Jim Jefferies on Thursday
Thursday, 20th Nov 201420/11/14: "It will not just be two or three changes, it could be a little bit more than that."
Jim Jefferies said after the match last Saturday that changes could be expected for this week's meeting with Stirling Albion. He confirmed to the website on Thursday that he had not changed his intentions:-
"On video the chances looked more obvious than they did on Saturday. I don't think it is because of lack of effort or the way that they are trying to play, they are just not getting results because they are not cashing in on their dominance at times.
"You have sometimes to draw the line. If we put the same side out on Saturday and the drop points, you would be saying why didn't you change it. To be fair to the players we have to change it.
"There have been players waiting patiently who have responded well in training and when they play in the under 20s. They have won their last three games up at Dundee United, and Dundee and against Ross County - all Premier League clubs. They have banged in eleven goals in three games so they are deserving of a chance.
"Any player that we leave out on Saturday will not be because of how badly they have played. It is just that you have to be fair with the rest of the players. If I was a player I would saying 'the team is maybe playing well but they are not picking up the points, we have been banging in the goals and playing well, so we deserve a chance'. They are 100 per cent right. It will not just be two or three changes, it could be a little bit more than that."
The team is the most important thing and Jim Jefferies is well aware that the team has not been winning. Since starting into the second quarters' league fixtures the Pars have taken just two points from the last twelve.
"Maybe they have got to a stage where their confidence is dented a wee bit. Maybe a break is exactly what they are needing. There have been players left out because they hadn't done well but they have responded by doing well in training and in the 20s games. They thoroughly deserve their shot. It is up to them to win with no disrespect to Stirling but we did win there.
"Even though we scored two late goals, we were so far in front that day. If they cannot come in winners at home against a side who have not been too great this year, even though they will be doing better after changing their manager. They will all be working a bit harder for the new boy. If they cannot take their opportunity, they will just have themselves to blame because it is the right time to freshen it up. I cannot change everybody because we are strong in areas."
Jim Jefferies acknowledged that fans want to come along to watch a winning team at East End Park and claimed that they are frustrated like the management team and players are.
"We see the team working hard, playing some decent stuff, dominating for spells in a game although I didn't think we dominated as much on Saturday as much as we had done in previous games. Stenhousemuir were on a bad run themselves and they had to try and lift themselves against Dunfermline.
"We want to keep our challenge up and let's be honest about it, for the run that we have had we are not out of touch. Other teams are struggling to get results, it can all change on one game; if we win on Saturday and those around about us don't pick up full points, it just becomes tighter again.
"This is a game where we should be looking to pick ourselves up, go in there and get a result. Maybe freshness is what we need. Then it is up to the boys that go in on Saturday to say 'right we are going to grab this opportunity' and put themselves in the frame for the following week.
"They got told a few home truths a couple of weeks ago in training. They had to put the first team under pressure, and they have done it. They will get their chance."
Ryan Scully and Lewis Spence both had to be substituted last Saturday at Ochilview Park but they have trained this week. Ryan Wallace is the only player unavailable.
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