Stephen Kenny Post Stirling
Saturday, 27th Oct 2007"Am I doing a good job now at the moment? No, because we are fifth in the league and got well beaten in the last two games. I am obviously not doing well at the moment, there is no point in denying that.
Stephen Kenny talked to the press after the 3-0 defeat at Forthbank:-
"It was a poor result there is no getting away from that. I am disappointed. The situation is ridiculous really, when we score the first goal we go on and win the game but when we concede it we go on and lose it. It just shouldn't happen; it is a fundamental weakness.
"I felt Stirling got balls in behind us with the wind in the second half. It was the right thing to do from their point of view, they forced us back and we never cleared our lines. We were trying to intricately pass out from the back four, we isolated our front two and didn't give them enough service in the second half.
"The first goal was key; we conceded a goal from their kick out which is very poor. We have conceded eight goals in the previous nine games in the league and looked very solid defensively. Over the last two games it is just ridiculous really to concede eight. The second one, one of our defenders was in possession in his own box, gets dispossessed and they score. it was a terrible sin defending like that. You can't give goals away and expect to win."
Asked where you go from here, how do you sort that Stephen Kenny replied:-
"Well we take stock of that. It is a poor defeat and there is no point in making excuses for that. That is all I can say really at the moment."
The next question sought assurances that Stephen Kenny still felt that he was the man to turn things around for Dunfermline.
"I am not going to make rhetorical statements now, basically it is a bad day and we will reflect on that day. Personally I am very disappointed today with that result.
"There are three questions I suppose. Can I manage? Yes as I have managed three previous clubs and won trophies with all three of them. Can I manage in Scotland? Well we did well last season, winning five on the trot at the end of the season and beat the top teams to get to the Cup Final. Am I doing a good job now at the moment? No, because we are fifth in the league and got well beaten in the last two games. I am obviously not doing well at the moment, there is no point in denying that. That's been poor but I think we have to analyze that performance and not settle for that again because that was a disappointing performance to say the least.
"I would never criticise the support when you lose like that it is very disappointing and you can make a knee jerk statements but it is better to reflect on it and analyse it.
"I felt if we had got the first goal we were a different team and our body language would be different. Alright we had three teenagers in the team - Sean Murdoch is 20 but Calum, Nicky and Scott but that is no excuse. We are still good enough to go and win the game here today.
"It shouldn't be the case if we lose the first goal like that it decides the game. It shouldn't happen like that. The games we have won in the league and Challenge Cup we have scored the first goals, but every time we have lost in the league this season we have conceded the first goal. It is a recurring theme and one that is unacceptable."
Are you confident, if you are given the time to do it you can take the team back to the SPL?
"That is a question for during the week isn't it. For me to make a statement like that we are going to the SPL after getting beat there, it is not the right time for making statements like that. What I will say is that I am very disappointed with the result for the second week in a row.
"When we came out of Queen of the South a couple of weeks ago having won three games in a week with clean sheets, I couldn't for the life of me envisage that we would be hammered in the next two games. It didn't occur to me that could happen. It can always happen but it didn't look like that was going to happen.
"Obviously we have had two terrible results and that is not acceptable."
Is this the time for everyone at the club getting behind you and trying to put things right?
"I can't accuse anyone of not getting behind me. I can't complain about the supporters; a good crowd travelled today and were supportive. You have to accept criticism when your team is poor that is a fact of life."
The Manager was asked what prevented Paul Gallacher starting and he revealed an injury that might see the keeper out from two more matches:-
"Doing basic exercises on Wednesday he just popped his shoulder out, that happens and that ruled him out."
Views : 3,173