Manager on Thursday

20/09/12: JJ - "They are a well balanced side and John Hughes lets them play in a certain way; that is pure football."

Jim Jefferies will welcome John Hughes and Livingston to East End Park on Saturday but he does not intend yielding points to the West Lothian opponents:-

"John and I go back along way. He was one of the players I had at Berwick and it was me who took him to Falkirk. He is a legend there and did a fantastic job as a manager there as well."

Jim keeps in touch and a couple of recent friendlies against each other has kept them close. The Pars gaffer says he knows what to expect from his counterpart in the opposition dugout on Saturday.

"It is not about us; it is about two teams who like to get the ball down and pass it. We have been successful at that but they have a lot of new players and young players who try to play the game the right way. John Collins and John Hughes will instil that in them and if you sit off them and let them play they will cause you a lot of problems."

Jim Jefferies watched Livvy a couple of weeks ago and felt that they thoroughly deserved their victory when they beat Falkirk. But Dunfermline have now won four out of four and the Manager stressed:-

"We are in good form, our spirits are up and when confidence is up, you cannot wait for the next game. Hopefully we can put on a good show on Saturday to keep this run going and build up some good momentum."

Whilst being upbeat Jim did issue words of warning as well:-

"It is impossible to win every game. There have been teams who have gone through the season with great records of few defeats. That is one of the targets for us - we keep trying to win every game we play. There might be a day when we play really really well but its not our day and they hit one from 25 yards into the top corner. You have to get over that and accept these things."

The Pars boss is pleased that his team are creating chances but is not so happy when it comes to those converted:-

"I should know, we have missed a few since the start of the season but at least we are making them. We have a good haul of goals in terms of the stats, I just want to keep it going.

"Injuries can play a big part. We have a small and young squad so injuries to key players plays a major part. This is not about four or five games, it is about over the season. You have different things to consider - injuries, suspensions, the elements and people just shaded a wee bit. You need a pool with players fresh to come in. Hopefully we can come with that and have a good season.

"We will be expected to win promotion because that is the expectation level that goes with a club this size in the First Division. We are going out there to try and give the public something enjoyable to watch. We keep winning and we have convinced ourselves that we are capable of being up there challenging. If we miss out there will be a lot of work to be done next year to improve on it because we have a good squad of players who should serve the club well for the next few years."

On the injury front Jim Jefferies reported that Andy Barrowman is now free of the virus that kept him out of last Saturday's match at Dumbarton. The virus has also affected Alex Whittle and Josh Falkingham and Jordan McMillan picked up a knock in training on Thursday but they are all expected to be available for consideration for the meeting with Livingston. Midfielder Chris Kane is the only player still classed as doubtful.

Likely to be out to make a mark on Saturday will be Stefan Scougall who was a youth player at Dunfermline before joining Livvy. The Manager was aware of the 19 year old:-

"He is a talented young player but he is only talented if you let him get on the ball and allow him to play the way he wants to play. We will have to be on our toes and make sure that whoever is in that area competing against him outplays him. Sometimes it is about team work but other times it is about individual battles. If you come out on top, like we did against Raith Rovers then you are more likely to win the battle.

"There are a lot of good players in this league but hopefully we can keep him quiet. They are not a one man team, they have a good young player in Scougall but Barr is a good player, Russell is a good player and there's a lad at the back. They are a well balanced side and John Hughes lets them play in a certain way; that is pure football."

With social media causing the Club more problems this week Jim Jefferies is advising his players to shut down their accounts:-

"Somebody somewhere will twist it and turn it and you get yourself in a lot of trouble. It is a great facility and it is part of modern day life to go on these things. I have a son and daughter who use it but my advice to any football youngster is cut it down and do it in a way that is not going to harm you. In the football world it can cause a lot of problems as we have seen.

"That does not mean that football players are indisciplined at this football club. Stories get made up at every football club and we take a lot of steps to make sure that the discipline is right here. We will never ever stop bookings on the pitch when they are a bit rash. Referees can make some daft decisions that we do not agree with, that is part and parcel of the game but if we feel it is getting just a little too rash and too consistent with it, then we will make moves to cut that out of his play.

"That is part of management but for anybody to suggest that there is indiscipline at this football club, that is one thing that is never allowed at any football club that I have ever been at and never will,  because if somebody is causing us problems then he will not be here that long."