Managers Post Forfar

08/05/13: JJ - "All it takes is a desire and a will to compete against a team that was going to do that anyway.

Jim Jefferies felt that Forfar Athletic displayed a much greater desire to win than his Dunfermline side:-

"We lost Callum Morris and Ryan Wallace, players we could do with and that makes it harder for the younger lads. They are in a situation where it is very difficult for them.

"I have defended them most of the time, that has been easy for me because they have gone out and gave their all but I said to them at half time that is the poorest that they have been. At the end of the day I have got to do my job by telling them a few home truths that maybe they think they do not deserve.

"The first half was just not acceptable. We had a team talk about what to expect when you come here; they have experienced players, they will be well up for it. Dick and his brother have Dunfermline connections, there are a few players on the park with Dunfermline connections and they see this as an opportunity. It is a bonus game for them. They finished fourth and they are getting a great chance.

"The way we went about it in the first half was just asking for trouble. We should have been down before we were. The manner in which we lost the goals was shocking. We know Chris Templeman is a big lad but he got a free header underneath the bar from a corner, he got a free header at the back post that I don't think he had to jump for and you talk about all these things before the game.

"When you go out there you have to do the basics right. We did not pass the ball well enough, we didn't mark runners whenever they got in possession, we couldn't handle it. They had some quick, sharp players and we lost three goals in a ten minute spell."

The Manager had his team out early for the second half but revealed that he had chased them out of the dressing room because he did not want to talk to them at any length after telling them how he wanted it changed for the second half. Shaun Byrne was pushed up to support behind the front two.

"I just felt that they had to go out there and do something about it. We had talked enough and they didn't listen, so what was the point of doing it in here. Get out on that pitch now and sort it out now. All it takes is a desire and a will to compete against a team that was going to do that anyway. They are not any better on ability, they are maybe a wee bit more experienced but they have a will to win this game that we had not. That is why we found ourselves 3-1 down.

"The only way that you can put that right is to make sure that you are in the tie. We were looking to come back strongly in the second half and we had more possession than we did in the first half. We forced them on to the back foot though they were always dangerous on breakaways. I have got to say that our goal makes the tie interesting now. At 3-0 if we had lost any more then it might have gone beyond our reach.

"We have given ourselves a chance but I did not let up at full time. I have said to them that we are 3-1 down because of a shocking first half performance and we have to do better than that. I haven't had to say that to them before. I think they did take it on board, you couldn't fault the way they tried to play in the second half; to believe in themselves.

"We came up with a goal and with the instructions to keep a clean sheet that got us back in the tie. Two goals down is something that you can catch, three goals might have been more difficult and certainly four would have been out of the equation. We will give it our best shot on Saturday.

"I think they are angry with themselves now that they played badly in the first half but they have given themselves a better chance. If they go and hit the form that they can, if they go and play the way they did against Airdrie but stick the ball away then they are well capable of getting the game back. It is only half time and we have a 90 minute second half to get a couple of goals back first and foremost. We can see then what happens from there."

Forfar manager Dick Campbell was disappointed that his side allowed Dunfermline a goal back and was adamant that the tie was not dead and buried.

"Nobody knows East End Park better than us. We know what the game will be like on Saturday but you couldn't fault us tonight. Some of our play was fabulous, the finishes were good, we missed chances and I have just told the referee that I thought we should have had a penalty kick. That would have made a big big difference to the game.

"It was a great advert for the play offs and it was a great crowd. It will take three goals to beat us on Saturday. I am very happy to go to East End Park on Saturday and have a go and we will certainly have a go!

"I think we might have surprised a few Dunfermline fans tonight because they might have thought we are just a part time club, but we can play. I am very happy for them tonight but we will prepare for the game on Saturday and get on with it."

There was a touch of irony in the fact that it was a former Dunfermline player who inflicted most of the damage. Chris Templeman had been coached by Dick Campbell at the age of 11 and it was Dick and Bert who gave him his debut at Dunfermline. Bert Paton and Ian Campbell listened in to the post match press conference as Dick expanded:-

"Chris is just an honest pro that every manager we talk to here say that they would love to have a Chris Templeman. He has just signed another contract and we are happy for him."

Dick was not for getting carried away, he warned that at 3-1 up it was still only half time:-

"It is a tall order come Saturday. We have to go out in the second half and try and make it 4-1."

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