Managers Post Dumbarton

05/01/13: JJ - "Just think about this time last week, we were saying in the dressing room, two games played and we've got six points.

MATCH PICTURES
Jim Jefferies felt a bit frustrated that his side didn't finish off Dumbarton in the second half since he claimed they had some great opportunities to score more:-

"Their best spell was in the first half but then the wind got up in the second half. Gerry (McCabe) has been here as a manager and he warned that the wind could easily turn around. We felt that it was in their favour in the first half and for twenty minutes of the second half it was in their favour going the other way. Then it changed again and became in our favour. So it was difficult with balls in, we were just concentrating on getting the ball down and pass.

"For work rate and commitment you cannot fault them. All you can fault them for today is that their finishing should have been better than it was and we should have cashed in on some great chances in the second half. Dumbarton were spirited and you could see they got a lift from their two recent performances. We knew that it wasn't going to be an easy game,

"It's a great three points. People were starting to write us off a bit last week after the Morton game and a wee points gap. Just think about this time last week we were saying in the dressing room, two games played and we've got six points. Other teams around us have dropped them and we are top of the league."

The Pars Manager acknowledged that the First Division is a very tight league. Teams at the bottom will get results just as Dumbarton have done recently against Falkirk and Morton.

Shaun Byrne

"There is a long way to go, we will drop points, so will the other teams it is just who is going to drop the least. We will be up there challenging, don't write us off because we have some decent young players there. Remember our team has only been together for five months. Shaun Byrne played again today and took a booking for the team in the last minute. When he came in he apologised but I said 'listen that was the best foul ever'. Gaffer he said 'I had to do it' and I said 'you are right you had to do it, if you hadn't I would have given you a row.'

Shaun will head off to Cyprus with the Dunfermline Athletic under 20s on Wednesday and will mean he will be missing for the matches against Airdrie United and Cowdenbeath. Jefferies added:-

"We will miss him. The laddie had a debate because he wanted to go on the SFA trip to Cyprus run through the Da Vinci Programme. There is a lot of finance involved with it, you have got to register them so its only two games and we have ample cover. He has done well for us. Joe Cardle came and saw me - he has been a wee bit off form - so I left him out and gave Alex Whittle a chance. He has been buzzing in training, he has not played many games but I thought it was nice that from the left hand side he was involved in the goal. He works away, just learning the game and days like this will bring him on.

"Josh Falkingham was outstanding again and the back four were solid enough in difficult conditions. We will take a big lift from the result today and how the results have gone for us."

Ryan Thomson

The first choice back four were only together again for 45 minutes as Jordan McMillan had to retire at half time with a knee injury. Referring to Ryan's court case, the Manager explained:-

"Ryan Thomson had a lot of publicity over the last 24 hours and you just have to make sure that things in his head are right so we chose to leave him out. His form has been good so it was an easy switch Andy Geggan has played at right back a number of times for us now though you always miss his drive in the middle of the park. He had an excellent first half as well but I'm sure Jordan will be alright for the next game."

Andy Geggan

Facing an influx of SPL journalists at Dumbarton in search of a story, the Manager was asked if the financial problems at the Club were behind them:-

"That's another reason these players deserve enormous credit. I know that the Club is struggling financially, salaries have been paid in bits and pieces. That is not ideal but these players have never let it affect them. They have come in and worked their socks off in training, they have worked hard on the park. It is a credit to them and the supporters should be really pleased. It is not easy especially at this time of year, hopefully we will get on an even keel.

"Delays in wages being paid is always a problem because subconsciously your players are a bit upset about things. Hopefully it will all be sorted out but you cannot say that the players didn't go out on the pitch and let it affect them. It would be easy for them to do that but they don't. They go about their business and forget about that, now it is up to the Club to play their part because the players are certainly playing their part on the pitch. The crowds are coming in to see us, because the word is getting around that we do work hard, we do play some good football. We are getting plenty of support from the supporters side and we need the support from the Club as well. I'm sure that they are working hard behind the scenes at Boardroom level to do that."

Josh Falkingham

Dumbarton Manager Ian Murray felt that the third game in a week had taken its toll on his players:-

"To lose a goal in the first minute was a terrible start for us. I could sense a bit of tiredness creeping into the players in the warm up and I warned them about the start of the game. Sometimes goals just happen but in all honesty we did well to get ourselves going again. We hit the post and had a few half chances; Garry Fleming had a couple and perhaps the tiredness did tell.

"These guys are only part time so it is tough on us but I felt overall that we deserved probably a point out of the game. Gallacher didn't have a save to make in the second half, that is disappointing but in terms of attitude I thought we were good.

Paul Gallacher v Dumbarton

"I said to the players after the game that they had to be really pleased with their week's work. To take six points out of nine from these three teams was exceptional. It has given us a real chance of coming up now. We host Partick Thistle here next week and that will be a really tough game as well but I said to them that if we are going to get beat, I want to get beat like that. I don't want people coming down here thinking that they just have to turn up to win the game. That was maybe happening a little earlier on in the season but we are certainly happy with them over the last week."