Manager Post Aberdeen

28/04/12: JJ - "It is the first time since coming in that Dunfermline have led and the difference it makes is phenomenal.

Pars boss Jim Jefferies was delighted with his first win since taking over at Dunfermline:-

"I felt that after a decent start that we were guilty of giving the ball away. We put ourselves under a lot of pressure and Aberdeen weren't having to work too hard to keep us under pressure. They had a lot of possession for about 25 minutes. We weathered it, defended quite well with one or two good blocks.

"We came away again in the last ten minutes of the first half but you can see the difference when you get the first goal because it allowed us to probably play the system that would have suited us. That was two wide and one through the middle. Once getting the first goal it was a case of keeping them under pressure, get it in behind them. As a result of getting it in behind them we got another two goals.

"It was all about the first goal. It is the first time since coming in that Dunfermline have led and the difference it makes is phenomenal. It is not a proud record but at least it is broken. We have got a win at home and it has come at an important time. We will see where it takes us.

"I am sure that Hibs would say the same if they were in our position. We just hope that St Mirren can play outstandingly well tomorrow and keep it going that wee bit longer. We both have difficult games coming up in midweek; we go to Inverness and they go to Aberdeen so it will be very interesting. We have done our bit and it was great to get a result."

The Manager was pleased with the way that Joe Cardle scored one and assisted in another of the Pars goals:-

"He came on last week and gave us a wee spark. Today he didn't get off to the best of starts. His first three touches were up in the air and gave the ball away. He has more skill than that; he is one player who can hold it in but he is a threat. Where you want Joe Cardle is in the last third; going at people, cutting inside and he has come up with a terrific goal.

"It changed the way the game was going; we became the more dominant side and forced Aberdeen into mistakes. I don't think Aberdeen had too many clear cut chances in the second half and that was down to good defending; not something that Dunfermline have been given a lot of credit for this year.

"It was good all round today but hopefully that performance can gain something from it tomorrow. Hibs are the ones in the driving seat but we have just given them something to think about and put them under more pressure for tomorrow."

Joe Cardle shot the Pars into the lead but it was Andy Kirk's second half brace that secured a comfortable victory:-

"He was one that I picked out at half time because you want to keep as many forwards up to go and win the game. We were never comfortable with it and it was forcing Andy to go and play wide. He was spending most of his time defending yet he is not about that. Once we dropped Martin Hardie back into the place where Gavin Rae was playing, we then pushed Andy through the middle.

"By scoring the first goal it allowed us to have the three midfield players to combat them and the two wide men made sure that their full backs were closed down a bit more and we got the rewards for that. It was a great header from Kirkie, that's what he is about - give him a chance in or around the box he is always capable of finishing it.

"They made a muck up of a back pass, he got a wee break and in went the third goal. If there was one person you wanted that to fall to it was Andy Kirk. He had a chance last week to win us the game but didn't take it, he has made up for that today."

Aberdeen manager, Craig Brown said that we was very angry and very disappointed:-

"It was a game that was there to be won and we dominated for the first half and part of the second half. Then there were three horrendous defensive errors which cost us. The third goal was an example of carelessness at the back which cost us dearly today.

"We have a goalkeeper who has lost three goals but hardly had a save. I think the scoreline is a distortion of the game but the fact of the matter is that we conceded three goals and that is unacceptable. Dunfermline deserve credit for taking their chances and scoring three goals but we deserve criticism for conceding so softly. Take the third goal for example, it wasn't just one but three defensive errors cost us that one. We had a good opportunity to clear the ball.

"The second goal too, was a simple matter of marking a player when the ball is played into the box.  That's basic. At the first goal I felt that maybe Magennis was impeded but again it was poorly defended. On each occasion it was a defensive error; that shouldn't happen at this level to a team like Aberdeen.

"We deserved to lose because of our very slipshod defensive work, we don't want the season to peter out. We've got to get results in the remaining three matches, otherwise there will be a despondency about the place. We've got to do ourselves a favour on Wednesday night in the game against Hibs. We must do very much better, the lads know that."