Managers Post Falkirk

26/12/12: JJ - "I do not accept the explanation that he gave me, that he warned me for dissent at the first incident when I was just six inches out of my box.

Jim Jefferies felt that his side did not deserve the defeat that Falkirk inflicted upon them. He said that his team had a grip of the game before the 40th minute sending off of Jordan McMillan changed the game:-

"We were getting at them and creating good chances at crucial times but it just hasn't been happening for us. If Andy Barrowman had got more on his header in the six yard box - he tried to place it rather that power it in - and chances at corners you have to take in games like this. Their goalkeeper had a couple of cracking saves; Geggan hit one (that tested him) and we were the dominant side until the whole thing changed for them. It gave them that wee lift.

"The linesman really should have given the foul for Jordan McMillan and what happened after that was a result of that. There was a bit of injustice felt and it all kicked off within seconds. One thing Jordan McMillan has to learn is that he cannot raise his hands to anybody; he is guilty but it was caused by a bad decision from the linesman. When the right back turns and gets his feet swiped away from him, it was a stonewall (card).

"I have been sent to the stand and I have heard the referee's explanation and it just baffles me really. At the first incident he came over to speak to me because it is not the biggest dugout, but I was six inches over the white line. So the linesman drew this to the attention of the referee and when he came across I asked him why he had given a foul against John Potter. His answer to me was that he was blocking him, so that was fine. Don't tell me after the game when I was in to find out why I got sent to the stand that I showed dissent at that incident. I didn't. He said that 'I told you were being warned for dissent' but I said that I didn't say that. 'You said that I was six inches over or I was out of my box, when I asked the question you gave me an answer but don't tell me that you gave (the warning) for dissent because that is just nonsense."

That incident was only minutes before referee Stephen Finnie sent Jefferies to the stand. He continued:-

"When I did get dissent eventually it was when I applauded the linesman for giving a throw in to us because there was an obvious one ten seconds before that he didn't give to us. I think the crowd could see, when we didn't get the throw in, that it was our ball. That was the frustration and of course when they took the throw in we got the ball back and I sarcastically applauded. But if it is getting down to that stage it is getting a bit petty for me.

"I do not accept the explanation that he gave me, that he warned me for dissent at the first incident when I was just six inches out of my box. I was on the pitch a little bit which I accept, but I have done that hundreds of thousands of times and never got sent to the stand. It is just passion, you want to get messages to your players but I just asked the question why John Potter was given the foul against him and he gave me the answer. He said that he was blocked but then to tell me afterwards that I had dissented but I never I just asked the question.

"I will wait and see what the report is but I am certainly not accepting that the referee can tell me after the game that the first time he spoke to me was for dissent, it wasn't - it was stepping over the line and being on the pitch for a little. He could just have given me a warning, plenty referees and linesmen have given me warnings for it and we have had a laugh about it, but today it would seem dissent when I asked the question why he had given the free kick - that's not dissent."

Emotions were high both on and off the park and with Morton beating Partick Thistle at Firhill it was another missed opportunity to go back to the top of the league. Instead the defeat drops Dunfermline to third and Falkirk narrow the gap to seven points as they sit fourth. Jefferies continued:-

"It was a a massive game because the (Partick) result today is probably the result we'd want. The players did not deserve to get beat, even at ten men we were pushing for the winner. We had some great build up play and maybe at the end of the day we have to admit that our final ball into the box was just not good enough to create chances for us.

"There was one time when Josh got in the box and cut it back for Ryan Thomson but the block came in. That's what happens; they cut it back and the boy gets a shot at goal. There's the difference and that's what has been happening for us.

"There is no manager who could complain about the attitude of the players. You could see that from the reception that they got from the supporters; they gave it everything to get a result today but got hit by a succour blow. Maybe a little bit of naivety when you are chasing to go and get the winner. You should always make sure that your set up is right but we just got caught. We didn't do the right thing when the player was wide, we should have stopped the cross coming in. If you don't stop it you run the risk of somebody being on the end of it. In that case there was."

The Manager praised his players especially after the tough times that they had been through of late and looked forward to the next match at Greenock.

"It now becomes a massive game for us on Saturday because Morton could well stay above us and get closer to Partick because of the fact they lost today. It should be a cracking match."

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley claimed it was wonderful result for his team:-

"I am exceptionally proud of their performance today. It is a game where you can get caught up in the emotions of it a little bit and lose focus on our philosophy and what we are working towards. I thought we handled the occasion brilliantly for such a young side. We kept our focus, kept passing the ball. We didn't compromise the way we played and we got our rewards from it.

"I have to give Dunfermline enormous credit because they were down to ten men for possibly 55 minutes. They showed terrific character particularly after what their players have been through in recent months. For us it was a wonderful result and a wonderful day.

"We started with five players 18 years old and under today so it is terrific to come to a place like this and get a result with so many young players.

"One final thing, our supporters today - at times it has been an indifferent season for us but they have remained very much behind us. I thought they were wonderful today, so that was not just for the team but for them today."