Jim Jefferies post Stenny

09/11/13: JJ - "I know it came late but deserved it on the balance of play.

Listen to Dunfermline Athletic Manager`s post match interview

MATCH PICTURES

Jim Jefferies felt that the win over Stenhousemuir and the three points it brought with it was important to create a bit of daylight between the Pars now in second and their fellow playoff contenders in fourth:-

"It puts pressure on Ayr United to get their points now. Stenhousemuir had a big incentive to go ahead of us today, they might even have settled for a point to keep the difference at one point. You give yourself a wee bit of daylight because you know that you are not going win every game, that's life.

"We try and win every game but sometimes it doesn't come off. We deserved to win the East Fife game here but got caught with sucker punches and you are going to get that. It was great to win this important game because we could have dropped down to fourth place but we are up into second with a wee bit of daylight now.

"We were just so dominant in the first half but got caught with a decent ball into the box, We have been guilty this year of not coping with these . So we found ourselves behind after a great opening start.

"That final ball seems to be our Achilles at the moment since some of the build up play, some of the work to get to that level was good.

"Shaun Byrne who was outstanding today showed a great piece of composure to get us back on level terms. They were really only hitting it up to the big fellow (John Gemmell) and trying to hit us on the break. We were in possession of the ball a great deal in the second half but chose the wrong pass and they broke up the park and scored.

"They were content to soak it up and try and steal another one on the break. For the pressure and the amount of play that we had and the tempo that we kept up in the game, it just dwelt for a wee bit before we made the substitutions. When they came on they gave us fresh legs, it picked us up. Obviously we had the hard game in midweek at Ibrox that I was worried about today.

"We lost Geggan today through illness and we had Thomson and Moore out, Allan Smith got his first start of the season and he got the winning goal. He was capable of that. We were worried that he was tiring and we might need to take him off. But we felt that youthfulness and spirit of getting in behind and working away, he was dealing with it okay.

"At the end of the day we thoroughly deserved it. I know it came late but deserved it on the balance of play. Stenhousemuir were resilient and always dangerous; Gemmell is a handful upfront, Darren Smith you could see has played at a higher level and is quick to feed off him.

"What pleased me after going 3-2 up and they got a corner that Kerr Young showed great determination to make sure that he was going to win that header because it was right on top of the goalkeeper. Husband and Thomson were off by that time and they had been markers for us. There were a lot of the wee guys who could easily have been caught but Kerr Young took the responsibility and cleared it well."

Martyn Corrigan, the Stenhousemuir manager was raging about the 67th minute penalty decision but Jim Jefferies felt that you are asking for trouble when it's at feet in the penalty box:-

"Ryan Wallace was clever there, he has seen the space and he has knocked it in to space. You either let him go or you pull him down. In this case I think that he was touched and he goes down. It was more of a penalty than Rangers was on Wednesday night.

"It was clever to play it into the space knowing that you either work the goalie or its a penalty. Then a great finish and goal; we had enough possession in the last third to keep them under pressure.

"It is a big important win after three away games to come back here. We know what happened with East Fife the last time - we have gone 1-0 down, 2-1 down and this is a young team that shows tremendous spirit and determination to shrug off disappointments. They put you through the ringer for it that's for sure!"

The Pars boss had time to discuss the penalty decision after the match and reported what had been said:-

"I spoke to him and said to him that if you put a ball in space like that any touch, the referee is right there. If he is complaining about that one then we would have every right to complain about the one on Wednesday. It always evens itself up.

"For me to run the risk of giving away a penalty because Ryan Wallace was very clever there, knocking into the space he attempted to get there but if you touch him what player is not going to go down for what was a stonewall penalty.

"I think the referee didn't do us any favours at the first goal because that was never a free kick for a start. These things balance out and the fans today told you that there were some strange decisions for both teams. That is what you get in this league, anyhow that's what I have noticed and it is hard going at times.

"It always tastes a wee bit sweeter when you get a goal in injury time to win a game after coming back twice. It speaks volumes of them to keep going and everybody went home after seeing another five goal thriller at East End Park.

"We need more of the Ayr United match instead of giving teams goals and having to go again. The good thing is that is what they are doing and coming through it. It will stand them in good stead but they could make it a bit easier on me because I am getting a bit old! The heart might not last out with some of the things that they are putting me through.

"They are a great bunch and I was really pleased for them. After midweek it was important that they bounced back today and they did that."

Looking ahead the Manager felt that his team needs to pick up a bit of momentum and win three points.

"When we relax that wee bit more then you will see it flowing better. Their attitude and the way that they tried to play was just another joy to watch today. It was that last third which was our problem, but that will come. That's me complaining too because we got three today and five last week!"

The Stenhousemuir manager claimed that Ryan Wallace could be accused of simulation with reference to the penalty awarded by referee Ian McKendrick:-

"It was very difficult. From where I was it looked like pure simulation. The way the player went down it looked like he was diving rather than through contact. I will need to see it again but it didn't look like it was a penalty."

Hear all the comments of Stenhousemuir manager Martyn Corrigan