Managers post Motherwell

Post match comments from goalscorer Iain Campbell, Craig Robertson and Terry Butcher

Dunfermline`s win at Motherwell was the first there since August 2000 but after going behind to a seventh minute wonder goal from Jim Paterson, a first ever goal from Iain Campbell started a remarkable recovery.

Back in the team for his first start after being dropped for the CIS Insurance Cup Semi Final after the mix up over a suspension that he should never have been served, Iain was delighted to have got the Pars back on track:-

"We are guaranteed safety, it was a great result although in the end it was backs to the wall. It is three points, that is brilliant and it was my first goal. Bartosz (Tarachulski) picked me out at the back post, it was a great ball. I was going to take a touch but then chose just to smash it. I caught it really well and it went into the bottom corner."

The 21st minute goal may have surprised keeper Graeme Smith, three days after his first call up to the Scottish international squad, but the goal surprised Iain too because had no celebration prepared:-

"I didn`t know what to do, I just ran away and celebrated. I saw someone in the crowd that I knew. I waved to him and I was really happy and delighted with it.

"Luckily we got the goal and came back into the game. We have gone one down quite a lot this season so it was nice to come back. We did really well in the first half to come in 2-1 up at half time."

Dunfermline`s second came from the penalty spot and it was Mark Burchill who having been brought down, stood up and struck the penalty low to Smith`s bottom left corner.

Pars First Team Coach Craig Robertson was pleased to get his side in with a 2-1 lead at the interval:-

"You always fear the worst because we didn`t start the game properly. The goal woke us up and as soon as they scored the goal we started playing."

That continued into the second half with a goal in just five minutes. Tarachulski carved his way through the left side of the `Well defence, playing a nice one two off Burchill. The Polish striker cut back the ball for Burchill to deflect towards goal and the ball slipped in at the far post.

Scott McDonald`s introduction from the subs bench took only 10 minutes to make the difference. Motherwell struck back with a Stephen Craigan goal in 65 minutes. A corner taken on the left down in front of the 400 or so travelling fans, ended up with McDonald cutting the ball back from the right byeline and the Northern Ireland defender gave Allan McGregor no hope of stopping his shot from 15 yards.

Pulling off world class saves from McDonald, McLean and Paterson, Allan McGregor earned his corn and the Fifers the three points after that.

Craig Robertson picked out the difference in this match that has been missing for Dunfermline this season:-

"Today we got goals that we haven`t been getting. We got a wonderful goal from Iain Campbell today. We have had loads of penalty claims and we got one. We got a scrappy goal and we have not been getting them. A wee bit of luck but the boys have worked really hard all season to get the luck.

"We were here for the second game of the season, the boys played really well and we lost to a last minute goal that was a mis-kick. Maybe we got a bit of payback today."

Fresh from the great result over Livingston the previous Saturday Craig agreed that Dunfermline were a different team when their relegation worries are extinguished:-

"They relaxed but there has been a lot of pressure on the team this year. Because of the injuries we have not had a settled side, it has even upset training. They deserve all the credit that probably you guys won`t give them" he told the post match press conference.

Launching an attack that had obviously been bottled up in the dressing room Craig continued:-
"Some of the press have been out of order with the team this year. I am not saying you, but some of the press have been out of order with the criticism. Unfair and unjust criticism from certain quarters has galvanised the club together over the last couple of months. The press don`t win games for you but they can help."

Asked what he felt was unjust or unfair criticism Craig replied:-

"That is for the dressing room wall, not for public knowledge. When I talk about press I am talking about guys who never see the club playing. They only see them playing the Old Firm. I am not talking about the people who are here week in week out. I am talking about some press men who have been out of order."

With off his chest he was wiling to acknowledge that Motherwell supreme effort in the last quarter had made viewing from the dug out apprehensive:-

"You have to give credit to Motherwell. Motherwell threw four up and started playing it back to front. We had four players out on that park today who really shouldn`t have been playing through injury so we are delighted with the result."

Motherwell manager Terry Butcher was equally forthright with his comments, he was far from happy with his side:-

"A game played is never meaningless. If you are selected to play, you play to the best of your ability, you give everything - passion, heart, commitment etc. If you don`t do that, the evidence was there today.

"It just reinforces what I think of some of the players. There will be changes on Wednesday. A lot of young players will get opportunities because they have waited, bided their time and other players have certainly played themselves out of the team. Perhaps out of the club.
"I want players who want to play for Motherwell Football Club and if they don`t want to then they can push off. That was not acceptable to me, whether it be the end of season, a pre-season friendly game or the first game of the season."

At least in Iain Campbell Dunfermline have a player who desperately wants to continue playing for his club, he concluded by saying:

"It has been disappointing being out of the team but I just have to bide my time. Scotty Muirhead got injured during the week, unlucky for him but I just tried to do my best and not let the boys down when I got on there. I was happy with my performance."

After Scott Thomson picked up an Achilles injury that caused his substitution with twenty minutes to play, the 20 year-old son of Partick Thistle Manager Dick Campbell, hopes to keep his place for Tuesday night`s visit to Tannadice and the encounter with old pal Craig Brewster:-

"Many of the guys still talk to him. He helped me a lot when he was at Dunfermline, we have a lot of respect for him and it will be a really tough game but we want to finish above Falkirk and United if possible."