Bobby Ryan Post Cup Final

"A win in the league next week is more important. The heads dropped when we lost 4-0 to Livingston but that didn't happen on Sunday; we showed a lot more character

Bobby Ryan is always disappointed to lose any game but to lose a final was especially so. He reflected after the Challenge Cup Final defeat at the hands of St Johnstone:-

"We created a lot more chances when we went 3-5-2 but we always had to create chances after going 3-0 down. It is hard to put your finger on how we went three down. We played well against St Johnstone in the previous league games but they started well and took their chances.

"We played decent enough after the first twenty minutes but we gave away three goals and to win the game after that was hard. We nearly did it but we just have to kick on from this.

"I am starting to get a bit fitter myself and hopefully that makes me play better and helps the team more. I can't say I enjoyed it because we have been beaten."

The 28 year-old from Limerick created a fair few of the chances that came the Pars way. A cut back from the right byeline for Stephen Simmons was saved by Saints keeper Alan Main but the Irishman takes heart from that:-

"You get a boost yourself from creating chances especially if they take the chances but we didn't and we just have to keep plugging away."

It was just the little bits of luck that were missing from Dunfermline's Cup final. Darren Young hit the post just before half time and there was a good penalty claim denied.

"I cut it back to Darren and if that had gone in that was 3-2 and they would be panicking a bit more. They came out in the second half and nearly got another one. We would have been dead and buried had that gone in but it didn't.

"We plugged away and Burchy had a header that he said hit the defender's hand. If that had gone in it was 3-3; their left back hit one off his own bar.

"A win in the league next week is more important. The heads dropped when we lost 4-0 to Livingston but that didn't happen on Sunday; we showed a lot more character and put in a good performance albeit the first twenty minutes weren't the best."

Bobby Ryan and his team mates have to take positives out of the defeat. They did score two goals after a four game drought and they move on into the game against Dundee on Saturday searching for the badly needed three points.

The morning papers on Challenge Cup Final day quoted Stephen Kenny suggesting disharmony in the dressing room and the club requiring a 'shake up'. Bobby put his interpretation on the remarks:-

"Results make a massive difference, when you come in on a Saturday with a win the dressing room is bouncing. When you are losing heads drop, mine included, I was part of the eleven that lost 4-0 to Livingston and 3-0 at Stirling. It is hard to take because we were favourites to win this league but we have left ourselves with a mountain to climb. Football is strange and it is a hard league; everyone can beat everyone but you never know."