Manager Friday Lunchtime

13/02/09: "A repeat of last year's second away fixture when we beat them one nil would be fine. They are very tight games between the two teams, there is never much than the odd goal in it.

Jim McIntyre confirmed that he was fully expecting the match tomorrow against Partick Thistle on Saturday to be on since the Maryhill club have had their undersoil heating on this week.

"We're looking forward to it," he said "it's been stop-start the last few weeks. The previous game (at Firhill) was a fantastic game of football.I think we hit the post and bar three times, they had two or three cleared off the line, then they scored with the last kick of the ball basically, but with a great volley.

"It would be nice to make up for that, but we did that by winning our home game against them. A repeat of last year's second away fixture when we beat them one nil would be fine. They are very tight games between the two teams, there is never much than the odd goal in it.I don't expect it to be any different.

Macca acknowledged that Ian McCall has some good players in his team

"Buchanan is a very lively player, I like him, he's a good player and big Archibald, he's as solid as a rock, good player, good professional.  They have good experience throughout their team, boys who have been through the course.

"Injury wise we are pretty much the same, although Callum Woods is ruled out for tomorrow.  Jamie Mole is fit again but Harper and Glass are still not ready to play. We can't get them training on grass.

"Training has been disrupted for a few weeks due to the weather, I think we have only trained on grass twice in three weeks if you are lucky. We have the Astroturf, but every team faces similar problems, but it's not ideal.We play on grass so you want to train on grass.

"Nine out of ten other clubs will be in the same position, there are not many teams who have their own training grounds and state of the art facilities.I think it's probably only the Old Firm and Hibs, maybe Hearts as well.You just have to get on with it."

Nick Phinn has been training with the Scotland U21 squad this week and the Manager felt that it was fantastic for him to get called up:-

"It's a boost for the Club as well that one of our players has been picked for the U21's. It's not easy to get in to when you play in the First Division.Generally it's Premier league players who get into it.We have mentioned his name to Billy Stark a few times and he's been along to see him, and he said he was on the edges of the squad.

"He went up and gave a good account for himself, he scored a goal and set one up, I don't think you can do much more than that. By all accounts his goal was a 30yard screamer that lobbed the goalkeeper.

"I'm delighted for him, he deserves it.  There are not many midfielders with eight goals to their tally this year.He's a joy to work with, he listens and takes on board what you are trying to say to him.  He wants to improve and that is what you are looking for in a player."

Looking further ahead to the Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie United, Macca fears the game on Tuesday could be in doubt.

"It has to get milder, but Tuesday may come too soon for the game to go ahead."