Managers Post Alloa

15/05/13: JJ - "I would have settled for 2-0 after the goalie has brought off a great save ...

After losing 3-0 in the First Leg of the Play Off Final, Jim Jefferies knows that his side has another mountain to climb if they are going to stay in the First Division. He feels that Dunfermline cannot play any worse in the final game of the season on Sunday and reminded the post match media that when he fields a team of youngsters everybody can expect inconsistencies. Certainly after the high of last Saturday it was back to Wednesday woes:-

"They go from one extreme to another. On Saturday they were outstanding after struggling the week before on the Wednesday night and here tonight they were struggling. If you look at the game we had total control in the first half but when we got to the last third we wanted too many touches. In fact we lost the second goal from a ball that was played across; Stephen Husband should have hit it but took a touch and got robbed. They went up the park and I do not know if Calum Elliot meant to score or whether it was a cross in.

"They hit one from 35 yards and it went in the net against the run of play because they had not really created any chances. We didn't either but we probably had more possession. In the second half they came out looking for a third goal.

"I would have settled for 2-0 after the goalie has brought off a great save (from 89th minute penalty).2-0 was gettable but now we have given ourselves a mountain to climb with losing a late goal in injury time. I have seen it before. We are more than capable of pulling it back if we score early.

"All the pressure is on Alloa now because they are the ones who can throw it away. We will be giving it our best shot on Sunday to make sure that we at least make a fist of it. We are due the supporters that. Too many players did not play to their form. When you look at the bench after Andy Geggan had to pull out after the warm up, we had kids on the bench.

"I was expecting more from the players tonight and I do not think we had a player tonight who played to form. The two boys up front - Thomson and Smith who have been sensational did not have their best games tonight but we didn't really give them much. Every time it was up to them it didn't stick, they took bad touches and gave bad passes away. Midfield sat too deep because we were worried about balls over the top and when you leave spaces they have players who can drop off, pick the ball up sharp and run at you. On this surface if they run at you and you let them it is not easy to defend.

"We can blame Michal for the first goal because it was a shot he should have saved. He was caught out a bit flat footed for the second goal but he had two or three great saves and helped us by saving the penalty."

Had it stayed at 2-0 Jefferies felt that his side definitely had a chance but at 3-0 down at midway in the tie, it will take a massive effort:-

"I wouldn't rule us out. They will be asked the question on Sunday and they have to pick themselves up, stop feeling sorry for themselves and give the same as they gave last weekend. We need to go right from the off. We scored six last week and we are well capable of scoring three goals but we cannot afford to lose any more.

"There is no point on dwelling on it. We have 90 minutes to attempt to put it right."

Alloa manager Paul Hartley felt that his side dominated the entire second half and deserved the first leg lead in the first ever match at Recreation Park to be screened live on television..

"We know that the tie is only at half time. They will be different when they get to East End Park with a big crowd behind them. We have seen how they turned it around in the semi final against Forfar so we have to be aware of that. We are not going to East End Park to sit back, we will go and have a go again and try and hopefully score.

"I thought we were solid as a team. The back four were great, our goalkeeper did not have a lot to do, our midfield were good, the front two were always a handful so it was a good performance but the tie is not over."

Hartley had to be pleased that his men did not tire against the full time Pars players:-

"We looked very strong tonight, we kept going. They are full time but our players have to recover now. They are in tomorrow night to do a cool down and then we have to go again on Sunday with that same level of performance."

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