Managers post St Mirren

26/01/18: Link to audio of both managers post match comments

The manager was firstly asked for his opinion on the hand ball decision to give the free kick that led to what proved to be the winnng goal.

"I have not had the chance to see it again. Obviously I have seen the free kick which is bad enough, it is a poor goal from our point of view. You cannot allow people free in the box like that, it was really poor especially after getting ourselves back in the game.

"I thought our second half performance was more like us, we were on the front foot, we caused them problems and had them penned in their own half so it was disappointing to concede in such a manner."

The manager felt that with Nicky Clark`s 48th minute equaliser that the momentum swung in his team`s favour but knows that you cannot afford to lose poor goals like Jack Baird`s 64th moniute winner.

"I have not seen the free kick decision in the lead up to the second goal and there were a couple of penalty decisions as well. There was one first half (after a couple of minutes) on Declan McManus and there was one in the second half as well that I thought could easily have been given."

Asked how Dean Shiels was AJ said that he had not seen him after the game:-

"It was just a knock he took and I think he was struggling a wee bit, hopefully everything is okay. Michael Paton hurt his groin so we will just have to assess him in the morning to see how long he is going to be out.

"Second half was more like us. We mixed up our game and went a bit more direct sometimes. I thought big Jean caused them all sorts of problems he was winning everything and we looked as though we were going get the next goal."

Fraser Aird replaced Kallum Higginbotham just before the St Mirren winner and he injected the urgency required. The manager felt that his team lacked energy in the first half:-

"We had that in the second half. We got James on, Aird`s came on and we started to get a bit of energy and pace about the team and I thought we caused them problems."

A second goal might have come Dunfermline`s way had it not been for two rather special Jack Baird blocks.

"We have to play like that week in week out, second half was more like us but we cannot afford to start games the way we started the first half."

With Saturday off was the manager watching next week`s opponents Morton take on Dundee United at Tannadice or was he watching potential signings?

"I will be going to a game. We are still hoping to strengthen. You can see that we are a bit short in certain areas, so hopefully we can get that done before the transfer window shuts."

Two players by Wednesday?

"Tough ask!"

Related Stories

• Dunfermline 1 St Mirren 2
• Preview St Mirren
• Preventing the Saints going marching on
• Dunfermline 1 Morton 2