Managers Post Stirling

Stephen Kenny and Allan Moore

Stephen Kenny gave his impressions after his side's first win in the SFL:-

"I am pleased but more by the manner of it. First half you could see our confidence was a little affected by the start we have had. Confidence can be a huge thing, it is not a lack of effort or a lack of determination. Because we had lost our first game there is a little bit of pressure on, lost a second one with men sent off for professional fouls it can affect your confidence.

"We didn't play well in the first half but I thought we played really well in the second half, at a higher temp and got a lot of crosses in and looked very very dangerous. Then all of a sudden their first attempt at goal in the second half, for a tug of the jersey the fellow has gone down.

"It was a group of players and the sending off looks a harsh one. It happens quite a bit in matches but you don't see sending off and penalties given. Third professional foul and third sending off without committing a bad tackle yet.

"There is no point in complaining, you have to take what's thrown at you and try and be resolute. The manner of the victory, to come back with ten men - going with three at the back and saying right we are good enough to beat you with ten and we did. We deserved it in the end and the quality of the second goal was tremendous. Darren Young making a break up the left and a brilliant header from Kevin (Harper).

"You know it is an important win because confidence wasn't at a high and then going down. The penalty conceded was a real kick in the teeth, so for us to go and win the game showed a fair degree of spirit and a lot of resilience.

"Forget about Thursday, it was just important full stop. It was important to get a win because we hadn't won and the manner of it was will lift our players a fair bit.

"We knew we had to do a lot better in the second half. Play was a little bit lethargic and slow, we just needed to play with greater vigour, greater penetration. The first half did not reflect the way I wanted the team to play but we did it in the second half. That is more like it.

"Wide players are influential, our front players are influential and our midfield was much better. I expect more of that now."

Paul Gallacher's left handed save kept Dunfermline in the match just before Kevin Harper scored the winner. The Manager conceded that his style with ten men, playing just three at the back was always going to make his team vulnerable:-

"You have to say "Right we are taking a risk here, you have to accept that but I think in fairness to Stirling who missed a great chance in the first half, overall in the second half we dominated but just could get that second goal. then to concede a penalty like that was deja vu. If you look at the record books since professional fouls have been introduced I don't think you will get three matches consecutively where there is a sending off and penalties conceded.

Scott Morrison leaves the field after seeing Stephen Finnie's red card

"There was not any one of the three that you'd say was clear cut and you'd say 'without a shadow of a doubt'. It was in a tight area and I wouldn't say that we would win an appeal against the card. It could be argued that it could be given but you have seen a lot of that stuff in the box in matches and you don't see penalties given.

"We lost the first game and it hit players a little bit. Morton came here with ten men behind the ball and got a goal, they frustrated us and it affected our confidence because we had been flying in pre season. We still have to work hard because the next two games are tough games against St Johnstone and Dundee.

"I was delighted with the response from the players in the second half. They showed that they are made of the right stuff. I am not getting carried away but they reacted under pressure, they reacted the right way and that is a sign of good players."

Stephen Kenny is under the impression that Paul Gallacher is eligible to play in Thursday night's UEFA Cup tie in Gothenburg:-

"I think we were entitled to sign a keeper. He didn't have loads to do but he just looked very assured. When you are under pressure you just want a calming influence and good decision making. He exuded that and looked comfortable.

"You certainly feel better going out to Sweden. Players will feel better about themselves not that the cloud has been lifted a little, without going over the top because they still have to work hard. You get nothing without hard work. When you lose everything gets questioned. You question yourself, you question everything so you have to continue to work hard and to be the best you can be."

Stirling Albion boss, Allan Moore was disappointed after seeing is tea come back into the game:-

"We weathered the storm in the first ten to fifteen minutes of the second half but lost a bad goal. We spoke to the boys at half time if they get a free kick do not turn your back on it. That is just exactly what we did and in this division against quality players it punishes you. The ball went wide, they got a little bit of luck with the deflection on the cross but they shouldn't have been going there in the first place.

"The game as against St Johnstone, we could have collapsed because we were under pressure for twenty minutes of the second half but we came back. I felt we went a bit gun ho.

"The game was ruined today for both teams because of the stoppages. There wasn't much flowing. In the first half we should have been 2-0 up with the two best chances of the game. If you put them away in this division then Dunfermline weren't coming back because their fans were giving them a bit of stick. They were under a bit of pressure but they went up and scored a goal out of nothing and put us under pressure.

"We did well to come back into it and I am sick that we lost a goal near the end."

Stirling were given the advantage with Stephen Finnie's decision to award a penalty and send off Scott Morrison in 73 minutes for his challenge on Steven Bell.

"Stevie Bell said that he was going to put it in but the boy gave him a wee nudge in the back. Whether it is sending off or not, I don't know I suppose it is the rules. It didn't surprise me that he sent the boy off, I am not going to say any more because I will get myself into trouble. It is frustrating because I felt the game got stopped far too often."