Manager on Thursday

06/03/14: JJ - "we're one of the top goalscorers in Britain, we've got good attacking options and we've got people who can score goals.

Jim Jefferies is very aware that the three wins against Stenhousemuir this season have all been won in the dying minutes of the games but even if it takes into added time again, he will happily take any kind of win on Saturday. He said:-

"If it happens in the last minute that we beat them then we'll take it - as long as we win. That would give them very little time to come back as has been proved."

Stenhousemuir win over Forfar on Saturday was their first in eleven games but Jim Jefferies is conscious that they have only lost one of their last seven matches:-

"I think they've picked up and had a wee spell after changing their manager, and I think it's Scott Booth's first game. Brown Ferguson looked after them well, they got a good performance against Rangers at Ibrox and have followed it up with some good results.

"It just lets you see that every game in this league is tough and the way the games have gone between us and Stenhousemuir it will be a spur because they will feel hard done by."

"They know that we're a dangerous side and we score goals. As long as we don't give the presents away that we did last week we'll be fine. We'd beaten Stranraer three times prior to last week, and if you look at all the stats last week was probably the best we'd played against them in terms of possession and corners and things like that."

The Manager attributed the goals conceded as individual mistakes and having not starting well found ourselves a goal down:-

"Then we dominated, and then they scored because of another mistake against the run of play. Then you come out in the second half and you are having to change the system. The third goal was always going to be important because if we could get it early it would be game on, and if they get it then it was going to be a mountain to climb. They got it, and again it was sloppy play for us.

"It was hard to take because we had had two good defensive performances before that and managed to not let teams into the games. We always know we're good going forward - we're one of the top goalscorers in Britain, we've got good attacking options and we've got people who can score goals.

"Lawrence Shankland was unlucky and on another day he could have had a hat-trick. The goalkeeper had two great saves from him and the other one he should have hit the target with when following up on a good strike from Geggan. We didn't play badly against Stranraer, we just gave it away really.

"To be fair to Stevie Aitken and his assistants, they felt that first half we battered them and they stole going in at half-time 2-0 up. They know it was a stupid penalty to give away and a stupid misplaced header. Not just that, positionally we weren't well placed for the second goal and if you make that mistake then you should still have covering. But we've talked about that and looked at the video - that's all you can do and hopefully they will put their mistakes right."

The defeat at Stranraer served as a reality check and reminded everybody at Dunfermline that Stranraer will be formidable opponents if they meet again in the end of season play offs. Jim Jefferies revealed that he had a laugh with Stevie Aitken after it:-

"I said maybe we were planning to let you win so it makes things a bit more exciting. We never planned to do that but it is a kick up the backside.

"We'll know how tough it  will be when we go down there, because I think we've got a good advantage in second and everybody looks at the fourth place team. We're 20 points in front of them so it's going to be down to Stranraer and ourselves battling it out for second. It looks like both of us will qualify for the play-offs and that will be the tie that we'll have to play. So Saturday was a reminder of how tough it can be - you can play well but if you make daft mistakes they'll punish you, so the next time we go down there we'll be well aware of what they can do.

"The first thing is is to get second place tied up. We're in a great, great position and although there are only nine games left, we feel that over the next run of games we can virtually tie it up with a couple of good results."

Stenhousemuir will come to East End Park with a point to prove.

"I think they've pushed themselves into the battle for fourth spot, so you've now got Brechin, Forfar, Ayr United and Stenhousemuir, and then the rest are all battling to stay away from the bottom of the league. Every game will be tough against teams we play from now on in, because this is the business end of the season.

"It's not just for us but for the other teams as well because they will either want to avoid relegation or make the play-offs. It should make for some tense games, which you always get as the season wears on."

Ryan Wallace is still likely to remain sidelined, JJ said:-

"The danger with that type of injury is that he goes out, feels it, and sets himself back, so you are better to wait until it's totally cleared up. We had planned to train him today - it might be we can give him a wee test on Tuesday for the U20 game and see how he reacts to it before we can give him an opportunity to come back into contention for the Rangers game. We'll see.

"Allan Smith got to return in the reserves the other day and that was his first game in a long time because of the illness he had. He even managed to get a goal.

It's a lot for a young boy to get over, what he's had, but he's there. The only other doubt is wee Falkingham. Even though he came back from injury, he's had a virus and has been attending the club doctor. We were told to keep him away today and he'll probably be away tomorrow, so he might be a doubt. Josh is such a character he could come in here tomorrow and be fine, so we'll see. I wouldn't put him out, but he's a doubt.

"Jordan Moore is still out following surgery. His system is down so we've left him to have a couple of weeks to recover."