Jordan McMillan went through one on one with the goalie but hits it straight there and then he gets another great ball into the box and puts a great header straight at the goalkeeper.

"At the other end the ball got knocked up in the air and it ended up in the six yard box. Their defender Doherty showed more determination to win it than we did to defend it. You can't do that.

"Each goal got worse. At the second one Osbourne is big and strong and two men couldn't stop him. When he did get it over, other defenders had left one of their strikers unmarked. Doyle didn't even need to jump he just headed it in. A shocking goal that you will never get away with at this level.

"Then at 2-0 down we couldn't afford to lose anymore and we go and grab a boy on a ball that was going nowhere. The striker was never getting it so what Austin McCann was thinking about I don't know. When players make mistakes like that, it costs you and you know when you are relegated. That is just bad defending.

"At 2-0 if we could get a goal back then suddenly you can put them under a wee bit of pressure. It could easily have been 3-2 at half time and still given ourselves a chance but if you don't take your chances either, you are gone.

"Our game plan was to make sure that we did not concede early and we went and lost the three goals. The team was set up to pass and go forward; we did all these things in the first half and created some good opportunities but maybe the final ball could have been that little bit better. We got some dangerous balls into the box. It was a great move that Jordan McMillan got in behind to strike it straight at the goalkeeper. We needed that to fall to a striker rather than a full back.

"If you analyse the game, we were every bit as good in possession and maybe slightly better but that's not what wins games. We needed to defend well and take our chances. We didn't do that and Hibs did. Fair credit to them.

"Austin McCann was playing out of position tonight and had to have an injection because if he hadn't made it we would have had two midfielders in the back four. Up until Austin got that injection, Gary Mason was going to be playing right back. Paddy Boyle has not played a lot recently and so Alex Keddie was a big miss. He and Andy Dowie had a couple of clean sheets in the last couple of games and then for probably the most important game, we had to do without him.

"Rutkiewicz was out so there had been a bit of imbalance in the squad in terms of defenders. There have been a lot more midfield players and forwards. We haven't coped with the injuries and the suspension of Alex Keddie hit us hard because it was in a department that we are not strong in."

Jefferies will now sit down with the Board and find out what budget he has to work with.

"Now I can assess who I think might do well in the First Division. Will we want to come back in one go and build a side to stay up the next time we come up or will we stick with some of the lads we have got and meet that problem at the end of the season if we get promoted?

"That has all to be discussed. Saturday will give me a chance to give one or two fringe players a chance to show me what they can do because I have been picking teams where I have gone for the experienced ones. I felt that was needed at this time but a couple of the younger lads will get a chance when there is no pressure on them. It will all be about assessing who is going to be part of the set up for next year. Some boys might want to move on as well and might get a better deal somewhere else. There will be clauses in their contracts that if they go down they get paid the same. It is the same at any football club."