Gimme five - Jeff plots fifth successive win
Graham Gibson • Published 21 Sep 2012 09:00
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JIM JEFFERIES is hoping to leave long-time comrade John 'Yogi' Hughes like a bear with a sore head when his Livingston team come calling this weekend.
The two men will put more than two decades of friendship to one side when they occupy opposite dugouts at East End Park on Saturday.
The Pars gaffer provided the launchpad for Hughes' playing career when he started his managerial career at Berwick Rangers way back in 1988.
Although the duo still share a round of golf, time has not dulled their competitive edge when it comes to crossing swords on the football pitch.
Jefferies told Press Sport, "John and I go way back. I brought him to Berwick, sold him to Swansea then brought him back to Falkirk and he was a hero there as a player and did a great job as a manager.
"It didn't work out with Hibs but I think he was unlucky there. They should have stuck with him and given him a bit more time.
"I have great admiration for a boy who came into the game late, in his 20s, and ended up getting a stab at playing for Celtic.
"He was a great captain and a great leader. That's what he tries to bring to his teams and he encourages them to play football as well."
The two managers have similar footballing philosophies and have put together young sides with a desire to play passing, attacking football.
"I watched Livingston at Falkirk and they deservedly won the game even though they left it late," Jefferies said.
"They showed character to come back and John Hughes (above) will always have his team passing the ball and fighting to the end.
"If we don't do the right things they are well capable of causing us a lot of problems so we will need to go about it in the same manner as the Raith game.
"We want to keep our momentum going after four wins on the trot. What's especially pleasing about winning is the way we're trying to play as well.
"We had some outstanding performers last week but we know football has a habit of kicking you in the teeth. We've just to hope that day is well away yet."
Andy Barrowman is hoping to recover from a virus that forced him out of last weekend's match while Joe Cardle was aiming to return to training on Thursday after also missing out due to injury.
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