Jim Jefferies ahead of cup tie

"We need to make sure that we take care of the job in hand. The longer we are in the cup the easier it will be for the Board.

Jim Jefferies could not give his usual Thursday press briefing since with the Scottish Cup tie being on Sunday, he spoke to the media on Friday instead. He welcomed the break for cup football and stressed that it was all about making sure your name was in the draw for the next round.

"We have a draw away from home and East Stirlingshire will raise their game like any team playing a team in a league higher up. If they play well it will improve their chances of going through. East Stirlingshire have nothing to lose.

"We didn't play badly last week but it is a cruel game at times. Jim Duffy was very honest after the game to say that they were very lucky to take away the full three points. We were the best team for long spells in the game.

"It is not anything to get down about. There is a long long way to go but I saw a lot more positives, particularly in the first half last week getting more people in the box. We worked on that all week but when you get options you need to pick the right options. You have got to make the right decisions and you have got to finish them.

"That is what we didn't do. It was a classic game last week where if we had got a second goal the game was over. The funny thing is that at 1-1 we had a great chance to score when Forbes put a good ball into the box, Geggan turned and if he had gone for either corner it was a goal because it was that close in but he went straight at the goalkeeper.

"When it goes back upfield again we lost a goal to a trundler. McManus has done a very similar thing midway through the game at 1-0. When he got to the edge of the box, turned and hit it really well, Scully saved it at the post.

"It was the very same move that got the winner but this time he sclaffed it and it went through Lewis Martin's legs and into the corner of the net. It was a cruel one to take because we deserved something out of the game for our performance.

"There was a lot more good play in the last third. It is just a case of finishing off. You can work on that all week if you like, but we need the boys who are on the park to make the right decision."

The manager is well aware that the second quarter of fixtures have started in exactly the same way as the first did with a draw and a defeat. One defeat in the fixtures from day three to day nine took the Pars into a strong position and it can only be hoped that similar results will follow in this round of fixtures.

"We are capable of going one better but it is tough because there is a lot of pressure on these young boys. The cup tie is a wee break from that but pressure is still there. It is different in a league game, if you play badly you can get it back but in a cup tie if you get the chance you need to put yourself into the next round.

"Every team will tell you that you might be played off the pitch but all that matters is being in the next round. If we play really well it is East Stirling's job to stop us doing that. If they do, it helps their chances but if we play really well we will win the game.

"There is never an easy cup tie when the other team has nothing to lose. They will be hoping to get the breaks and can work hard enough to keep us out.

"The boys will be instructed to go out, get the ball down and play like we can. Keep the tempo up, keep the ball moving, keep passing it because that is what we like to do. Some of the times it is great to watch but we just need to finish it off."

A good cup run would improve all managers chances of having an improved budget as the January transfer window opens but JJ did have a warning for all teams classed as favourites to be in the draw for the next round:-

"It is not a formality for any team against anybody in the cup. Cups are renowned for shock results. I have seen teams get battered and yet they reach the next round because they have hit a wonder goal from 35 yards.

"On a bigger stage, nobody gave Newcastle a chance at Manchester City this week. They went and scored, got battered for most of the game in terms of pressure and then went and scored another one. They still had to defend to clinch it. Manchester City had dominated most of the game but football can be like that.

"We need to make sure that we take care of the job in hand. The longer we are in the cup the easier it will be for the Board. The supporters and the Board have been fantastic but if the club cannot afford to strengthen we have to respect that. The one thing you want is for Dunfermline to exist and not throw money at it to try and get up, then finding themselves struggling to survive again.

"They will have budgeted for us to get through a couple of rounds but if we get anything above what they budgeted for they will do their best. If they can't, they can't. It is just a fact of life."

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