Alex Burke Post Stirling

"The boys are looking strong and I know it is still pre season but we have to take the good stuff that we have done pre season into the real stuff."

Alex Burke said that three goals in the opening fixture was a good start. He led by example of course opening the scoring in under four minutes.

"We created a few chances and kept a clean sheet so it was a good day and good start to the season for us. It was good to get a goal and obviously the Manager is wanting plenty of support from midfield; I got a goal and Nicky Phinn got a goal as well. I am just delighted to be off the mark."

The opposition at Firhill next Saturday on the opening day of the SFL season might be a bit different; how did Alex rate the team's chances of grabbing the promotion spot?

"I don't know how other teams are faring we have just got to look after ourselves. We have had a good pre season and played a few Premier League teams but it is hard to judge in pre season. Our aim is to get out there; we are going for promotion - that is our aim. We will be going into our next game to try and win it.

"Pre season has gone really well. We worked really hard before we went off to Austria and we got a couple of games against good foreign teams. We came back and played against three Premier League teams when we came back. They have been good games against Dundee United and Hearts and against Hamilton closed doors and we have put up a good show.

"The boys are looking strong and I know it is still pre season but we have to take the good stuff that we have done pre season into the real stuff."

Alex agreed that the cup draw against Second Division Stirling Albion was a potential 'banana skin':-

"Especially in a cup tie when you get a game against a team from a lower league it is a no win situation. If you win it is expected, if you get beat it is a big shock so I thought we did well today - we got a couple of goals and created chances. We are just happy to go through and that just builds confidence going into the league campaign next week."

Having being switched from a wide left role to a more central midfield role Alex is quite happy to be playing alongside Stephen Glass and Nick Phinn:-

"I have really enjoyed it in there and hopefully I can keep playing in there. If I keep playing well and trying to score goals I will stay in there."