Manager Post Hearts

13/07/13: JJ - "Who has ever heard of a game like this being held up for ten minutes to allow the crowd to get in to a pre season friendly?

Jim Jefferies was pleased with his team's showing against SPL opponents:-

"We shifted a few players around for the second half and then we saw some really young kids come on and they acquitted themselves well and it didn't really seem to make any difference.

"We started the game well but lost a goal from the first corner. It was a free header but it was the first game of the season. We learned a lesson there and it gave Hearts a bit of a lift. Up until then we were looking really good but I thought for the next half hour they controlled it and in that period they got a bit of a soft penalty.

"We came away again in the last ten to fifteen minutes of the first half and in the second half, apart from the occasional breakaway I thought we played some great football and worked hard. We pressed them a wee bit harder and played some good stuff. The young boys that I wanted a look at today never let themselves down.

"Whittle and, particularly in the second half, Falkingham was just outstanding in the middle of the park. I shifted him into the middle and let him drive forward. As I have said to them, the Club is in good hands with these young players, it is now about making sure that they keep focussed on what their job is in the coming season. It was a good test for them today."

The Pars Manager praised the Hearts supporters who at some stages made a louder "There's only one Jim Jefferies" than the home support did.

"Who has ever heard of a game like this being held up for ten minutes to allow the crowd to get in to a pre season friendly? That's because of the terrific response from the Hearts and Dunfermline supporters at a time when there are probably a lot of people away on holiday. To get a crowd like that (4538) for a pre season game is great. They saw a lot of good young talent on the pitch so it serves well for both clubs going forward. You could see how well the Hearts supporters got behind their club today, they are letting the players know that they are behind them all the way."

As for his own team Jefferies said that it would be Monday before he would know how serious striker Allan Smith's ankle injury was. The player went over on it with twenty minutes remaining and having come on off the bench for the second half, was himself substituted by Kevin Buchan.

MATCH REPORT: 13/07/13 Dunfermline 1 Hearts 2