Managers Post Morton

23/02/13; JJ - "You were asking for a miracle to come back. They kept plugging away and never gave up.

Jim Jefferies felt that his side's first half performance was as good as they had played for weeks but unfortunately that was followed up by a very different second half:-

"Going on the first half, you would have thought that we were top of the league. We totally dominated it; their goalie pulled off a fantastic save from Ryan Thomson and then they got a penalty - I have seen it again and it was a bit soft. But he gave it and they scored. He evened up things with a similar type of offence but we didn't take it. That's how it has been going for us.

"There is no doubt that the penalty miss changed the whole game. They came out after giving them a pat on the back for playing so well, terrific actually in a half that was dominated by a referee having a bit of a bad time for 45 minutes and six bookings. I think the fans let him know about that.

"That does not take away from the fact that Dunfermline were excellent in the first half. They played a lot of good football, got balls into the box but it just wouldn't fall for us. The goalie brought off a great save and I don't they had a chance until they got the penalty. They were totally outplayed and we had a chance to go in 1-1 at half time but we missed the penalty.

"We said at half time that we have now to make sure that we do not concede early. Gall knows that he should have saved it, a shot from 30 yards out. He admits that he should have done better and held it. That gave us a mountain to climb and we were up one end of the park; claiming for a penalty at that end with a hand ball when Andy Geggan played it in first time. I thought he might have been better controlling it and getting at them but he chose to play a first time ball that he says was hand ball. While we were claiming for it they broke up the park and scored at the back post."

The Pars Manager claimed that the game was over then even though it was only five minutes into the second half:-

"You were asking for a miracle to come back. They kept plugging away and never gave up. The scoreline definitely flatters them. They took their chances fair enough, but the goals should have been avoided and on the balance of play I don't think we deserved to lose by that score."

The Pars gaffer had hoped for fortunes to change against Morton and next week at home against Partick but accepted if his team continued to lose games then maybe it demonstrates that they are not ready for a step up on to a higher level:-

"It is important that we keep plugging away with these boys. We take it forward and try and improve things as we go along. Right now that is difficult to do in the financial predicament. Everything is on hold because we are not stable financially. We can only keep plugging away and try and finish the season off playing as well as we did in the first half of the season. If it does not take us up there, it will give us something to build on. It has been a tough time for us."

The Manager confirmed that the showers at Pitreavie had been fixed and had only been a short term inconvenience but he was keen to comment on the players commitment in adverse times:-

"The players have been terrific. They are very frustrated with things and they are not highly paid players, every penny is difficult for them. It is not just this week, it has been over a period of time and it becomes more and more frustrating. They have never shouted and gone on about it; they never let it affect them when they come to training. We want it resolved so what they have done is, they have gone through the right channels. They have gone to the union, which they are members of. They have tried to help, they have given them advice and they are acting on their behalf. They are not coming in and holding guns to people's heads.

"I got a phone call on Friday morning saying that the players had refused to train and weren't going to turn up for today's game. That was absolute nonsense on a website. They were all there and this lot would never do that.

"Their complaint is about their salaries and part of their salaries is appearance money. There is quite a bit outstanding there but can I make it quite clear that they are not arguing over bonuses. Bonuses accumulate and are paid at this club at the end of the season. They are not shouting about bonuses. What they do is go out and win a game and that puts the bonus money into a pot. They have signed and agreed to that; the more wins they get the more it will accumulate.

"Bonuses are not an issue here, it is the salaries and the appearance money which is part of their salary. That is what they have been given advice on the proper way to conduct it. The union will take it up on their behalf by making a complaint to the SFL but what can they do when the Club does not have the finances. The share issue hit a stumble that I'm sure Gavin (Masterton) will be trying to sort out.

"It is a tough time for the Club. It is tough for everybody at the Club. We need not to get carried away about whether or not we are going to be promoted this season. Think about the history and tradition of this club, whatever it is whether a share issue or somebody coming in to take over the Club is the most important thing.

"We didn't expect this to happen but work in progress is at a standstill because of the way the Club is. That is the bit that needs to be sorted out so that we can move the Club forward. That is the frustrating part for me because we cannot move anything forward, talk to anybody or do anything because the Club needs to sort itself out first."

Morton boss Allan Moore acknowledged that Dunfermline put his team under a lot of pressure in the first half:-

"They were putting balls into the box and we scored against the run of play. In Dunfermline's situation that is probably the worst thing that could happen to you. It deflates you, I have been there myself. Them missing the penalty gave us a big lift and we need these wee bits of luck now and again. Getting the second and third so quickly after killed the game. After that we controlled the game and went at our pace instead of Dunfermline's.

"First half we defended decent, huffed and puffed but got the goal at the right time but our second half performance was exceptional. Comng here and getting any sort of result, never mind scoring four goals away from home against a team of Dunfermline's calibre is credit to the players.

"We should have beaten Dunfermline here the last time when we were 2-0 up with ten minutes to go. We were disappointed not to come away with the three points the last time but we got the break of the ball today for the penalty. We picked up the scraps when Tidser got one from a clearance from a Dunfermline boy and drilled it into the bottom corner. I think big Gall slipped in the goalmouth and saw it late as well. The third goal was magnificent. We picked it up in our own goal, Tidser drove and he had three or four options but picked out Peter McDonald who still had a bit to do but it was a great header across the keeper."

Moory was asked if the league was now a two horse chase?

"I think so, we are 13 points ahead (of Dunfermline) and I don't think we will drop that many between now and the end of the season, not with that team. The hardest job I have between now and the end of the season is picking the team. It is decisions that every manager wants. I have a squad where if one drops out then I have another one who can fill in.

"That was a big big win for us today. Mentally as well for our boys, scoring four goals was magnificent."