Manager Post Morton

10/12/16: Link to audio of both managers

Allan Johnston felt that it was a real team performance that won Dunfermline the three points for a win over Morton. He said:-

"Life could have been even more difficult by losing a penalty within the first five minutes. We have looked at it again and it was outside the box. These are the kind of decisions that are going against us just now.

"Thankfully we got a bit of luck and Sean (Murdoch) made the save. It was clearly outside the box and the linesman has to help the referee there because he is in a good position.

"It puts you under pressure right from the start. I don`t want to come criticising referees every game but these are big decisions and you cannot afford to get them wrong. You have to be one hundred per cent sure to give a penalty.

"We responded well. Moff scored two typical strikers finishes. Really instinctive and it was great for him to get the goals. There were a couple of other ones which were so unlucky not to go on. Nicky Clark had a couple of efforts, Moffat another great effort and I don`t know how the keeper managed to get to it.

"There were a lot of positives and then we lost the goal just before half time. He escaped a couple of challenges and we could probably have done a bit better but the boys showed a lot of character second half, defended better and I thought deservedly won the game."

With a penalty save and two goals from pass backs, has the luck turned in Dunfermline`s favour?

"I think so. Sometimes that is what happens when things are not going your way. You lose penalties and with big decisions like that, as I have said before, referees cannot afford to make mistakes.

"It was really disappointing but I thought the boys were excellent. I am delighted to get the win and now we push on. We did say that this is a crucial period, there are still five or six massive games over the upcoming festive period coming up so it is really important that we string a run of results together.

"The league is really close, it is only seven points to fourth place. It is really tight and competitive. We have just to concentrate on ourselves. If we keep playing like that with the movement up front and the quality we have got then hopefully we can build on the result against Morton."

Asked about the ankle injury to John Herron, AJ said that he thought that was not a long term injury but the player might be out for a week or two.

"We will assess that in the next couple of days but it just shows you the quality that we have coming back. Ryan Williamson came on and I thought he was excellent. Nat Wedderburn came on and had a big impact as well. That is why you have a big squad and why you have good players. That is why I think that group of players will push on further up the league."

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