Managers Post QOS

"We never took the chances at crucial times and gave away two terrible goals. Two individual mistakes and it has killed us."

Jim McIntyre was not at all pleased and his post match comments were sharp:-

"It is very disappointing."

Reacting to the suggestion that every time the league leaders St Johnstone drop points Dunfermline fail to capitalise on it, the Manager replied:-

"We shouldn't be worried about St Johnstone, we have got to be worried about winning games at home. We made enough chances to score, we never took them and gave away two sloppy goals. If you put the two of these together you're not going to win."

Asked if he would divulge what he had said to his players the Manager replied "that's between me and the players."

Next he was asked if the team had missed Kevin Harper and Stephen Glass today, Macca agreed:-

"They are key players for us but we still have enough in the squad to go on and put on a performance. We never took the chances at crucial times and gave away two terrible goals. Two individual mistakes and it has killed us.

"The reaction after the second goal was just not acceptable. Too many people went into their shells."

The Manager explained the change after half time with Steven Bell going wide right and Nick Phinn being deployed in the centre of midfield:-

"We just wanted to get more penetration from the middle of the park because we felt Queen of the South were playing a high line. We wanted to get some midfield runners beyond their back four. Also Bell is strong in the air so the diagonal ball on to him was on for knock downs. That was the thinking."

David Graham in action v QOS

The substitution of Andy Kirk for David Graham was an indication that the Manager wanted his team just to go for it:-

"David has not played regular football so I thought he was tiring a wee bit. He started the game well enough but faded. We were just chasing the game trying to get a goal back.

Rory Loy had two first half chances saved by Lee Robinson

"Goals change games, it's as simple as that. If we go and take our chances - we had a great chance in the six yard box - if you take that it maybe puts them on the back foot but when they score they get a lift from that. You could see that.

"Second half we came out and started well again, creating a couple of chances. Graeme Holmes is adamant that it was a stonewall penalty which led to their second goal but the bottom line is - it was an individual mistake from us for the second goal. The reaction after that with the players going into their shells was nowhere near good enough in terms of the reaction there."

Queen of the South Manager, Gordon Chisholm was on a high after ending his twelve match sequence without a win.

"I thought Dobbie was outstanding today.  Just everything he did; the strike he had capped his game.  To be honest with you I thought we deserved it. We played some really good stuff and I have been saying for weeks that it has been on the cards.

"I have felt that since the turn of the year we have just not carried any luck at all.  Today the boys were really determined to get a result; the attitude was absolutely first class and we played some good stuff as well.

"We had to build on last week.  I thought we should have beaten Thistle, then today to come away from here - Dunfermline sitting second top of the league - it was never going to be an easy game.  I have said it along that if we get a fully fit squad we will compete with anybody in the league."