Manager Post Arbroath
Saturday, 25th Jul 2015Allan Johnston felt that in the first half of the Petrofac Training Cup that Dunfermline "blew" away their opponents.
- - Listen to this Allan Johnston interview
Allan Johnston felt that in the first half of the Petrofac Training Cup that Dunfermline "blew" away their opponents. Quite a feat since it is usually it's the North Sea breeze that does that!
"It was just the pace that we played at that they just couldn't handle. I am delighted that we scored so many goals as well.
"When you score as many goals in the first half it is obviously difficult to get going for the second half but the players deserve a lot of credit for the way they played the game. It should stand us in good stead for the season ahead."
The manager was especially pleased with his French Moroccan striker who scored two goals and threatened to score even more.
"Faissal is on fire and him and Michael Moffat did really really well and they were unlucky not to score even more goals. That is the way that we want to play; you can see the chances we created, obviously we can improve on that and hopefully keep it going for ninety minutes. There are a lot of positives there again.
"Every game he plays Faissal is a handful and a goal threat. He has great skill, good feet and he brings a lot to the team. We are looking for a dangerous strike force but everybody has to chip in with goals. In the first half it was a real team performance. Look at the second goal; they have passed it inside, Joe Cardle played it inside the full back and Ryan Williamson had crossed it. It was a great all round goal and that is the way we played it in the first half."
After such a first half performance the manager agreed that it was hard to do it all again in the second:-
"Especially with the park drying up and getting a bit sticky. In the first half the ball was moving quick and it was hot as well.
"The players did really really well and it gives us a great platform now to build on."
The manager explained the reason behind the three changes in the starting eleven and praised the contribution of Lewis Martin who was starting his first first team game of the season:-
"He has missed quite a bit of training and games as well so it was important that he got ninety minutes and I thought that he did really well. He looked really comfortable on that side and he was willing to get forward. He played a part in a couple of the goals as well and I couldn't have asked for much more."
Allan Johnston confirmed that Josh Falkingham and David Hopkirk missed the game because of wee niggles:-
"They should both be back on Monday or Tuesday hopefully."
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