Manager post Stranraer

John Potter was a happier man after seeing his team defeat Stranraer 1-0 at East End Park.

- - Listen to these John Potter comments
Commenting to the media he said:-

"That was much more like us. Without being brilliant we were competitive, we got the ball forward a lot quicker and were more aggressive. That is the way we wanted to play because we knew that it probably wouldn't be pretty today. It has not been for a few weeks.

"We were effective and we had a spell after making a couple of changes in the second half. I thought that we turned it 15 to 30 minutes into the second half. We got into good areas, created good chances and scored a great goal. We were strong at the end and that is much more like us and I am happier tonight."

The goal came just seven minutes from the end:-

"It was from Faiss and I have been at him all the time to shoot with his left foot. It was on his left foot but he turned back on to his right foot and scored, so what do I know? He was probably a wee bit unlucky not to be playing. We started with Allan Smith and Michael Moffat (upfront) for a certain reason because we think they are good on the shoulder and getting in behind defences. They did well last week.

"Faiss' goal ratio is great, he scores goals and it was a great finish. Composed as well and I am delighted for him."

The manager admitted that his selection was hampered with an injury to Lewis Spence and illness to Josh Falkingham but his choice to bring in 19 year old Finn Graham had been on merit:-

"We did have injuries but Finn has probably been in our thoughts for a few weeks now, maybe longer because he has been excellent in the under 20s. He played that holding midfield role really well and he has been good at it. He is very competitive, he is aggressive for his size. He was great and looking back we maybe could have fielded him a few weeks back. The time was right and we would have played no matter. He was fantastic and I am delighted for him."

The midfielder was shown a yellow card in 73 minutes when he made a tackle on Stranraer's Willie Gibson and Sean Winter then retaliated. His manager felt that was the correct decision:-

"He will go all in, he is not a dirty player and is very aggressive. He tried to win the ball, I think, and it was a yellow card. It could have gone either way, the boy had a boot at him afterwards as well and he could have gone off. He is a competitive wee player, gives everything he has got and I am delighted for him."

The win takes Dunfermline to 48 points but due to a Brechin City winner three minutes into added time against Stirling Albion, Potter's team remain seven points behind Brechin in the final play off place. Some people think that the chase for that spot is all over but the manager does not see it that way:-

"I will never ever give up. It is obviously disappointing but we can only our bit. If we win our three games between now and the end of the season, we have an opportunity to do it and that is what we have to look at. I will never ever give up while there is still an opportunity, there still is that and we will keep playing for it.

"We will work away this week and get ready for next week. We play Brechin next week and it is an opportunity to try and catch them up. It is a game with have to win. We will give it everything we have got."

- - Listen to the post match comments of the Stranraer manager Steven Aitken

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