Jim Jefferies Post Livingston

22/09/12: JJ - "We will keep the feet firmly on the ground and not get carried away. Its my job to do that

Jim Jefferies was really pleased with his team's performance against Livingston and revealed that his Assistant Gerry McCabe had declared that as the best by a Dunfermline team for a long time.

"We played some fantastic football today. It took us ten minutes to get into it. When you have not got the ball especially against a team like Livingston who want to get it down and pass it all the time, it is important to hound them. That was our game plan today to pressurise them, force them into errors and give them nowhere to go. If you take away the first ten minutes, for 35 minutes of that first half we were brilliant.

"You are always happy with a four goal haul but when you see some of the chances that were missed - Andy in the first half with a sitter and wee Wallace didn't get on the scoresheet today but he could have got a hat trick last week. I think there is a game around the corner where he is going to score three or four goals in the one game because he is getting into great positions. His link up play with Barrowman was good, Husband was excellent and in fact we didn't have a failure today.

"Big Callum Morris was outstanding as all the back line were. It is easy to say that they are not under any pressure but they still have to take part  in the game. They sent a lot of moves away and played it from the back. Thommo's goal came from a cross from Morris being up the left wing. He played it on to Barrowman who had a great header and Thommo has got on the end of it."

The Manager defended his decision to withdraw Andy Barrowman when he was on fire and sitting on a hat trick:-

"He missed last week because of illness, we have Aberdeen on Wednesday so it was the sensible thing to do. He did say that he was feeling it when he came off and admitted that it was the right thing to do.

"Josh was out today with this virus that has been going about a few clubs. We couldn't risk him, he is tucked up in bed. Alex Whittle has not been feeling great either and wee Joe has just come back from a rib injury so I didn't want to take any chances with him in the last fifteen minutes."

The proper attitude of the team is something that is making it a joy for the Manager to be involved with them he claimed:-

"I said that they would be a team that would improve throughout the season; they are playing great football. These are the type of games where if you don't do the right thing Livingston have got good boys in their team that can pass it. When we win the ball we have some useful players as well - we showed that today with some fantastic football.

"What we are setting out to do here is to get the fans to come along and enjoy it. With the comments you hear and the support that we get, they are enjoying the way that we are playing. We are winning, so long may that continue.

"We will keep the feet firmly on the ground and not get carried away. Its my job to do that as well but along with Neil McCann I told them that we were proud to be part of what we saw today. You train all week, prepare all week but when your team goes out and shows the hunger and desire to win the ball back and play football that is what you need.

"No matter what division you are in, you must apply yourself right. That is what Dunfermline's got - they go out there and give their all for the jersey and we make sure that they do that. We have proven ourselves - I didn't know how this season was going to be because of the new young team. We knew Partick Thistle were strong and will be favourites but we have shown that we will be up there challenging and that's credit to the boys for improving and gelling together. They all get on great together; there is a great spirit and everybody is buzzing about the Club at the moment."

Next up is the Scottish Communities League Cup match at home to Aberdeen and the Manager views that as another step up for his young team:-

"I have just told the players that we will have to go out there and work harder. I don't know if they can work any harder than they did today but even though it is against better players it is all about concentration and making sure that you are not sloppy. What we do know is that when Aberdeen do come down here we are going to give them a game. It is our intention to have a right go."

Livingston Manager John Hughes commented:-

"They thoroughly deserved it and with them getting the third goal just after half time it was just damage limitation. We were well beaten it was men against boys. I am disappointed because we are better than that but we just seem to have lost a bit of energy and know how. "