Managers Post Dundee

Stephen Kenny and Alex Rae talk about the 1-1 draw.

Stephen Kenny felt that his side dominated the first 25 minutes and played really well until they conceded the equaliser:-

"Dundee's goal just came out of nothing, it was a shot from way out that just clipped Aaron Labonte.  It went into the far corner and then Dundee just picked it up a bit.

"The second half was end to end; it was similar that we had a lot earlier on in the half and Bobby Ryan hit the bar which was very unlucky.  We had a few chances but then they got the penalty - our fourth penalty conceded in the six league games.  It was a clip, unintentional from Calum (Woods) but I can see why the referee gave it alright.

"I thought the referee refereed it really well today in fact.  You can definitely see the difference in the standard when top referees drop down from the Premier.It was a very open game.

"It was a tough one for us.We are backed into a corner a little bit.  We are not paranoid and feeling sorry for ourselves but we have lost a few players through injury, coming off in games frequently.

"It was important to have the strength in depth that we had today with the likes of Aaron Labonte coming in for his first league game, Bobby Ryan, Calum Woods - they wouldn't be amongst our better known players but they all had fine games.

"We are disappointed to only draw the game but having said that it was probably the best game that I have seen in the First Division this season.  It was end to end and there was a fair tempo to it. Both teams looked threatening.  Dundee are a good side."

Was the first 25 minutes Dunfermline's best performance of the season so far?

"I don't know.We haven't been that bad really overall but there is no point in making excuses, you have to turn your territorial advantage into points.

"That was two teams having a go at each other whereas some of the games we have played were waves of attack against a blanket defence. That was a different type of game, Dundee were attacking and we were attacking."

The Manager revealed what had kept both Scott Wilson and Kevin Harper out of the Dundee game:-

"Scott tweaked a thigh on Thursday and Kevin had a calf problem.Within two weeks we should have about five back and then we will be a bit stronger but nevertheless the players who came in today did well.  They didn't do themselves any harm; that is what we need - a bit of competition."

Was a point from Dens Park a good point?

"We need to win rather than draw games.  We will find out at the end of the season how significant it was.  It is difficult to say at the moment."

Dundee Manager Alex Rae complimented Dunfermline in his post match comments:-

"For the first 20 minutes they passed us to death.We couldn't get near them but we managed to get a bit of a foothold with the midfielders closer to there's.I was quite pleased with the second part of the first half.

"The second half was like two good teams cancelling each other out.When we got the penalty I thought that we were going to do it.

"We are undefeated and that is important.I said during the week that Dunfermline are a good team.  I saw them in pre season and a two or three times in the league and I have not changed my mind.  They have guys who have played in the Premier for years and that was evident in the first twenty, twenty five minutes when they popped the ball about really well."