Promotion must be earned

19/10/12: JJ - "Thommo has come off the bench twice and scored, so I told him 'maybe I should just keep you there ..

Fresh from accepting the First Division Manager of the Month Award for September Pars Manager Jim Jefferies is reminding his team that nobody has a right to get promoted, " you have to earn it, and we know there are some very good teams in the league." Saturday's opposition is Morton and the Pars gaffer expects them to make it hard to get the better of, especially since Allan Moore's side are on a good run:-

"When you are at the top of the league, like Partick were, you are there to be shot at. Morton could go top of the league on Saturday, Partick could go top if we draw or lose, but the only way we'll stay there is to keep winning games and that's what we aim to do. If we can get a win on Saturday, it would be hard earned because they are a decent side. If we manage to pull it off, it would be seven wins, a defeat and a draw. If you take that every time over the four quarters, you will be champions."

This is a far cry from the cautious approach Jim was taking at the start of the league season after a pre season and Challenge Cup exit at Forfar that instilled little expectations from the freshly assembled side. He is pleased however with the way his charges gelled over the last few weeks.

"It has come quicker than I expected. They are good to watch and they train hard so it's just a case of keeping that going. Our confidence is high and I don't think our attitude needs to change just because we're top of the league because if it's good enough to get you there, it's going to be even better to stay there.  That's the message I'll be trying to get across.

"You have to have belief and arrogance in the right way. You don't want an arrogance that you are unbeatable, because you'll be beatable if you don't do the right things.

"There's no doubt about that but it's easier said than done and there's a lot of water to go under the bridge - injuries, suspensions, wee dips in form, tough conditions. We've just got to adapt and make sure that we deal with all these wee things that are going to face us.

"That's why it's great when you look at our bench and we've got people like Thommo (Ryan Thomson) who probably would have been in the side.
He's been very patient on the bench, he got a couple of goals in the opening game of the season, but he appreciates how well the team is playing.  I said to him last week that he's come off the bench twice and scored, so maybe I should just keep you there.

"He's ready to go in whenever the occasion arises, as is Craig Dargo who is fit and doing well with the U21s, and the likes of John Potter and Andy Kirk.  I've also got a cracking couple of youngsters, like Shaun Byrne, who will be pushing for a place and they will all be fresh when the time comes to maybe change it."

The vast Jefferies experience warns him that there comes a time for all teams when they lose that bit of a spark and the secret is to know when to just change it:-

"Right now there's no need to, I don't think, because it's early in the season and everybody's confidence is up. The players have got to play well because these players that I've mentioned are all waiting in the wings for an opportunity and they are all buzzing in training as well."

Dunfermline have a near full squad to choose from. Steven Jordan picked up a slight strain in training but is expected to be ok. Chris Kane is back and trained for the first time for part of the day on Thursday. "He's maybe a couple of weeks away" speculated the boss.