Managers post Ayr United
Saturday, 7th Jan 201707/01/17: Link to audio of both managers
- - Listen to Allan Johnston
Allan Johnston was delighted to take the three points away from Somerset Park:-
"There is obviously a bit of rivalry after playing against them so many times last season. They are always difficult games, sometimes in the first half it was a wee bit scrappy at times but once we got the ball down and started passing it we played really well."
After eight matches undefeated the manager agreed that there was a bit of confidence within the squad now:-
"The start to the season was a bit of a knock to the confidence because the boys were not used to getting beat and losing games. You can see the quality that we have got and we just have keep on building that. The league is really really tight but if we keep playing like that and working as hard then we will not be far away."
A week is a long time in football it has been said. On Monday the Pars started off in ninth place six points off St Mirren at the foot of the table but by Saturday night they were up to sixth and just six points off the play off place they seek and twelve away from the somewhat isolated Buddies.
"Everyone else was talking about relegation play off but we have always openly said that the aim this year is to try and get into the top four. We know it is going to be difficult, there are a lot of quality team and we have just been promoted. I think we have a lot of good players and I think we are a club on the up."
Undefeated in eight matches since the 1-0 home defeat to Dundee United on 12th November Dunfermline, expectations of what could be taken from the first season in the Championship have risen. The manager agreed but warned:-
"The last thing we should do is get complacent because we have experienced losing far too many games at the start of the season. There are a lot of quality teams in this division and there are definitely no easy games in this division. We just got to make sure that we get the mindset right."
What had changed from the start of the league campaign?
"I think we made a lot of mistakes and left ourselves too open after playing in the league before last year. You can see now that the boys have stepped up, we are playing with a bit of confidence and it always helps when you have finishers in your team as well.
"I think there must have been six or seven quality passes leading up to the first goal. It was great for Nicky to finish it off and great to score another goal from a setpieces as well."
- - Listen to Ayr United manager Ian McCall
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