Managers Post Peterhead

Link to audio of both John Potter and Jim McInally

- - Listen to John Potter`s Post Match Comments

- - Listen to post match thoughts of Peterhead manager Jim McInally

John Potter gave his assessment of the drawn match against Peterhead:-

"First half I was pretty pleased. We played a bit more direct today and looked for our two strikers getting on the shoulder of their defenders. They caused them problems first half, scored a good goal and maybe had another one or two opportunities to try and get in front.

"In the second half we never really started properly and again got too deep. They took chances and the striker, Rodgers, came on and caused us a wee bit of problems. They got lucky from out wide at the goal. It was a mistake but the guy got in and scored a good goal.

"From then it was end to end. We were disappointed with our second half because we got too deep and we were screaming at the guys to get further up. By getting too deep we allowed Peterhead to get into the game and we are disappointed with the draw."

Responding to a question regards Peterhead manager Jim McInally's instruction at half time for his team to go for it and his suggestion that Dunfermline set out to defend a 1-0 lead, Potter said:-

"No not at all. We were going for it as well because we need to win games. I would not defend a 1-0 lead. We started the second half better but they got on the front foot. We did become deeper but it wasn't intentional.

"I wanted the players to go out, go forward and try and score more goals. It didn't work that way in the second half. We had one or two opportunities on the break but we didn't do enough."

The home support felt that their team might have been awarded a late penalty when the ball struck Ross Millen's hand and there had also been calls for a red card instead of a yellow when Alex Whittle brought down Andy Rodgers in 80th minute. Potts gave his opinion:-

"Alex I thought was okay, I think it was going wide at the time. Ross' I saw hit his hand but whether it is intentional I didn't think so but I have seen them given."

The 1-1 draw did neither side any favours given fourth placed Brechin City picked up three points, John stressed that is why he would not have sat one 1-0 lead.

"We needed to win game, we were trying to win it but Peterhead did peg us back in the second half but we still had opportunities to hit on the counterattack. Again at the end we had a breakaway four v three but didn't take the opportunity.

"I am disappointed that we didn't win the game and we have to move on. It is a tall order, I know that but I would never give up and neither will the players. We have to keep trying, have to keep believing. We have got Brechin to play, we have got Airdrie to play. Will it be difficult? Yes and it's a long shot but we will give everything we have got to try and win the last four games and see where it takes us."

There was a positive in the match given Michael Moffat found the net for just the second time since September after being paired with Allan a Smith upfront:-

"I thought he was very good in the first half, it was a good header and a good ball from Ross Millen.

"Allan Smith has been chipping at the bit for the last wee while. He did well for the under 20s during the week so we tried to get the ball forward a bit quicker and get them turned. They are the type of players who can do that. They caused them problems in the first half but in the second half didn't really get the service and became tired. They had done a lot of work and that is why we changed it towards the end."

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