Managers` post Hibs comments

Link to audio of both Stevie Crawford and Paul Heckington

After the disappointment of the last pre season friendly at Dumbarton on Tuesday being cancelled, Stevie Crawford was delighted to get some conditioning under the belts of his players.

“I went up and watched Hibs on Wednesday night against Arbroath and they move the ball about great. It was going to be a test for us today but it was pleasing that we created chances ourselves.

“I know that it is early days but there was a lot of stuff that we have worked on in terms of trying to build from the back and also press a little bit higher. The players have bought into it and it was pleasing today to see us putting crosses into the box and creating chances at the other end of the park.”

Dunfermline went ahead early on in the match when Euan Murray headed home from an Andy Ryan corner:-

“Ryan Dow and Andy Ryan have been working on some of our corners. Euan Murray is quite aggressive attacking the ball as well, it was great to get a goal from that because it is something that we can improve on from last year.

“Putting crosses into the box creates chances and allows people to get on the end of things and put the ball in the back of the net.

“Before the game Jason and Greg spoke about tactical things that we have been working on but I is still pre season so the main thing from today was the conditioning. Yes the result matters but I listened to Paul (Heckingbottom) speak after the Arbroath game and he was balancing his squad.

“He has a game against Carlisle on Tuesday night. It is important to get minutes under the belt and now we have the St Mirren game to look forward to.”

Stevie felt it was important to play with width and try to get in behind teams:-

“Ryan Dow is clever, he has done it at a higher level as well and we are delighted to somebody like Ryan. Then you have somebody like Josh (Coley) who has come up on loan from Norwich City. He is exciting, he can go in behind but he can also have combination plays that allow other people to get in behind.

“We will not get carried away, it is bringing a different dimension to us and it is something that we can build on and get better at.”

Asked about Gabby McGill who came on as a sub just after the hour mark, Stevie said:-

“Gabby has come up to step away from Academy football. He will enjoy that today, that is his first taste of it and they have all worked hard for that taste of it today. He is very much part of my plans for the season going forward. He has come on and whether you get 30 minutes or start the game that is the attitude that I want at this club.”

Stevie was pleased with the effort and attitude shown.

“I said to the boys before the game, it is not just the boys who have started today that are going to walk into the team for next Sunday against St Mirren. Youth need a chance to progress and get better. Hibs are very much the model that we will try and follow.

“How they have gone about their business over the last few years is a credit to them and something that we look up to and admire here.”

Asked about Ryan Dow’s return from part time football, SC commented:-

“We had him in towards the end of last season and Ryan wants to play football. Everybody wants to play first team football and last season when he wasn’t getting game time at Ross County, he found himself at Peterhead.

“We are delighted to have him on board because is he a leader in the Paul Paton mould as a leader with smashing in tackles? No but he has the experience to help us in tricky situations, get us higher up the park and in behind defences.”

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