Managers Post Celtic

02/01/12: JM - "We had a couple of wee half chances but Celtic were the better side and obviously with the goals coming at crucial times deflates you when you are trying to go forward.

MATCH PICTURES
It was Jim McIntyre's 150th league game in charge of the Pars but alas it was yet another home defeat. He commented after the game:-

"Anytime you lose a game it is a hard day. I don't think my goalkeeper had a save to make from open play in the first half but we found ourselves two goals down from a great finish from Stokes. There's not a lot you can do about that. It has come out to the edge of the box and he stuck it on the postage stamp but the other two goals from our point of view were preventable.

"We lost a man in the box and he got a free run at it. The third goal from the free kick the keeper should have saved, we are disappointed with that."

The Manager explained how Chris Smith claimed to have been deceived by Charlie Mulgrew's 79th minute free kick-

"He said it moved with a bit of swerve on it. The goals were from setpieces which is the most disappointing thing. We can certainly play better when we are in possession of the ball. We had a wee chance to score the third goal ourselves, with Burns, and that was a big moment as well. You need to take them against the Old Firm to give yourself a lift.

"I was pleased with their workrate, they never stopped at 3-0 down, they kept going. We had a couple of wee half chances but Celtic were the better side and obviously with the goals coming at crucial times deflates you when you are trying to go forward. The Burns chance was a big one as well."

Focus now switches on the Scottish Cup tie on Saturday away to Inverness Caley Thistle but Macca sees this as just one game in what will be a very important month:-

"January is a huge month in terms of who we play. Next is the cup game it is really important that we go up to Inverness and get a result. Then we have Hibs the following week; another crucial game and they just keep on coming in. It is a big month for us and it will go a long way to shape our season."

Celtic Manager Neil Lennon felt that Dunfermline made life difficult for his team:-

"You only need to look at some of the big results in the Premier League this weekend to see what can happen if you take your eye off the ball. Thankfully we got the job done today."

Charlie Mulgrew supplied the ball for the first two Celtic goals and scored the thid. His manager praised his contribution:-

"He is having a great time of it at the minute. I thought he had a great game on Wednesday; the ball for the second goal today was sublime and his free kick was a piece of individual brilliance. Good goals - we could have won it a bit more comfortably towards the end but I am very very happy with that performance today.

"Defensively we were good, the full backs played well and Samaras and Stokes in particular were very good going forward."