Gary Mason Post Celtic

A couple of wins and you are right back - we are not getting too down beat about getting beaten by Celtic.

"It was night and day from last week. An extra week with the new training means that you can tell that we have been working on things on the training field; different methods.  There is a massive difference on the pitch as well. Everyone is more together and more of a unit.

"Last week we never clicked but against Celtic, we didn't create loads and loads of chances but with our shape we limited them. We looked strong all over the pitch and got close to people.  That was the one thing we have not been doing and in this position we have to do those kind of things."

Gary agreed that the team's physical strength and perseverance was in greater evidence against Celtic:-

"At the start of the game someone put in a challenge and then I went across and it snowballed from there. You have to do that against these teams or else they will dictate the game.  You cannot let guys of their calibre play."

The deep defensive midfield role that Gary was given was one that he enjoys:-

"You have a job to do and I try to do it to the best of my ability. I like playing in that role and try to go forward at times. The gaffer wanted me to play in that position against Celtic and I quite enjoy the responsibilities that you have there."

Coming back out at 0-0 to restart the second half Gary felt that his side were in with a chance:-

"It was not the start that you wanted.  To be fair I don't think Aiden has hit it that great, it maybe skidded off the surface. It was a soft goal on our part that gave them a lift.  We changed it a bit to go 4-4-2 but they got a second goal and by then it was damage limitation."

The test really comes in the next three fixtures against St Mirren, Inverness Caley Thistle and Motherwell:-

"These are massive games for us because of the position we are in now. A couple of wins and you are right back - we are not getting too down beat about getting beaten by Celtic. The games coming up are the most important games and we have to take what we achieved out of this game into the next one.

"We gave everything we have got against Celtic and not got anything out of the game. At the end of the day there was a massive difference shown from last week and that can only be good.  We have to continue that next week ."

The players Christmas Party to Liverpool has been cancelled and Gary was not surprised:-

"The way we have been playing I do not think that we deserve to be going anywhere just now.  The most important thing is getting points; if that's the way it has got to be, it has got to be."

Gary Mason was Dunfermline's Man of the Match v Celtic