Manager on Thursday

Jim Jefferies is ready for league opener after two wins out of two.

"The league is our priority this year and unlike cup ties it is over 36 games. We wanted off to a good start and it was important that we are going into the game on a high with two good cup tie performances. I think everyone saw on Tuesday just what a standard we could put on and we have to find that consistently in the league."

First league opponents will be Brechin City and their manager Ray McKinnion watched Dunfermline defeat Raith in midweek. Jefferies continued:-

"They are always stuffy and have a lot of experience about their team. Raith Rovers had the same but it is about what we do, how we apply ourselves and the level we get to because we showed in the last two games that we can make it difficult for teams. If we do that on Saturday and we get beat it is going to be some performance to beat us.

"All we are asking for is 'same again'. Man for man every single player in the team performed and if we get to that level then we are going to be difficult to beat. You are either very unlucky because it is not just your day or the other team has played unbelievably well to beat you.

"We are not going to win every game this season but we want to get off to a good start. We are capable but as long as we try and achieve in terms of level of performance and the way that we play. If we do that and lose, it is sometimes a wee bit easier to take.

"The secret is to find that form on a consistent basis in the league, it is the same for any team. If you are going to win the league you have to perform week in week out to accomplish that. That is a lot easier said that done.

"When you show what you can do it is up to the players. Nothing will change in the way that they are prepared or what we do on the training pitch because already they are carrying that on to the pitch.

"The team for me looks that little bit wiser for the events of last year. A lot of them are still young and there are early signs that we are learning. There is no doubt that there is very very good competition for places. We picked a team against Raith in the first instance but when the game got postponed it was a different team against Annan, it was a different team that played against Raith.

"We have got that facility to make changes and not disrupt the team. What it has proven is that you can't afford a couple of bad games. Some players are playing extremely well. Look at wee Faissal, you really couldn't ask for any more in terms of work rate, commitment and application. He has not found his killer instinct but that will come, there is no doubt about that - we just need to make sure that he keeps his head up and doesn't get too frustrated with it.

"What has probably annoyed him is that he making the chances, creating great movement for others. He competes tremendously well for a slight made lad. He is brave alright but his finishing touch isn't there at the moment. It will come because he knows it has to come, there are others waiting to come in. He has got people breathing down his neck.

"When you look at the bench, which for me is the key, in the last two games, it has just been so strong. When you have got that you have competition and players on the park who have to perform. If they don't there will be others to get their chance."

Six goals from the two cup ties have come from six different players and again JJ sees that as a great strength.

"That means that you have goals all over the pitch and are not relying on one or two people. We know that some people have got goals in them. Moffat has a track record of having goals behind him and he is off the mark. Big Gregor has come in and scored and the only thing missing is Andy Stirling.

"He started most of the things in pre season that we wanted him to, but his hamstring has just taken longer to recover. You don't want to rush these things and put him out for weeks. He has a chance for Saturday so we will see how things go."

Alex Whittle is available again after serving a Petrofac suspension but Ross Drummond, his replacement's performance was described by the manager as 'outstanding'. Josh Falkingham will miss the Brechin City match as a result of bookings he picked up towards the end of last season.

No injuries were incurred in midweek but the over enthusiasm of new signing Chigozie Ugu caused a couple of training ground blows.

"Gozie was roughing my players all over the pitch and young Paul Joseph Crossan got a wee cut on the eye and Ryan Thomson came off the worse when Gozie closed him down with a block. His ankle will be alright though.

"Gozie is a fit boy lacking match practice. The unfortunate thing for him is that the boys in the team will mean that he will have to be patient . There will be games coming up shortly where that power and strength is needed. When he gets up to full fitness he will put a lot of people under pressure."

Just when to introduce Gozie and Ryan Wallace against Raith was a dilemma for the manager who explained that these boys for now, can only really be expect to give their all for twenty minutes.

"It might have gone into extra time so there was no point in putting them on with twenty minutes to go because if it had gone to extra time we would have had to take Wallace or Gozie off again.

"Gozie went on when we were 1-0 up. Shaun Byrne had taken a knock and so Ryan Thomson replaced him. Gozie held the ball up but it is hard to go on and show what you can do. He wasn't on to do that, he was on to do a job for us in the last five or six minutes and get us through it."