FAN-TASTIC: JJ praises derby backing
Graham Gibson • Published 7 Sep 2012 09:23
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GAFFER Jim Jefferies believes the Pars fans have a big part to play in helping his young team become championship challengers.
The manager was blown away by the backing the Dunfermline supporters gave his team during their derby victory over Raith Rovers.
And he reckons that if they continue to show the same support throughout the season then his team can push for promotion.
Jefferies told Press Sport, "The fans were terrific to us.
"They got right behind the team on Saturday right from the off.
"They understand we're a young team who have just recently been put together and there is something there we can improve on.
"I kept saying the team will get better and that there is more to come and they are proving me right.
"Even in the two weeks since the Partick game you can see we've improved.
"What pleased me most was the reaction to their goal just after half-time.
"We got a standing ovation coming off having played great and scoring two goals.
"You wonder if all that good work has gone and can they handle the situation but they handled it fantastically and scored a brilliant goal.
"There is still a long way to go and we are not getting carried away.
"Next up we've got Dumbarton who are never easy. Every side that plays us will see Dunfermline as one of the big teams in the league that they want to beat."
Paul Willis has joined East Fife on loan until January while Paul Burns has returned to Queen of the South, bringing to an end a Dunfermline career that lasted just 14 months.
Jefferies explained, "Paul Willis has had a bit of a stop-start season. We had a chat and I felt he should go somewhere to get a regular run of games.
"It is nothing to do with anything that happened recently. He was completely exonerated from that.
"He will only be out there until the first week in January. That way he's going to play regularly and then we will take him back as he is certainly a player we want to keep.
"Paul Burns is different. He came to see me as he didn't start the season in the team. He was coming all the way from Cumnock and you can understand him wanting to play regularly but we couldn't promise him that.
"We had an enquiry from Queen of the South and he goes away with our best wishes and is a great pro."
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