Manager on Friday

10/05/13: JJ - "it is not their fault but it is not nice having a young team having to face that sort of pressure ..

Jim Jefferies has been impressing to his squad just what is at stake at East End Park on Saturday afternoon:-

"We were just talking about that this morning.We know what is at stake.We told them that no-one is blaming them for the plight of the Club, they have done fantastic to even be at this stage and I know that they have been kicked in the teeth in the last couple of games, with Partick and Airdrie.

"It was always going to be a tough penalty but they didn't do themselves any favours and unlike them they didn't show the same desire and will that they had done against Partick and Airdrie to win and they should have done that the other night.They allowed themselves to be bullied and they had more desire and hunger to get a win than we had and we talked about it before the game, but they never took that on board.They did something about it in the second half and what they have done is give themselves a much better chance than they would have had.

"It doesn't matter what happens tomorrow in terms of- like if it's not your day then it's not your day - as it was last week.Maybe they will not be as lucky as Airdrie.You let yourself and the Club down and there will be people there tomorrow who have put a lot of time and effort.If they want to be legends, then if they get through this game it will stand them in good stead for the next game because they will know what to expect.

"This is the most important game they are going to play in their life because there is a lot riding on it.Even if we were to go down, go down giving it their best shot and work so that they have to be dragged off the pitch, then nobody will complain.That's all they can do.Its not their fault.They have built up an expectation because of the performances they have put in.

"This could have been over weeks ago if we hadn't beaten Cowdenbeath.They put themselves in a great position but it was taken from them at Partick Thistle through no fault of their own and the week after we just didn't stick the ball in the net which happens.They should not go out like they did last week in the first 45 minutes and accept defeat easily because that was what it looked like.

"We had harsh words at half time and we won the half and this game is now back in the melting pot.If we get an early goal, then the pressure is on them because they will probably go into the game slight favourites given that they have a two goal advantage.

"We need a will to win and here is a chance to give them something back. But we need to do it by pulling together a lot better than we did at Forfar. We have been unlucky with losing Callum Morris and Ryan Wallace through injury. Andy Geggan and Craig Dargo are playing with injuries and not 100% fit. John Potter has been great at filling in."

The Manager stressed how the fans really had been their twelfth man adding:-

"They couldn't have been asked to do more. They have been superb both on and off the park; they have raised money to help make up for what these boys had gone through. We have a lot to thank the supporters for, I know that they do not blame them because it is not their fault. It is not nice having a young team having to face that sort of pressure but if they pull it off there will be great elation, if they don't it will be something they might get scarred with."