Jim Jefferies Post Ayr
Friday, 10th Oct 2014Link to audio of Jim Jefferies and Mark Roberts
- - Listen to Jim Jefferies Post Match Comments
The Pars manager was delighted with his team's performance to take an important victory at Somerset Park on Friday night:-
"We were brilliant in the first half. We totally dominated, the only thing was that 1-0 up was a small reward after the chances that we made. They have to be more clinical in the last third because we made some great chances which should have put us at least three or four ahead going in.
"We knew that there would be a reaction; Mark (Roberts) would lay into them. They put on Craig Beattie and that changed it a bit for them. Ayr upped it a bit and put us under pressure but it was from free kicks and corners.
"On the break we are so dangerous and we were so unlucky not to score again when there was one that came off the bar.
"We know that if we give away corners and free kicks down at that bottom end, they are going to put it in there and it is all about defending. As well as playing well and creating chances, if you can't get that second goal, you have got to show great resilience. That's probably what, at the end of the day, won us it.
"We had to make two changes Andy Stirling suffered a knock in the first half and gave it a go in the second half but you could see he was struggling with his knee. Big Stuart Urquhart lost a few days training because of a groin strain. Ross Millen came in to centre half - not his natural position and Alex Whittle was pulled back to left back to change it all around again.
"That gives the other team more of an impetus but for all Ayr's efforts, our goalie has only had to make one save. There was a block on the line but their goal led a charmed life and we could have punished them more.
"A win away from home and that is six wins in seven games. The team looked great tonight in terms of their passing and movement. Their attitude and resilience was there tonight as well.
"I have said that the team is maturing and improving and that is the hallmark tonight. Last season we might have lost a game like this or maybe drawn but we can show that we can get through them.
"Buchanan was outstanding at the back. Wee Faissal ran his heart out, just back into the team and he showed great pace and movement. It was a great finish for the goal; he could have had a hattrick the laddie.
"We are really really pleased with them, there is a great spirit amongst them and I think that is what pulled them through in the end. Make no mistake about it, we were so good in the first half 1-0 was not a true reflection of the performance and the domination. We should have had it out of sight and maybe too much for Ayr to come back.
"While it is 1-0 they have a chance. If they get it early enough, their tails go up and you have to go again. We kept another clean sheet and we have had so many now, we have had more in the nine games and can only be a couple behind our record in the whole league programme last year.
"We were without Lewis Martin tonight, Andy Geggan is just coming back. Thomson was missing, Wallace was missing so it is a good squad effort. A couple of weeks ago we went to Morton, didn't perform and I said that they had to learn lessons from that. Coming down to Ayr for a similar type game - they are going to be one of the teams up there challenging. They have some experienced players who could well see this as a chance to bounce back.
"We stood up to it well; not just stood up to it, we played really well against Ayr in the first half in particular. We had our spells in the second half as well and could have had another goal. It was a good result for us and we now look forward to next Saturday."
The manager was reluctant to consider that top spot after nine games made it a matter of just continuing on from there. He said that after twelve or fifteen games perhaps!
"We have played everybody once, it is nice to finish the first quarter off top of the league albeit that there are games to play tomorrow but if Forfar win (at home against Stenhousemuir) we will still not be far off the top and there is all to play for again.
"There is still a long way to go but after twelve or fifteen you get an indication of how it might plan out. As long as you are in there and I think everybody knows with the way we play, the players that we have got in the team we will be there or thereabouts."
- - Listen to Ayr United manager Mark Roberts
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