Managers Post Ayr United
Saturday, 18th Mar 201718/03/17: AJ - "We need to get ourselves out of the position that we are in. It is very very tight at the bottom of the league and we just have to get back to playing the way we were."
- - Allan Johnston post match comments
Dunfermline Athletic manager Allan Johnston felt that his team needed to be more clinical.
"We got in a lot of good areas, we had a lot of good chances but we never worked the keeper for all the chances and the number of times that we were in their box and all the crosses that we put in. It was just that final pass that was lacking. We were in enough good areas with enough good chances to get shots in on goal but it looked like it had to be the perfect goal. An extra touch or extra passes, we need to get our shots away quicker."
Asked if he felt that Dunfermline had been dragged back into the fight to avoid relegation AJ said:-
"If we had won that today it would have made a massive gap, we would have started catching Dundee United because they got beat today as well. With the St Mirren result as well that closes the league right up. We have to make sure that we react well to that.
"We need to get ourselves out of the position that we are in. It is very very tight at the bottom of the league and we just have to get back to playing the way we were."
Michael Moffat was possibly the most unlucky not to score against Ayr. He hit the woodwork in the first half and just ten seconds into the second half had a great strike touched over the bar. The manager said:-
"He hit the post with the header and it was a great chance in the second half but there were a lot of good chances. Joe Cardle had two or three really good opportunities in good areas. Nicky Clark had a header as well. There were a lot of good chances, we just have to be more clinical when you get them. You cannot afford to not take your chances when they come around.
"That is what happens, teams are going to get a chance. That is what happened today. I don`t think wee were under a lot of pressure but obviously we got caught with the sucker punch from the setpiece."
The only goal of the match earned Ayr United three important points and with Raith Rovers beating Dundee United and St Mirren winning at Palmerston Park the bottom three all gained ground on Dumbarton and Dunfermline. The sudden recording of results was no surprise to the Pars gaffer:-
"Everybody is fighting for their lives. We are always saying that we have to look ahead. We are still in touch with Queen of the South as well. We have to focus on that but obviously we are aware of the teams at the bottom getting wins."
Dunfermline were forced to change their starting eleven for the first time in five matches but the manager revealed that these were enforced.
"Andy Geggan hurt his ankle on Tuesday, he trained Thursday and Friday but he was still feeling it and he was struggling. It was getting worse.
"Paul McMullan picked up a groin strain on Friday as well. It was a big loss losing those two but I thought Ryan Williamson came in and did really really well. He has been out for a while but he showed great energy getting up and down the line. We were unfortunate not to get something from his good play.
"I thought Joe Cardle was unlucky, he got himself into good positions to be a goal threat. He was really unlucky not to get a goal, you usually expect Joe to finish."
Ayr United manager Ian McCall felt that his makeshift team pulled off a great result. He reeled off examples of his injuries problem:-
"We had Docherty not fit, Crawford not fit, Devlin was ill last night and we had a load of boys out but if I am being hypercritical I felt we had two or three good opportunities to score a second goal in the second half.
"Dunfermline were going for it and we will take 1-0. I have said before that we can only look after our results, that is all we can do. We have a big game next week and we need to go and try and win that.
"With all due respect, this is a club that is close to my heart but they are in it now as well. There is no doubt. We always get written off because of where we are but we will give it our best shot."
- - Ian McCall post match comment
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