Managers Post St Johnstone

16/08/08: "When you have got a small squad it is about keeping the key players fit."

MATCH PICTURES

"Excellent from start to finish", Dunferrmline boss Jim McIntyre considered his team's performance at McDiarmid Park.

"We didn't allow them any time to settle and we spoke about how they have good footballers, they are a big threat up front and we had to go and confront that. When we got the ball we got it down and played some great stuff. We were worthy winners."

Macca dismissed suggestions that the result could dent St Johnstone's ratings as potential league champions:-

"I think they will still be favourites; they are a good side make no mistake about that. We just played well today and scored at the right times. It is really pleasing that we have come here and won the game.

"You want the victories. We have had a tough start with Partick Thistle away, Queen of the South at home and then St Johnstone but if we can manage to keep our key players fit then I'm sure we will win more than we lose. When you have got a small squad it is about keeping the key players fit."

One of those fast fixing his classification as "key" is Nick Phinn:-

"He has great energy Nicky. He gets up and down the park and he has got an eye for goal. We have been working a lot with him on the timing of his runs into the box so that's paying dividends."

The gaffer was also pleased to see Graham Bayne score his first Pars goal in competition and confirmed just how important a signing he believed he was for Dunfermline Athletic. Speaking from personal experience he said:-

"It is always good for a striker to score. As I said last week, never underestimate the job he does for us. He is well appreciated in that dressing room but what a volley he scored with. It was a fantastic finish and that's just what Graham deserves for his efforts.

Kevin Harper suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that shortened his game last Saturday as well.

"We didn't want to take any chances when he felt it again. He only trained on Friday so we knew we were taking a slight chance with it but we were prepared to do that because Kevin said he wanted to play and give it a go. We did that but it didn't work out but hey, Iain Williamson came on and did excellently. He scored the all important first goal for us."

The size of the squad obviously troubles Jim McIntyre who admitted that it wasn't big enough:-

"By the law of averages you are going to get a few out. I have Graeme Holmes going for an operation on Thursday and he will be out for three months following that back operation. I have Steven Bell who has not kicked a ball for us yet. That's just football; it happened to me when I first came here. I was out for nine months with a neck injury. These are things at every club and every manager will bleat on about. If we make any more signings it will probably be loan signings."

Derek McInnes felt that Dunfermline dominated the first twenty minutes of the game:-

"Credit to them, they looked hungrier, first to the ball and they got a confidence from that. I felt they played well. Very few teams come here and dominate proceedings like that. They kept us in our own half.

"I felt we didn't do enough to go and compete better than we did. It was a disappointing result but Dunfermline looked a good side today and were worthy winners.

"I am not going to criticise individuals but very few can be happy with their performance. Very rare have we been as poor as that.

"The players know that against a good team like Dunfermline they punish you - that's what happened today. We looked punchless at times and certainly didn't look as hungry as them. We are not going to win every game; we are going to lose games throughout the season but there are certain ways of losing.

"Disappointing but it is one Saturday in a long season ahead. We will come in Monday, pick the bones out of that and try and make sure we are ready for next week."