Jim Jefferies on Friday

When you are at the top of the league you are always up there to be shot at

Jim Jefferies is approaching the away match in Greenock cautiously in full knowledge that Morton have remained full time and although four places below the Fifers, only one point separates the teams. Speaking exclusively to this website the Pars manager warned:-

"Morton have come down a division, changed their manager and brought a few boys in. It takes a bit of time to settle but I think they will be there or thereabouts. Saturday is a big game, they got a win last week coming back and playing well in the second half.

"It is always a tough game down there, it is a tight pitch but we did well down there the last time. When you are at the top of the league you are always up there to be shot at, so we will know what to expect.

"Having won our last three games, playing the way that we are playing then we will never be ready for a game like that. We are all looking forward to it. Nothing will be decided tomorrow because there are a lot of games to go but if you want to stay at the top, the easiest way to do it is to keep winning and we will be aiming to do that."

Jim Jefferies has come up against Morton manager, Jim Duffy many times including the Edinburgh derby but too many for him to list.

"We both have been round the block a few times but it will not be about the managers in the dugouts, it will be about who is on the pitch on the day. They will be desperate to get back up and we are a young side that is improving and maturing and hoping to make this a good year.

"They have taken a few young guys like Conor Pepper from Inverness, I am surprised because he was well thought of up there. He has got plenty of energy and can be a goal threat. We know about Andy Barrowman who at that level can be extremely dangerous. We know what Andy can do and if we had not had the success in bringing in Michael Moffat we might have been interested in him. He left because of the administration crisis. He scored a great goal last week I believe and he is one to look out for.

"The boy, Declan McManus, on loan from Aberdeen is scoring goals for them and they played very well together seemingly in the second half. In midfield they have width with McCluskey and Crawford from Rangers.

"Airdrie went down there last week and caused them a lot of problems in the first half, hopefully we can do the same."

On the playing front, Jim Jefferies feels that even though he trained yesterday and today, Saturday might be just a little early for the return of Alex Whittle to action.

"There is a closed doors game on Tuesday against Motherwell so hopefully he will take part in that game. Faissal El Bakhtaoui is definitely out after taking a knock in the Under 20s game on Monday. Ryan Wallace is out and of course Ross Millen is clear from suspension."

The manager warned that the league campaign will not be smooth, his team will learn from mistakes and he hopes that they will improve and learn.

"There will be a hit or two along the way, we know that because that is what you get with young boys. Every team will be the same. Ayr were flying and then suddenly got beat by Stranraer.

"We want to go on a run, we want to show that after ten to twelve games that we can be up there challenging. To do that we need to keep winning and keep doing well. If you put in a performance and play to your best, it takes an awful good performance to beat you or a lot of bad luck.

"We are in good spirit and should have a lot of confidence. We have a strong bench even with El Bakhtaoui, Wallace and Whittle out, it shows you that we are equipped for the season."