Jim Jefferies post Ayr United

07/12/14: JJ - "It was another good, exciting game for the fans. They have seen six goals today

- - Listen to this Jim Jefferies post match interview

"I think the team played as well in that wee sticky spell but nothing was happening for them in front of goal. We have scored ten in three games now, eight goals at home in the last two home games. That's the difference; we have been taking our chances, we have been creating chances so we hope to keep that going.

"Again I had to make changes. I didn't plan to bring Gozie (Ugwu) right back in because he has been out and not had a lot of training. I hoped to keep Ryan Thomson upfront and Andy Geggan in the middle of the park but Lewis Martin called off with a groin strain which he did on Thursday. Stuart Urquhart would have been the natural replacement but he is out with a groin strain as well. That meant that we had to re-jig there.

"It was a tough ask as you know, I think Craig Beattie is a handful - he was getting the ball and bringing people into play all the time. He has played at a higher level, he was clever against Ross Millen who was only filling in at central defence. Andy Geggan had to help us at right back.

"Their second goal was lucky because the boy (Beattie) had a shot and it just fell into the path of Forrest. But what a response both times to losing a goal! To come back quickly and hit the 'postage stamp' from Shaun Byrne. For me he was miles above everyone today. I thought he was excellent; he had a great game.

"You can see when we lose a goal that the team work their socks off, put people under pressure, played at a tempo. The only criticism would be that I thought that in the first ten minutes they were a little guilty of giving away the ball. They were just a wee bit sloppy there but once they got it right, held the ball and passed it, they seemed to take control of the game.

"It was another good, exciting game for the fans. They have seen six goals today and to be fair to Ayr - when they were 3-1 down at half time they tried to get a second goal to make a game of it. They did that but we have shown another great response with a good move on the break and plenty people in support.

"It was nice for Allan Smith to get a couple of goals because he works tirelessly. He is the one to put people under pressure. It good to see him get a couple of goals, he deserved that for the work rate that he has put in in the last three games."

Gozie was struggling with a calf knock that kept him out of the game at Stranraer and the gaffer continued:-

"I don't know if it is the same or not. He will have to get treatment tomorrow and fingers crossed that everybody is fit and available for Tuesday. I think it will be touch and go for Lewis on Tuesday, Big Stuart Urquhart has a chance.

"We will be in tomorrow and assess the situation. Hopefully everybody will be fit because it is a massive game against Stranraer. Michael Moffat was a late call off because his (pregnant) wife was taken into hospital today. We have not heard any news yet but I am sure that it will all happen over the next 24 hours and then we can have him back for Tuesday."

Andy Stirling had another good game for Dunfermline, scoring in his second successive home game before being substituted seven minutes from the end. JJ commented:-

"I thought Andy Stirling was excellent today. I want to keep him fresh for Tuesday night so that's why I gave him a wee bit more of a break. He had run himself down and Sorel Chemin came on to give him a little trial. He showed some great wee touches and great skill when he got in the box. That is another wee plus for us.

"The boys will be up for it because they felt that they were denied last week when it went seven minutes overtime. They will be fired up that's for sure." another good effort, they all played well and hopefully this game sees us through that sticky patch. They have responded greatly and we couldn't have asked for any more of them. Hopefully it will keep the momentum going and we can win through on Tuesday night.

"There are a lot of tough games ahead and we will just have to take them as they come along. Last week we moved up from fourth to third and today we moved up to second. Everybody makes it a hard game because they all raise their games against us. We are dealing with it so far."

The league position improved because Stranraer defeated Morton 2-0 at Stair Park to maintain a run of 14 games without defeat. The Pars were the last team to beat them at the end of August and the Pars boss felt that demonstrated just how hard a place Stranraer was to go.

"We played great down there last week. We were 2-0 up and coasting but the game changed with a freak goal. That is what can happen, that's football. As we said before the game, the bottom line was that we came away from there still in the cup.

"We should have been through. I think Stranraer from their own submission know that they are fortunate still be in it. We have them back here and hopefully we can finish them. Again it will be another tough tight match and we will have to be at our best to beat them.

"The boys will be up for it because they felt that they were denied last week when it went seven minutes overtime. They will be fired up that's for sure."

- - Listen to the thoughts of Ayr United manager Mark Roberts