Managers Post Forfar

18/10/14: "Ross Millen is our penalty taker and when he is not on the pitch then Michael Moffat takes the penalties.

- - Listen to these Jim Jefferies post match comments
- - Watch Managers Pars TV interview

Disappointing was his emotion when Jim Jefferies spoke after the 0-0 draw with Forfar. He felt that his team saw a lot of the ball in the first half, had started the game well but didn't
create enough chances from the advantages that came their way. He reflected on the ones that got away:-

"Faissal should have scored when he was right on the penalty spot and put it past the post. You have got to hit that on target with more power. Big Buchanan shut his eyes when a chance came in to the back post, he should have scored with a header.

"Apart from that I was quite happy with the attitude, maybe the passing could have been a little quicker - it was good to watch at times but should have been done quicker. That's the message we gave them at half time, to get the tempo up and get going.

"We started the second half by getting in the back of them and causing problems. I think we got caught up in it because we were pushing forward to try and score. It suited Forfar because they have good players who can hit you on the break. Having said that we were guilty of helping them trying to score.

"We had two in the first half that we got away with. When Lewis played it back allowing Swankie to get in and hit the post, we got a break. It was nothing that they created, it was just a bad pass that can happen. We got that sorted out by bringing Josh Falkingham in and getting Lewis Spence to sit and protect us a wee bit. They were soaking up the pressure and defending very well.

"The incident for the penalty? I don't know whether it was harsh or not. Did the hand leave the boy? It was coming at a pace and maybe I might have thought it harsh if given against us. When the referee does give it, you have got to take advantage of it."

Dunfermline were awarded a penalty with five minutes remaining but failed to capitalise on it.

The manager claimed that he was hoarse shouting instructions:-

"Ross Millen is our penalty taker and when he is not on the pitch then Michael Moffat takes the penalties. Moff scored from the spot, and it is something that the player has to realise right there and then and not let it happen. They should have gone up and grabbed the ball and thrown it to Moff. It sometimes baffles you why? He has never taken a penalty for us before! We do not know what he is like taking penalties.

"We have Forbes who has taken a penalty for us, Whittle can take them, Josh would be comfortable. He would probably be fifth choice so why? His answer was that he felt confident but it is not about feeling confident, it is about the right man taking the penalty. Michael Moffat should have had that penalty, he was given instructions to take it, he scored his last one, he was on the pitch.

"The last time we got a penalty (against Morton) Ross took the last one off him. The bottom line is that he should not have taken it, but he knows better and it cost us at the end of the day.

"Sometimes when you get that sort of thing; I have been in the game long enough to know that the biggest percentages of these are missed. I just thought 'here we go'. At the end of the day it was a great save from the goalie. It was post carded a bit, open foot and it was the only place that he could put it. The goalkeeper read it.

"He has put a lot of people down in there and the crowd. We could have been top of the league tonight but some of the players have to share the responsibility as well because if I had been on the pitch, I would have made sure he wouldn't have taken it. That is what you have got to do.

"One of the players said 'we told him' but you need to show him. You need to push him out the road. I know he is a big hunk of a man but put him out of the road. 'You are not taking it, he is.' Anybody can miss a penalty but that is not the point, he should never have put himself in that position when you have a recognised penalty taker on the pitch who takes them when Ross Millen is not there."

Ross Millen had been subbed in 66 minutes having done little wrong, JJ explained:-

"We had to change it. We needed somebody naturally left sided to get in round the back of them. That's why Alex Whittle came on and Ross Forbes who always has that bit of craft round the box to pass the ball.

"We brought on Ugwu because we felt that we needed a bit of strength up front but when you think about that, had we left him off then somebody else might have taken the penalty. It is all hindsight but that is not the way to look at it.

"He was on the pitch from open play. When we got the penalty everybody knows who should have taken it. Moff might have missed it as well so you'll never know but at least you can accept that because he is the recognised penalty taker. It is more galling when you know that somebody had made a decision outwith being told by players, back room staff and manager. He thought he knew better but he didn't in this case."

Ryan Scully was voted Man of the Match and the team had him thank for mopping up several defensive errors?

"Sculls was outstanding. They had one really good move on the break when Forfar played it in behind. What a save he had, a double save it was I think. We picked up the scraps from that. He was fantastic but he is a great goalkeeper and we are lucky to have him.

"Because of the type of team we are, young and a bit naive and raw he is sometimes called upon to pull you out of trouble. He has done that at times and he did that today. On the balance of play, I do not think we deserved to lose the game, it could have swung either way let's be honest about it. We had the chances, they had the chances.

"You move on, there is a long long way to go. We are just gutted that we had a golden opportunity to win the game and go top of the league tonight. That might happen next week as long as we win and the results go the other way.

"You can see the attitude of the players in there. They are just gutted because they had the opportunity. They didn't make the right decision, they were told the right decision and they didn't see it through."

Forfar manager Dick Campbell was pleased to leave East End Park with his team still at the top of the table and challenged his Dunfermline counterpart to come out and say that his side deserved to win the game!

"My goalie did not have a save to make in the whole game bar the penalty kick. Whether or not it was a penalty kick or not is up to you to decide. I thought we played well; we have been criticised because I have a team of veterans but I think that is unfair. James Dale is nineteen years old, Dale Hilson is twenty one, Michael Dunlop is twenty so I think that is unfair.

"I just talk about my own team, they played well today and deserved to win the game. Swankie was outstanding upfront, Dale Hilson has been on fire, didn't play particularly well today but I kept him on because he has that much pace. Chris Templeman was raging, he was dying to get on.

"It was always going to be a real tight game between two really good teams in the first quarter of the season. I have no complaints whatsoever, Dunfermline have not lost a game at home this season. It is not surprising Dunfermline are a good side but so are Forfar, don't ever forget that.

"Over the season we will prove that we are a good side. Let's do our talking on the pitch not off it. Half my life I have spent at Dunfermline Football Club, I know how difficult it is, I know how the fans are so demanding. Every team is the same. The 700 fans at Forfar will be the same, the 7000 fans here will be the same. You have to adapt to it and go and play.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind who deserved to win the game."

Faced with a wall of blank media faces, Dick quipped:-

"Is anybody going to agree with me or what? You are look as if I am saying something that is alien!

"Their keeper was magnificent and we thought he would be. Absolutely fantastic, but he is a good goalie though, second to Rab Douglas in this league. An international goalkeeper playing for Forfar I know doesn't look right.

"I am extremely happy with my players. You knew it was going to take a penalty kick to score against us. Whether or not it was a penalty kick or not, I have never seen a referee change his mind."

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