Managers post Alloa Athletic

09/03/19: Link to audio of both Stevie Crawford and Jim Goodwin’s post match thoughts

There was little doubt that Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford was a happy man after watching his side defeat Alloa Athletic 1-0 at the Indodrill Stadium. He told the media:-

”To come here and continue the run at not an easy place to go. Jim Goodwin would have seen the Falkirk game last night and we knew we were in for a tough afternoon. Credit to the boys to get another victory under our belt.”

Another clean sheet, another 1-0, a nice habit?

”Long may it continue. Just watching the goal back, Greg (Shields) has counted seventeen passes (in the lead up). That is pleasing because it is maybe stuff that we have maybe not been given a lot of credit for over this run. The one thing that we have shown is that we have got character.

”I have worked with Iain Flannigan when he was at Falkirk, he has got tremendous delivery and he put in a few dangerous crosses from set plays today but the boys have stood up to it. Louis Longridge cleared one off the line with a header as well.

”Every man is fighting tooth and nail to try and get results. We are getting the rub of the green as well.”

Given that Stevie’s teams seem to see first halves out and do the business in the second half, should we just turn up for the second half in future? SC drew a parallel with boxing bouts:-

”We knew that we had to compete better. We were looking a bit fragile. There is not much in the Championship in terms of the quality between the teams, you know the league table speaks for itself.

”It is probably like a boxing match in the early rounds where we are going toe to toe with each other. It is not until the latter stages before our quality comes through. In terms of effort, commitment and even passion that is showing now, I think the supporters are buying in that as well.”

On the suggestion that a play off place must be a viable proposition now, Stevie replied:-

”The dangerous thing is if we had spoken about this three weeks ago, we would have been absolutely delighted to be in the position that we are in. The one thing that I said to the boys today is that there was a gap of six points between us and Ayr. That was our target.

”We can`t say Inverness are going to win their game, that is in their own hands. The pressing thing us that by coming here today we gave gained free points in Ayr United.”

Dundee United are next up and they are just six points ahead of Dunfermline. Who is to say that United cannot be caught and by taking three points off them next Saturday at East End Park that would be a good start in the quest to catch up on them. Stevie continued:-

”It is one that the boys can look forward to. I didn`t see any signs of us getting carried away today. It was a gritty performance again at the right times, we will just demand the same again from the boys.

”The pleasing thing again today is with a few changes, the boys who have come in have done terrifically. There is a good atmosphere in the squad, everybody is getting their chances and they are all playing their part.”

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