Manager Post Ayr United
Saturday, 28th Nov 201528/11/15: AJ - "Delighted to be in the next round but it was important to come here and get a result that could kick off the rest of our season."
- - Listen to these Allan Johnston comments
Allan Johnston was delighted to see his team edge past Ayr United into the Fourth Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
"You could see how difficult the conditions were out there for both teams. It was important to come down here and get a result. We play them in a couple of weeks time in the league but I don't think this game will have any bearing on that game. I am sure both teams will be up for the league game and desperate to win that one. Obviously it gives us confidence going into that game."
Asked if he thought that he was maybe fortunate that his team finished the first half with a full eleven, AJ disagreed with the suggestion:-
"When you look at some of the sliding challenges from some of their players, they were lucky to keep eleven players on the park. It was the same the last game; there could quite easily have been three sendings off then as well. That sometimes happens."
It is a managerial cliche to say that the first goal is important and Allan Johnston felt that was ably demonstrated in this cup tie:-
"It was massive, usually when we score the first goal we go on and win the game. We don't lose a lot of goals, we have scored the most amount of goals in the league and lost the fewest amount of goals so you can see how important it is to score the first one."
The first was also the only goal but the ability for that to be the winner was only because of the fantastic performance of goalkeeper Sean Murdoch:-
"I don't think they cut us open at any point. Danger came mainly from set pieces; corners and free kicks. I don't think it was from open play."
Given the way Ayr came at Dunfermline in the second half a second goal would have made for a less nervy conclusion to the cup tie:-
"You are always aware of that because of the conditions. There were free kicks coming in and corners right on top of the goalie. Even one of ours in the second half came right on top and hit the bar just with the wind.
"They were pushing everyone forward near the end to try and get a goal. It just needed one to bounce the wrong way and it was in the back of the net."
So what was the manager's feel for the Fourth round draw?
"You know what it's like, we are just happy to play anybody. Delighted to be in the next round but it was important to come here and get a result that could kick off the rest of our season."
- - Listen to Ayr United manager Ian McCall`s post match comments
Allan Johnston post Ayr United ParsTV
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