Jim Jefferies Post Cowdenbeath

18/05/14: JJ - "I have got to say Cowdenbeath deserved it. The goal in the first minute was a killer.

Listen to these Jim Jefferies post match comments

Jim Jefferies talked to the press after the match with choruses of 'we are staying up' resounding out of the opposition dressing room. This was all in stark contrast to the silence of the dressing room that he had just emerged from:-

"They are distraught in the dressing room, I have never heard the dressing room so quiet. People have to remember where we were a year ago, we have had a great season with Rangers in the league, to finish second and make the play offs.

"I have got to say Cowdenbeath deserved it. The goal in the first minute was a killer, it gave them the lift that they were probably looking for at that time. To get one early meant that we would have to try and force it.

"At 1-0 if it wasn't for Scully it could have been a couple more, we just didn't play with the same intensity as we did in our last home match against Stranraer. They took advantage of that. We lost a goal to a sloppy header and then didn't pick up the runner.

"For me when Thomson got the chance in the six yard box from a corner, that was the chance. If we had gone back to level terms it changes the whole place. The place would have been rocking and jumping but remember the big difference in the teams today was that their front two caused us all sorts of problems. We have four strikers, Jordan Moore, Lawrence Shankland and Ryan Wallace who were a big miss, and two days ago we got the curse again when Allan Smith had to pull out with a stomach tear.

"That is the difference because we were asking Ryan Thomson who has been played as a makeshift centre forward; he is not a prolific goalscorer and wee Faiss has just come into the team and got a goal or two. When you are missing people like Wallace, Shankland and Moore - natural strikers - even though they are young, that is a big problem for us.

"Everybody has said that the goals have dried up, apart for the Stranraer game, but that is because we have had three boys out, regulars who shared thirty odd goals amongst them. It was always going to be pressure in that area.

"I just reminded them that we have had a fantastic season, we are a young team but there was a pressure today that they had to handle, which they did. They were nervous and I could tell that before the game. There was apprehension despite trying everything to get them relaxed but they knew that was a it was a big big game and they have come up a bit short.

"They are hurting in there but they have got to learn from the experience. They have to dust themselves down, have a break and we go again next year. Rangers are not in the league next year so we will try and come up as champions.

"We will be older and a bit wiser. We have a great young squad and I am sure that we will be one of the favourites to come up next year without any play offs."

Cowdenbeath manager, the former Pars assistant manager,  Jimmy Nicholl commented in victory:-

"The early goal was good but Dunfermline had a lot of possession. We were reluctant to build up from the back as much as we normally do, I don't know why - maybe nerves kicked in. Once we got the second goal that was it and its a bit unfortunate for Dunfermline at the end because the boys passing the ball about and they were disheartened.

"We got over the real disappointment when Queen of the South equalised in the last minute. To have to go through all this - four games, two against Ayr United and two against Dunfermline - but they have come through it. I am always confident in them but you still need to do it. They certainly did that today."

Jimmy Nic admitted that he has probably seen the last of a few of his players:-

"Greg (Stewart) will be away, Kane (Hemmings) will be away and then I only have one under contract. I am expected to go on holidays next week but I can't see that happening. It is a case of sitting down with the Chairman now.

"It has been a great game, I am going to enjoy my night, enjoy my weekend but I really need to sort things out."

Jimmy hopes that retaining the club's Championship status will help him retain and attract players for next season.