Manager and captain contemplate Petrofac derby

Jim Jefferies is hoping to take the form that knocked out the cup holders Raith Rovers into Tuesday night's Petrofac Training Cup tie.

Jefferies is especially keen for a result since it pits him against his former assistant and his former club, Falkirk.

Their coaching story all started after Jefferies as Manager of Falkirk had to tell Peter Houston that he wasn't in his plans. JJ explained:-

"He was such a legend at Falkirk they managed to sort something out for him that meant he took my reserve team and then I took him to Hearts with me. The rest is history, it just goes on and I would have taken him to Bradford but he wanted to stay put. He worked with Craig Levein and from there on he has made a good career of it."

Houston was worshipped by the Falkirk supporters and even had his own supporters club called The Houstie Hardcore. It was in 1993 when Peter Houston took up a coaching role and he was involved in setting up Falkirk's youth academy before going to Hearts in 1995 with Jefferies. The Pars gaffer continued:-

"He was always destined to one day go back to Falkirk. When he left Dundee United he was probably in for a couple of jobs but that didn't work out and he got a really good job at Celtic. Neil Lennon looked after him well and he enjoyed the job there. He probably had chances of jobs but turned them down due to enjoying it at Celtic with a little less pressure on you. All your pressure is to go and find players but the pull of Falkirk coupled with Neil Lennon leaving was probably the right fit."

JJ is relishing the tie against Championship opponents especially if his side can find the form that was crucial in winning through in the first round:-

"It was a tough game in the last round against a lot of experienced players, probably more experienced players at Raith than at Falkirk. Falkirk have been in that league for two or three years now and they have brought through a lot of young kids who have been doing well. Some have moved on to greater things and we need to reach the same performance as we got against Raith. If we do that then it will take a really good performance to beat us."

That performance against Raith was watched by both the Brechin City and Forfar Athletic managers and the Pars boss thinks that helped them plan ways of preventing Dunfermline winning their opening two league games:-

"Everybody apart from the BBC was raving about the game. It was a great game that night, there were a lot of people impressed with us and Brechin knew that they couldn't come here and break us up. They played for a draw, nearly stole it but they got behind the ball and made it difficult for us. Sometimes that happens."

Forfar then denied Dunfermline on Saturday meaning both teams go into Tuesday night's game on the back of 2-0 defeats. Jefferies continued:-

"The performance on Saturday was a bit like Falkirk with the Rangers game, although not at the same level. They played well enough to create a few chances and not take them. Ally McCoist said that Rangers were lucky. On Saturday for most of the time our performance was better, we had good opportunities in the first half but we didn't take them and got punished for it. Goals win games and that is where we let ourselves down.

"We know that we have got it in us and we know that we can play to a level but we just need to do it consistently week in week out whether we are playing a cup tie or a league game. That is easier said than done but that is what we strive for.

"There will be a great atmosphere, the pitch is in great condition and they will be favourites given that they have been in the higher division for a number of years but if we can repeat the type of performance that we had against Raith it will take a good performance to beat us."

"Falkirk, like Dunfermline are a club who have gone down a younger route but longer than we have. You can see for the years that they have been in that league just how difficult it is to get out. They have cashed in on bringing some great talent through who have gone on to greater things and made the club a bit of money. I think they will still now see a chance to try and get into the Premier League. That will be their short term aim at the moment."

The Manager revealed that his team took a few knocks at Forfar on Saturday and even on the training pitch on Monday meaning it will be nearer kick off before he whether he knows if has the likes of Gregor Buchanan, Alex Whittle and Ryan Wallace available to him.

Captain Andy Geggan claimed that derby games are best to play in and of course another Petrofac tie against an arch rival has the ingredients for a juicy game:-

"The last two games have not gone our way but we just need to kick on against Falkirk. They are one of the club's biggest rivals and these are the games you want to be playing in, especially if you are captaining Dunfermline."

The match will be a test of the gap between League One and the Championship, the division that Dunfermline hope to be next season:-

"Our aim this season is to go up, finishing second is not good enough and if we can get up there we will have the Falkirks and Raith Rovers to play. That will make things even better."

With Jim Jefferies having been involved in both camps and he discussed the rivalry:-

"It is a derby occasion because of the history between the clubs. A little bit of needle but I have always found that the games have been good games with plenty goals. It never seems to spill over, okay they are keenly contested because of the closeness of the two clubs but the games have never been turned into nasty affairs. It is just that both teams like to play football. There have been good intense games."

The teams last met in the League Cup 12 months ago when Falkirk progressed with a 2-1 win. The Pars boss still feels the pain remembering:-

"I felt we were a little unlucky last season, we were on top when they scored against the run of play but that is what they do."