Manager Post Ayr United

01/10/16: AJ - "it was a really good team performance but we have to take our chances at the other end with the opportunities that we created."

Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston felt that the match at Ayr had been an open game but one that his side possibly should have come out of on top:-

"I think we maybe just shaded it, I don`t think that there was much between the teams. We probably had the better chances when you look through the game and probably passed the ball a bit better as well.

"It was a close game, it always is down here, always a hard place to come and play. We had to defend well at times but I thought the back four did really well, especially the centre halves - I thought they were outstanding.

"We had to defend long throws, kick outs, and the physical presence that they have got but I thought we handled it really well. We got a wee bit frustrated with not breaking the deadlock with some of the opportunities that we had."

First half injuries to John Herron and Nicky Clark forced the manager into two early substitutions. He commented:-

"To be fair it was a bad tackle on John. Gary Harkins is not renowned for his tackling. He probably has gone to kick the ball and he has caught him. He has got a bad one on his ankle.

"Nicky has been struggling with his groin in the last couple of days. We cannot afford to take any risks, it obviously tightened up a wee bit now and we will have to assess it on Monday."

Rhys McCabe and then Farid El Alagui came on and in the second half it was feared that Farid might have to be substituted himself. A 72nd minute save by Ayr keeper, Greg Fleming, flattened the Pars striker. Farid appeared to have been knocked out causing both side`s players to immediately wave for medical attention. AJ said:-

"One thing about Farid, he puts his head on anywhere, he would run through a brick wall I think. He was really unlucky at the `goal` we scored. It was just the slightest touch because he was coming back. He set it up for Joe (Cardle) with a great header, really unfortunate with that because I have seen them given loads of times."

Asked his opinion on the first half penalty appeal when Andy Geggan seemed to pull down Jamie Adams in the penalty box, the Pars gaffer replied:-

"I think the scream was louder than the appeal. There was quite a lot of that in the first half especially but that is not our concern.

"I thought the back four were outstanding with Sean Murdoch behind them. We restricted them to shots from distance, it was a really good team performance but we have to take our chances at the other end with the opportunities that we created."

Related Stories

• Ayr United 0 Dunfermline 0
• Pars Foundation October Holiday Coaching