Kevin Harper Post Stirling

"The Manager has told me to get in the box a little bit more. I took that on board and thankfully they fell to me today."

Kevin Harper scored more goals in the Stirling match than Dunfermline had managed against any opponent in this season's SFL. Naturally he was pleased to have been handed the match ball as a keepsake as he stood talking to the press after the match:-

"I am delighted for myself but more important was the way we approached the game from start to finish. We were a bit disappointed with some of the decisions that went against us but it showed the character in the dressing room to come back against some of the decisions we got against us."

At half time Jim McIntyre had told his team that it was a difficult situation:-

"He just said we started really well, just keep it going. We are disappointed with the goals that we lost and the Manager put us straight about a few things and I think we went out and did better second half.

"The Manager has told me to get in the box a little bit more. I took that on board and thankfully they fell to me today."

His first hattrick since playing at under 21 level turned him into a fans hero, at least for the night. Asked about the manager's reference to a section of the fans giving him a hard time Kevin said:-

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion, that doesn't bother me. I have been up and down the country, you get booed at different places by different fans but that is not an issue for me. If the Manager picks me obviously I am doing well; that's the most important thing for me."

Kevin was not willing to be sorry for Stirling Albion who now lie ten points behind Morton and Livingston:-

"It is a difficult situation. It is not just one game, it is over the course of the season. I believe that they are part time and it is difficult when you are part time. You are coming up into this division where there are a lot of good teams - it is a strong league. At the end of the day I know Allan Moore, I know the way he wants to play. He is a good lad and I am sure that they will bounce back."

The match ball?

"It will go beside the others - in the garage!"