Reflections on Sunday

28/04/09: "When we got into areas we just didn't commit the

Jim McIntyre has had time to reflect on Sunday's Semi Final exit and he spoke about it in an exclusive interview with the website following the Reserve match at Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night:-

"I still think the better team won on the day, I am not going to say that they weren't. Congratulations to Falkirk but if we had played another 10 to 15 per cent better then there was an opportunity there to get a result. Two or three players just never performed to their capabilities."

It was the same side that had success at Pittodrie in the Quarter Final and if the Semi Final was coming up next Sunday the gaffer maintained that he would have gone with the same shape.

"I would still go 4-2-3-1. It worked at Aberdeen; we made more chances at Aberdeen than they did playing a 4-4-2 and had more on and off target attempts at goal. The fact that Falkirk played 4-3-3, and 4-4-2 at times, doesn't matter because if your players don't play well, they don't play well no matter what system you play."

The Pars Manager spent much of the first half in the technical area at the side of the Hampden surface continually waving at his team:-

"I wasn't happy, I just felt that when we got into areas we just didn't commit their back line. I thought their back line was an area where we could get a bit of joy. We had Mole's pace and strength on one side and Bell's height on the other. There was a couple of times that they got to face up their defender and then slowed the play down, came inside and have not taken the onus to go and create. That was a big disappointment for me.

"I gave them a five to ten minute rocket at half time to say 'come on, this needs to be better - the game is here to be won. I always felt that whoever scored the first goal was going to win the game."

Falkirk got that in 54th minute when a catalogue of errors all contributed to the fate. Scott Thomson was struggling with painful ribs and that probably allowed Scobbie in to score:-

"At the end of the day he dropped his runner and it was poor marking that has cost us but before that Jamie Mole never reacted to a ball played to him. He was caught on his heels, then the ball came back. It went to Austin McCann's area and he dived into a tackle that he didn't need to dive into. Then Gall could possibly have done better as well. It was a four pronged mistake and a terrible goal to give away."

Jim McIntyre was forced to put on Greg Ross in place of the injured Thomson but he felt that back four with Woods moving into the centre worked well until the last minute.

"Obviously Greg gave away the penalty, he has not been aware where McCann is and he has swung his leg at it. A ricochet broke across him and he didn't see McCann. McCann is clever and put his leg across but it was a stonewall penalty.

"Our best chances - Graham Bayne had a better chance than I thought at the time. Alex Burke miscued his shot and any touch on that would have been a goal because the keeper was going the other way. Rory Loy had a really good chance but just got too much on it. It wasn't enough on the day and that is the real disappointment."

The Manager felt that his substitutions - Kirk in 63 and Loy in 71 - were introduced at the appropriate times.

"I put Kirky on to give him half an hour and went 4-4-2. We had a go at it; it just wasn't to be. I put Rory to try and have a go with three up front. He could have scored to make it 1-1; he had a chance. If it goes in, that changes the game.

"On reflection we just never did enough to get ourselves into a final."

Jim McIntyre and his management team watched the Reserves defeat Cowdenbeath 4-1 at Central Park on Tuesday night. It was a mixture of youth and experience that over ran the West Fife neighbours. Macca commented:-

"I saw a good attitude from my senior players, they passed the ball really well in the first half and scored some good goals. They got plenty crosses into the box which is pleasing. Second half wasn't quite as good because when we passed it sharp and crisp they couldn't get near us in the first half. It was really two touch stuff which is the way I want to play. The full backs were getting up in support; I thought Greg Ross was excellent tonight. He put in a power of good crosses and work with clever balls. Scott McBride did as well as he has in a wee while. Andy Kirk worked his backside off without any great service to him. David Graham had some lovely turns as well.

"I don't think the younger players are ready at the moment but there has definitely been progress over the season from them. Are they ready to play first team? I am not so sure. Lee Graham is not ready for the first team but he has improved; Harry McGregor has improved but he is not ready for first team either. Out of them Paul Willis has been stop start, done well at times but I don't think he is ready to play week in week out."