Manager Post Bristol City

01/08/12: JJ - "I thought tonight was a terrific exercise because we will not be playing against teams of this level.

MATCH PICTURES
Despite an improved performance from his team, Jim Jefferies is laughing off suggestions that his team are favourites to win the First Division:-

"I thought tonight was a terrific exercise because we will not be playing against teams of this level. These are players who are hoping to do reasonably well in the Championship so it was always going to be difficult to face them with a new young side.

"In the first half we sat off them a wee bit in midfield and at the goals we did not stick with the runners. But we tried a few things in there tonight and you could see when we made the changes at half time. It was the same shape but we didn't get exposed as much and I thought we deserved a goal in the second half because we had some good play, looked sharp and we just need to persevere.  There were some useful performances out there tonight.

"We moved the ball about great in the second half and I still think that we are improving. That game tonight will bring on our new side fantastically. Andy Geggan has played a lot of games this season so in the second half I tried Jordan McMillan back in his normal position because I had tried him in midfield in previous games.

"The most important thing was that the fitness levels have been tested because you have to work hard against teams like that. If you don't they will just destroy you. They had pace attacking us at times but I thought we came out with a lot of credit tonight."

The Manager was delighted with the way his team continued to work hard after the break despite the two goal deficit:-

"Wee Josh (Falkingham) is a wee infectious character who fights to get the ball. He linked well with Ryan Thomson and so there were things to learn there.

"It is a young team and a new team and it might take a couple of months yet to get it how you want it. We have got to be patient and not expect too much. Maybe at the end of the day we will maybe surprise even us how well we will be able to do. Title favourites for the First Division is absolute nonsense given the changes that have been made here.

"We will go and do what we can. We will take a few knocks along the way but we will have something built here that will stand us in good stead not just for this season but for a couple of seasons ahead."

The gaffer felt that trialist Ian Murray looked a "million times sharper" in the game against Bristol City than he had done against Hearts and was showing the benefits of training with Dunfermline.

"He had a run there against probably the fastest man in their team. He chased him and last week he would probably have been twenty yards behind him but he was only a yard short tonight which shows that the training has brought him on. We know what Ian is all about but we will see how his fitness is and see what we have got to do.

"There is no pressure on either party. Ian is happy to come in, get his fitness, let us have a proper look at him - he knows that he is a little short but if we get an opportunity he would certainly come under consideration just like a couple of others that we have been told about. What a big difference tonight."

Asked if he was any closer to knowing what his best team was going to be, Jim Jefferies replied that it was all important to have competition for places;-

"Players who had not played much got their chance tonight,  the likes of Paul Burns and Paul Willis. They have to use these opportunities to put pressure on the lads who have been playing. We have not made many decisions yet but we have looked at a lot of the players in different positions. It is good that they are on their toes and I hope to have another game on Saturday. If we get that, it will be our final preparation before we go in against Cowdenbeath."

Jim hopes to know by Thursday afternoon who his side can play on Saturday and it is likely that it will be at East End Park.

MATCH REPORT: Dunfermline 0 Bristol City 2