Manager on Friday

09/05/14: JJ- "They are keen to make amends and there will be a few changes tomorrow ..

In last season's play off semi final Dunfermline came back from 3-1 down to Forfar Athletic and even conceded another when the teams met at East End Park. Jim Jefferies feels that at 2-1 down to Stranraer his side are better placed than they were at this stage last season.

"We have got to look at it as a goal behind at half time and we have 90 minutes not 45 minutes to get it back. We are well capable of doing that."

JJ had hoped to take advantage of the part timers possibly tiring towards the end but with Jonathan Page getting sent off, tiredness did not hit Stranraer. The way both teams recover will be important and in that respect being able to switch his team around of late, should swing the advantage firmly in the Pars direction:-

"We took a lot of heart from the performances of the young boys at Ayr and especially in the Rangers game. It means that there are so many players looking fresh and it means that you will never play the same team twice if it goes to four games."

Lewis Spence

Only Shaun Byrne and Lewis Spence have started the last two matches but including substitutes the manager has the ability to shuffle his playing squad:-

"I look at one or two boys who played against Rangers and then at Stranraer. Two big games in a short space of time so they understand if there are changes to freshen it up.. We have got the players and it doesn't matter what team - we are not like a small squad where you would take a gamble on things. All these players have been playing well recently so we are lucky that we can make a freshness and I do not think it hampers us in any way because look at Rangers and Ayr United they proved that.

"We played a strong Rangers team with a bunch of kids but because they were focussed and disciplined, they showed a desire to get a result that day and not get beat. That is the experience that they have to take from that because it didn't look like that on Wednesday night when it came to the crunch.

"They are keen to make amends and there will be a few changes tomorrow basically because there are two or three feeling the effects of two hard games and a couple of others who let themselves down and do not deserve to be in the team."

The Manager acknowledged that Stranraer have a lead to hang on to and they will make it tough for Dunfermline. They will try and frustrate and seek to hit on breakaways.

"We don't need people to panic if we have not scored after fifteen minutes. As long as we haven't lost any, we are still in the game. If we can get one in each half we will be through."

Stranraer have scored first in all five matches against the Pars this season but Jim Jefferies feels that Saturday is the ideal time to remedy that:-

"Records are great but some day they are going to get broken. It makes it harder when you concede the first goal because it gives them a lift but we are well capable of staging a comeback. This season we have been 3-0 and 4-2 down at Stenhousemuir. We have been 2-1 down and won 3-2 but hopefully we will not be in that situation.

"We will learn lessons from last year. We are better physically and mentally prepared to go into the game. If they don't do it it won't be because of a lack of effort."

JJ fully expects a big home support since the fans have stuck with the club through thick and thin:-

"They have seen the club being saved, having to go down a division - we are just unfortunate that Rangers have been in League One because we would have been champions. Everybody at the club wants us to go up but tomorrow doesn't get us up, it gets us into the next phase. There is no point in worrying about that game if you are not there.

"Even if things are going right, they will give us encouragement and that's what lifts players. I hope the crowd is as big as the Rangers game because they appreciated what we put on. If we put in the same effort and its not your day then there is not a lot you can do about it. If you do not perform well that's when it becomes disappointing.

"I have every confidence in them and I have to say you get a gut feeling about things round about the training ground. They were a bit flat yesterday which is understandable but today they are bouncing and the game cannot come quick enough for them. As long as they control it, play with their head as well as the passion."

The Manager gave an update on the players who have been injured of late. Ryan Wallace and Lawrence Shankland are out of this Saturday's game. Andy Geggan is fit again after taking a blow in the kidneys; the hospital confirmed that there was no serious damage and predicted he would be alright in a couple of days. Josh Falkingham was subbed towards the end at Stranraer but he has recovered from a calf knock. Stephen Husband and Lewis Spence picked up dead legs on Wednesday night but they are okay now.