Manager Post Airdrieonians

21/09/13: JJ - "Our wee stroke of luck today came from a 30 yarder that took a deflection. Hubby is probably the only one in the team that would think about hitting it from there.

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Jim Jefferies felt that his team thoroughly deserved the three points they took from their home match against Airdrieonians:-

"We played some really good stuff and in the first half we got in behind them for a few chances. At half time it was like a gramophone record, we keep saying that it is all about the same things, killing them off in that last third.

"There were good chances. Robert Thomson, who had a good game today, was put clean through but took an extra touch and the chance was gone. That's the difference - he should be putting his laces through it.

" When it comes right it will be a much more comfortable win than it was today. We made it a little harder than we needed especially after taking the lead with a fortunate deflection. I have explained to the players that the most important time is the five minutes after you score a goal.

"Their heads were in the clouds and there was a bit of a lapse in concentration. Luke Johnston had been given a warning earlier when he was slow with a headed pass back. I don't know if that was due to the four stitches he got on the side of his head. Had it been at the front we probably would not have put him back on, but he said that he was fine.

"I wouldn't blame that for the lapse, we should have dealt with it. You don't take any chances, you get it out of play and don't take any chances instead of trying to be clever. He just wasn't strong enough in that position.

"These boys are still young and will make mistakes like that. Just as long as they learn from them; I am sure he will look at it differently the next time. After going 1-0 up by getting a wee break, they have gone through all the emotions a minute later by losing a goal.

"As long as they take these feelings on board. He knows that he made a mistake and that he cost his team an opportunity to enjoy being one up for a wee while.

"This team never surprises me in terms of resilience, I see it in training every day and on a Saturday I see them keep going. The result against Stenhousemuir and two late goals against Stranraer was proof that they keep going and can never be counted out."

There was a period in the second when Airdrieonians came into the game and realised that they could win.

"Some of the balls just did not fall for us. Our wee stroke of luck today came from a 30 yarder that took a deflection. Hubby is probably the only one in the team that you think about hitting it from there. I wasn't bothered whether or not he was going to strike it or not. If it is a good one then it is going to go in and if he spills it then there is a good chance of somebody else putting it in."

The Manager had praise for his top goal scorer, Andy Geggan, scorer of the all important winner with just five minutes remaining.

"That is his fourth goal of the season so far from midfield. He had been unlucky earlier on with a header. It was our tenacity to keep the ball alive that kept them under pressure when the ball came back out. We had determination not to let them out.

" It was deserved on the balance of play even after them getting a lift from their goal. Then there was a spell when the referee seemed to have a mad ten minutes of giving them everything and the linesmen joined in.

"There were some strange decisions and I think everybody in the ground saw a corner and you could tell by everybody's reaction, not everybody is wrong. We had that to contend with as well."

The match linesmen passed JJ as he neared the end of his post match media conference and he was still jokingly asking them if they were off to get their eyes tested!

"We have a bit of a laugh, it is nothing personal" explained the Pars gaffer "he knows that they get a few things wrong.

"The one that astounded us was Shaun Byrne when he beat two men, got to the edge of the box and the linesman should have seen it. He was only ten yards away, how that was never a free kick? Yet you go up to the other end of the park, the same thing happens and he gives the free kick. Those are the kind of things that go against you.

"We deserved to win and it is a result that keeps us on the tails of Rangers. The only way that you can do that is by winning games. We have another tough game next week against a tough Ayr side who are experienced and will make it hard. If we can get another three points that would set us up for the last two games of this section."