Jim Jefferies post Elgin
Saturday, 2nd Nov 201302/11/13: JJ - "I felt I had every right to complain because he has got my back up
Despite knocking Elgin City out of the Cup, Jim Jefferies was angry that his team had allowed their opponents two late goals that detracted from what would have been a resounding victory.
"We let them back into the game when we should have dealt with it, put the ball out of play into Row Z. We gave them a sniff, give them a bit of heart and then we go and lose another one quickly after it. It was 5 -1, going on 6, 7 or 8 maybe. We gave them a bit of hope and then we had to work again to quell the extra bit of lift that they got.
"I am absolutely delighted with the way they played today. I think one or two in defence did not look too clever, the goalkeeper who has been magnificent for us should just have put the ball up the pitch instead of trying to pass it out when you are 5-1 up. Put it up the pitch at that stage in the game and let us battle, especially under these conditions.
Hopefully they will learn their lessons because that that can cost you. Fortunately they had enough goals in the bag to get through because that is the most important thing, being in the next round. It took a wee bit off the gloss of the performance by losing two late goals. We were so much on top and so superior but we are delighted to be through since it was always going to be a tough fixture.
"Ross Jack agrees that it was one of the poorest refereeing performances that we have seen this year. The bookings were just disgraceful in the first half. The first booking was never one, if it was a foul it was just a slip by the boy in these (difficult) conditions. How would Josh dive when he was right through? He baffled us a lot of the time. He is a young referee who has had an off day today that's for sure."
Josh Falkingham was shown a yellow card when he was brought down in the 23rd minute and that was what angered the Dunfermline manager. He was enraged by the decision causing referee Barry Cook to go over to the Pars dugout. A heated discussion followed and the consequence was Jim Jefferies being sent to the stand.
"I felt I had every right to complain because he has got my back up. Kerr Young was booked for his first foul of the match and that boy then had to play in these conditions for the rest of the game on a knife edge in case he makes another rash challenge.
"You could clearly see that Josh was fouled and clearly see that he was pulled down, so to give a booking for diving was just ridiculous. He maybe got caught up in the wet conditions think it was diving in a swimming pool. One or two other decisions were just baffling.
"Those bookings in the first weren't bad tackles and neither were Elgin's. Their players were just spoken to for the same kind of things. Their players didn't deserve to get booked and neither did ours. Ross Jack and I spoke about it coming out after half time and he agreed with me that he was bad for both teams today."
Elgin City Manager, Ross Jack`s post cup tie comments
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