Managers Post Clyde
Saturday, 12th Apr 2008"We were going too long and too direct but we started to get the ball into wider areas and playing to feet."
Dunfermline Manager Jim McIntyre conceded that his team's first half was nowhere near good enough:-
"We were very poor in the first half and there were a few words at half time. We will not go into what was said but there were words said. We came out and showed a bit of resilience, getting the ball down and passing the ball. We were going too long and too direct but we started to get the ball into wider areas and playing to feet."
The turnaround started just four minutes into the second period when a penalty was awarded after Stevie Crawford was stopped in the box:-
"It was a great take on the run from Craw, the boy caught him and penalty kick. Stephen Glass stuck it away with aplomb."
Macca did not share the view of his Clyde counterpart, John Brown who described the penalty as a bit soft:-
"I was right behind him, it was a definite penalty."
The gaffer was unconcerned when the Referee Alan Muir twice consulted with his Assistant:-
"They were just having a wee chat."
When Jim turned in the winning goal the stadium announcer maybe should have consulted an assistant for he gave the goal to Stevie Crawford and quickly had to correct his statement:-
"I was looking for the bald bit on the back of my head. He was just having a laugh I think, obviously he had his eyes shut."
Now in fourth place in the First Division, Jim McIntyre felt that his objective of finishing as high as they could was nearing achievement:-
"Fourth, or maybe even fifth if things don't go well with Gretna although we are not hoping that happens, will put us in the upper regions of the Scottish for next season."
With only one defeat in the last ten matches, the Pars boss would not agree that the season is closing at the right time:-
"It has been a long season for everybody, we have underperformed, not done well. We have not done badly since I have been in charge, we have a good record but we need to start making this place (East End Park) more of a fortress by winning more games at home. We have drawn too many here but in general I have been very pleased with the progress we have made since I took over. we are now a far harder team to beat."
The Manager took time to reflect on his good friend Gordon Chisholm's success in dumping Jimmy Calderwood's Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup in an exciting seven goal Semi Final earlier in the day. He agreed that it showed the strength of teams in the First Division.
"There are good sides in the First Division. Like the First division in England anybody can beat anybody on their day. It is a tough league to get out of and that has been shown by the team that has come down has always struggled to get back out of it. Hibs were the last team to do it under McLeish eight years ago.
"I am delighted for Big Gordon Chisholm, my old boss. I am absolutely thrilled for him. We play them last game of the season but they will be looking to play their full team last game of the season because it will be a month before they actually take part in the cup final.
"We want to finish with a bit of confidence showing, as high up the table as you can to take it on to the next season."
Stevie Crawford goes down under challenge from Billy Gibson
Clyde Manager John Brown felt that the penalty decision typifies the situation when things don't go your way when you most need them to.
"It was a turning point and we were disappointed with the second goal. The fact that we lost that early goal in the second half gave Dunfermline something to go for. We felt that we never got many decisions going our way from the officials today."
The first goal was unsavoury from a Clyde viewpoint:-
"Marvin had a wild swipe and the two centre halves were caught but I can't criticise the boys for lack of effort. We scored a good goal in the first half and we thought we could maybe still get at Dunfermline.
"We went with three strikers because we want to win games. Maybe that went against us but we are in a position where we have to pick up points. I know the other results went our way today but I am disappointed especially with the penalty kick.
"If the penalty isn't given and we could have frustrated Dunfermline for another ten minutes it could have been a different ball game."
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