Managers Post Dundee

"I am really disappointed with the way the season has gone. You would have expected a lot better from us overall and I am ultimately responsible for it as Manager.

Stephen Kenny spoke to the press after the defeat by Dundee:-

"I am very disappointed to lose. It was a very very tight game and marginal really. Neither team created many opportunities in the game. Our best chance was in the first half when Mark Burchill's was cleared off the line, Paul Gallacher didn't really have a save to make of any note.

"We could have been more creative ourselves at times in the final third but Dundee were hard to break down. The two defeats that we have had in the last week - St Johnstone and today - are very very marginal. We hit the post a couple of times last week trying to equalise. Today there wasn't much in the game either way, midfield was congested and we weren't free flowing by any stretch of the imagination but there was an honesty about our work and a lot of commitment.

"There were a number of changes with people missing but fellows came in and acquitted themselves quite well. It was just the lapse of concentration for the goal that we conceded. Possibly Sturm looked offside but we have to accept the defeat."

Questioned about how he felt about his position, Stephen Kenny replied:-

"I think any team that loses gets booed off. At home you are disappointed to lose."

Have you given up any hope of promotion as Dunfermline are now 21 points behind the league leaders?

"We have given ourselves a mountain climb without a shadow of a doubt and rather than look that far ahead we have to look at third place, seven points ahead of us. We have got to try and win five games in December, seven games really between now and the 5th January. We have to look to try and win quite a few of them and get up the table.

"I am really disappointed with the way the season has gone. You would have expected a lot better from us overall and I am ultimately responsible for it as Manager. I take full responsibility but I continue to work hard to try to make it better and improve the situation.

"I am more concerned about getting it right on the pitch. We have to get it right sooner rather than later. It goes without saying that we have to start winning matches.

"Jamie (Harris) has come in for his first game and did well. Danny (Murphy) has come in the last couple of weeks, Sol played through the pain barrier today and did very well. We didn't really have a cutting edge about us, Dundee contained us.

"We got a lot of crosses into the box but the two centre backs dealt with the lot of them. We got headers on goal but they weren't clear headers, a bit difficult. Stephen Simmons had a good effort just before they scored. They had pressure in that period when they were getting throws, corner kicks and free kicks. We needed to see out that spell.

"They broke away after our shot on target, Stephen Simmons hitting that shot - they went up to the other end and scored. It was a bit disappointing."

Asked about intentions for the January transfer window, Stephen replied:-

"The main thing for me as a manager now is that I need to start winning games. Of course, I have my views on what I want but in order to fulfil that you have got to win games in the short term to maintain your credibility. That's what I will be aspiring to do."

Dundee Manager, Alex Rae said:-

"I was delighted with our second half performance, we battled very well in the first half but the second half performance was worthy of the points I think."

The Dundee gaffer was sent to the stand six minutes from the end:-

"I was banished again" he said but he was not for elaborating - "you will need to ask them."

Rae felt that his team were on the front foot and were the better passer of the ball.

"We were matching them in all areas in the first half and I just felt if we could step it up a little bit that would be enough to se us over the line. To be fair they did that brilliantly in the second half.

"I said before today that I felt Dunfermline will climb the table, they have so many good players - get a couple of wins and I'm sure they will."