Listen to this James McPake interview
“It was a tricky game on a really tricky pitch for both teams. I don’t think it would have been an enjoyable game to watch. First half when we got the ball down and played we looked better. Chris Hamilton was excellent in the first half and tired a wee bit towards the end which is expected.
“They are a team that is fighting for their lives and so were we. Let’s be honest about it, we can still be caught as well so there is that edginess about it. I think their goalkeeper today, Callum Ferrie I know him very well because I had him at Dundee, made three or four spectacular saves in the game. He was excellent and that’s why he is in the (SPFL Championship) Team of the Year. You maybe look at that where that team is in the league and say how can their goalkeeper win that but there are games that Callum will have kept them in, there are games where Callum will have won them, and games where he has kept the score down. If it wasn’t for him today!
“Den (Mehmet) had a great save from McKinstry in the second half, other than that I don’t think they threatened too much. But the edginess was there, we know that but it could be an important point.
“On the pitch – the groundsman here work extremely hard, genuinely they are brilliant but with the weather and just the problems that we have had with it, it made today’s game tough but that was for both teams.”
Did you think you had won it at the end when Chris Kane headed at goal?
“Kayno is in there devastated. It is one of those ones probably where if there was somebody challenging it would have been easier. I know that sounds daft but you have reference to lean into and he is walking off apologising. He doesn’t need to apologise to anybody for anything at this football club. Since he has come in he has been outstanding, the way he holds the ball up, the way he brings others into play and the chances that he is getting. He is in the area, Callum has a great save with the turn and spin from Kayno in the first half as well. He is getting chances and I genuinely don’t mind that. It is good that he is hurting but he is experienced, he will pick himself up and knowing Kayno he will be back on the scoresheet next week.”
Is that one point good in terms of your league status?
“No, until it is mathematically impossible to be caught then we have to think that way. It is disappointing again with the score at Maryhill (4-0), if we had got the win today with the goal difference we are looking at a different thing again. We have two very important games and another team in Inverness coming down here that will be desperate for three points next week.
“Let’s be honest, we are all desperate for three points but when you are within arms length of that play-off position you become that wee bit more desperate. We need to be ready for that next week. It could end up being an important point particularly on the back of how disappointed we were last week.
“It is not easy, we took a lot of criticism and deservedly so for our performance at Airdrie last week so for the players to show that character to go out on a tricky pitch at home when it got a bit edgy which is what we expect. It wasn’t too long ago that we were having great days here. This time last season everybody was buzzing but that’s football. We know that happens and we appreciate that everyone is edgy, we were edgy as well but it could be an important point.”
Queens were unhappy that Chris Hamilton only saw yellow for what they thought was a last man tackle. What was your view on it?
“I thought the cover was there. I haven’t seen it back but what I will say is I thought we should have had a penalty for the boy’s challenge on Malachi Fagan-Walcott. I have seen that back. To be fair I saw it back live. I went to the monitor that we had, it is a hard one for the ref to call but I don’t think the Queens player takes the ball at all and his shoulder hits off of Mal.
“I don’t know the exact rule for the last man but if I’m aware that there was cover there and then again is he in control of the ball? I don’t think he was.”
Match Report: 20/04/24 – Dunfermline 0 Queen’s Park 0
