Manager on Thursday

17/03/16: AJ - "We can start to see the finishing line so it is a great position to be in but we need to make sure that we get there.

With Peterhead being held to a draw at home on Tuesday night by Stranraer, the Blue Toon came a point closer to the Pars but the task required to win League One reduced from four wins to three wins. Manager Allan Johnston gave his reflections on the Balmoor result:-

“That’s going to happen, you can’t win every game and teams are going to drop points. We have said from the start that we just have to focus on ourselves, you have seen that last week with the result against Ayr. I don’t think it was a classic game by any means, but we definitely deserved to win the game and we dominated it and deserved to come away with the three points”

The Fifers showed strength in winning for the third time this season at Somerset Park and the gaffer was pleased that Ayr failed to cut his open at any point:-

"Obviously the plaudits go to the strikers all the time for scoring goals, but we have hardly lost any this season as well, it has been really good defensive wise, especially when you are opening up and attacking all the time. It has been really pleasing – we just have to make sure that we continue that type of defending and attacking for the remainder of the season.

“Sean Murdoch had a big save when it was 0-0 from the free kick, it just dropped in the box and it was a great reaction to save it and that’s concentration levels and a sign of a good goalkeeper. He has been great this year.

“We can start to see the finishing line so it is a great position to be in but we need to make sure that we get there. This Saturday is a great game to go into. The boys have built up a bit of momentum in the last few weeks with the amount of games they have won, so we go into it full of confidence but we are not going to take them for granted.

"Cowdenbeath have a lot of good players, especially going forward, obviously they have the boy McDaid from Partick Thistle who is a talented player, Brett has got a lot of skill, a lot of pace and Spence who caused us a lot of problems last time. So we are definitely not taking anything for granted. I think they are better than what their results have shown recently, so it will be a tough game”

Making the observation that every team in the league has got something to play for, AJ said that keeps it interesting:-

“Ayr and Peterhead are playing against teams that are fighting for their lives as well one way or another."

What are the plans to cope with the Central Park pitch this time?

“Its difficult, it’s a horrible place to go. The surroundings and the pitch aren't great, but we just have to make sure that we get the ball in a bit quicker than the last time. I think the ball was out the pitch 43 minutes last time, so we can’t allow that to happen this time."

Will you change your style this time?

“I think sometimes you have to mix it up anyway, you just have to be careful of square passes especially on a pitch like that and maybe sometimes you have got to get it forward a wee bit quicker as well. Which doesn’t always suit us but sometimes you have got to."

With the exception of long term injured Callum Fordyce the manager has a full squad available and Ryan Williamson has had another full 90 minutes - three in a week. Lewis Martin also played the full match against Partick Thistle on Tuesday afternoon 90 minutes.

"We are starting to get players back, everybody is desperate to play, so it makes my job really difficult but having a fully fit squad is not something you are going to complain about!"

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