Stephen Kenny Post Aberdeen

Today we were not under as much pressure but just got punished.

"I thought we were doing alright in the first half.  It was a pretty even game, we started the better and threatened. Towards the end of the first half Aberdeen came more into it.  We had a problem defending set pieces where Aberdeen had a bit of a height advantage.  Apart from that I thought we were OK.

"I am not saying that we were free flowing; our retention and possession could have been better but we looked like we had a bit of trust about us. Scott Muirhead doing well on the left and Freddie Daquin looking like he could cause problems on the break when we had possession.

"We started he second half OK, there wasn't much in it, it was tight. But we were punished when we made mistakes.  We made a second one and we got punished again. It was good finish from Darren Mackie, you have to give cerdit to that. That's the way it goes.

"We didn't create enough clear cut chances.  Scott Muirhead had a great chance when he forced himself in early and then had a good chance from a corner kick straight after that.

"In fairness they defended really well, Russell Anderson was very good for them. He was composed and did some real clever defending.

"Teritorially we were doing OK; Muirhead and Morrison were influential to a point.  I didn't feel we were under any real pressure and I can't really fault our centre-backs because, when we were under real pressure last week against Dundee United, they were excellent and held firm. They held the whole thing together. Today we were not under as much pressure but just got punished.

"Aberdeen are flying high at the minute, they are second in the table and yet it didn't look like there was anything in the game at all.  Stability is what I'm looking for. We have to make sure we retain our SPL status.

"I would have ambitions far beyond that for this club after this season, but that the moment we have to make sure that we preserve our status as a Premier Division team and I'm sure we will do that. There is well over half the season left.

"I couldn't say to the players at the end of the game that any of them had played particularly badly. I am not saying that we were brilliant, but we played well enough and need to be a bit more creative in the final third. To state the obvious, lapses in concentratiion at the back have to be eliminated."

Asked if he would be hoping to make signings in the January transfer window, the Pars Manager said:-

"We have a good side in the treatment room so we shall see how they go. If we could get a few back we would be a lot stronger."