Stephen Kenny on Monday

"It is not a bad distraction going to Hampden for a semi final. It is a good incentive for the players, ...people want to aspire to play at Hampden because it is that mythical place.

Manager Stephen Kenny took time on Monday to reflect on Saturday's win over Hibs as he starts making plans for Sunday's semi final:-

"It was a good performance at the weekend. We played some good football and it was quite an open game. Hibs are an excellent side themselves. It was an open game but I feel we had the better chances on the day. Dorus de Vries wasn't really extended on the day compared to Andrew McNeil who made a few good saves. It was a good game of football and good for us that we can get such a late winner because the late winners have been few.

"We had Kilmarnock and St Mirren where we should have won these games but ended up drawing them at home. It was good getting that finish."

Stephen preferred not to look at St Mirren's result against Rangers on Sunday:-

"It was all the more important regardless of what happened yesterday. We are in the situation where a couple of weeks we were nine (points) behind. I can speak and so forth, and speak to my players but it is easier said than done. I could have meetings or speak about the possibilities of recovering and retrieving the situation but the players in fairness have gone out and done it.

"They have done part of it. They have won two out of the three that has given us a chance. That is all that it gives us, we still have a lot to do; we are still four behind with five games left.

"Before we go to Paisley we still have to play Dundee United next who have scored eight in their previous two away games. We are in with a shout and that's what we wanted."

Attention now turns to the Scottish Cup but the Manager conceded that he wouldn't have minded having to play another league game:-

"It is not a bad distraction going to Hampden for a semi final. It is a good incentive for the players; the majority of the players are Scottish and have grown up in Scotland. When you have grown up here, people want to aspire to play at Hampden because it is that mythical place. It is unusual; in most countries you wouldn't have the semi final in the main international arena. It is good for us that is the case and we look forward to it."

Good fortune, regularly missing for the Pars in the SPL this season, appears to have blessed them in the Scottish Cup:-

"In fairness when we were 3-0 up against Rangers they had us on the rack when they made it 3-2 and they could have equalised. Barry Ferguson hit the bar at a crucial time. That would have seen us go to Ibrox for a replay and the impetus would have been with them.

"Against Hearts it was end to end, a great game and we won 1-0. I suppose we have had a bit of good fortune."

At this stage in the week speculation starts on the starting line up and although Scott Wilson returns from serving a two match suspension, Stephen Simmons is suspended and there is a list of injuries causing concern.

"Jim Hamilton is out following a knee operation, Tam McManus is cup tied and Stevie Crawford looks likely to miss the semi final with his back injury. Iain Williamson, another forward whom I like, has come through the ranks here, would definitely have been involved at the weekend with the other players missing. He played really well in the reserves last week against Hearts but twisted his ankle in that game. Those four forwards are missing; Stephen Glass is cup tied as well and Jim McIntyre did not train on Monday as his achilles was slightly sore after the weekend. He has played three games since a really serious neck injury but Stephen Kenny was sure he will be OK by the weekend.

"We don't have loads of attacking options right at the minute but we will still have a decent side."