Managers Post Cup Tie

02/02/13: JJ - "We go on from here and try and put it right."

Jim Jefferies felt there was not much between the teams in the first half:-

"We gifted Hamilton an early chance but got away with it.over the piece I didn't think there was much in it. The first goal was going to be crucial and with how things have been going for us lately, I thought if we could get it, it would give us the lift to go on.

"We lost a goal from a terrific strike. We had pointed out in the team talk that you cannot let that boy hit from there. He has done it often and he is a good striker of the ball. We paid for that and then you could see this young side's confidence take a bit of a jolt.

"We lost a second but I don't think I can criticise them. We pushed men forward but the quality of their play compared between now and the start of the season is just lost at the moment. it is our job to try and encourage them to get that back"

It had been 45 minutes before the Pars Manager had emerged to speak to the media after the match he stressed that there was no paint coming off the walls:-

"It was all constructive to find out what went wrong. I have said many times since the start of the season when we were buzzing that there would be times around the corner when it is not going to go your way for certain reasons. Injuries, suspensions, loss of form - and it is how you deal with it. We are in a little bit of a rut but it takes a result to go your way and things can change.

"We have games in the next few weeks where we have to be up for it. We have to grind out results because these are games that can put us back in the hunt. That is what we need to do. In cup ties if you don't do the right things you get knocked out and good luck to Hamilton. We go on from here and try and put it right."

There is always the question that the poor results of late - losing four of the last five matches at East End Park - could be associated with the Club's financial problems. The Manager expressed his views:-

"It is one of the questions I asked the players if it is affecting them and to be honest and I can only trust them - they didn't sound very convincing to me but they said that it wasn't. They just felt that they weren't creating as much. Right now I think it is a confidence thing - with young players you get that when a couple of results have jolted them. What you do is try and pick yourself up, get out there and try and grind out a result in the next game. Everyone would get a lift from that."

Next Saturday Dunfermline travel west to face Hamilton at New Douglas Park in the league. Jefferies recalled that his team had won there earlier in the season but acknowledged that his opponents had improved since then:-

"We won there convincingly earlier in the season but since then they have come here, drawn one and won one. Maybe we might be better playing them there and good that we have got them there.

Ross Millen in action

"We were missing three key players today and have had two youngsters come in and do extremely well given their age. Ross Millen did exceptionally well for us given a debut like that. It was tactical to take him off because I want to keep the forward thinking players on the pitch and get wee Josh driving from that side to get the ball in.

"That was a big problem for us today because I thought there were times in the wide areas where we beat the man, should have got the ball in but tried to beat him again and got nothing out of it.

"They are changing their mind a lot which they weren't doing at the start of the season. When they get an opportunity to create a chance, they have got to take it and not give opponents a second bite to destroy you. They are doing a lot of that at the moment."

Hamilton manager Billy Reid was delighted to see his team through to the Quarter Finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup. He admitted that he had fears for the semi frozen East End Park playing surface:-

"It was pretty solid in the middle part and I was a bit concerned about that. We spoke about having a plan B as the game progressed. We like to play the ball through the middle of the park - I thought it worked for us.

"The best chance of the game fell to Jon Routledge. Weshould score. I said to him at half time not to let it worry you and he didn't. He made up for it with a smashing finish (for the second goal).

"I thought we started the second half really really well. We missed another outstanding chance after a good move. Young Stephen Hendrie got down the left hand channel. Then the goal by Stevie May - what can you say? What a finish it was, a class finish. It was a thunderbolt off the underside of the bar. That set us on our way.

"After that I thought we played some smashing football at times. I thought we controlled the game. In the last ten to fifteen minutes they had some chances and hit the post but I thought we were worthy winners on the day.

"Our captain Alex Neil controlled it in the middle of the park, I thought he did that for long spells but it would be wrong to single any one player out. All in all it was a good day for Hamilton.

"I said to the players before the game that there is nothing better as a player sitting there in the last eight of the Scottish Cup waiting to see who you draw. It is a happy day for Accies.

"We had a great travelling support today, it means a lot to us. Sometimes in numbers we are not too many but today they made a lot of noise and I am delighted for them.".