Bayne aims for the top

SPL ready but first win promotion

It was a measure of just how close Dunfermline came to taking Dundee United to extra time on Tuesday night that striker Graham Bayne was bitterly disappointed:-

"We have proved that we are more than capable of competing but the disappointment is a bit overwhelming especially in a cup competition. The bottom line is that we are out of the competition.

"We felt we played well but it is small consolation that your are out. We can re-assess that when we are back in on Thursday, take the positives out the game and move on from there."

Andy Kirk had hit the post, Nick Phinn had made Zaluska pull off a fine save, numerous corners had exerted pressure on the SPL team and Stephen Glass's last gasp volley all demonstrated just how close they had come. Graham had a fine strike well saved by Zaluska just 15 minutes from the end and he felt that the keeper knew very little about it:-

"It caught his feet, I suppose you could say that it is a good reflex save but it was not in the back of the net. The ball came over from Austin McCann, Kevin (Harper) has reacted great firing a good ball back across goal.

"I caught it as sweet as I could but the goalie saved it. Stephen Glass hit an absolute rocket near the end and anything to either side would have meant that the goalie wouldn't have got it.

"They had their chances as well, don't discount that - they had hit the post a couple of times and the bar as well when the game was opening up a bit. We are disappointed but I'm sure that once we assess it we will be happy with our performance.

"It is a good feeling to come to places like this and feel that you have competed, caused them problems and created a few chances. Dundee United are a good team and they are on a good run - that's six wins on the bounce now, that's good for them."

Graham had played on the same side as his marker, Darren Dods many times while they were both at Inverness Caley Thistle, he confessed that that the very visible scratches on the face were a present from his old team mate:-

"I think I gave as good as I got, it was a good battle - we definitely weren't mates tonight. I am sure that once I speak to him we will be mates tonight and it will be back to normal."

The cup tie demonstrated that Jim McIntyre's team could possibly hold their own in the SPL but the major obstacle remains getting out of a very competitive First Division. With so much SPL experience in the squad Graham feels it should begin to make a difference:-

"It is a good sign that we are so disappointed coming here and feeling that maybe could have done a little better but now we have to think about the next game. It is a massive game on Saturday. St Johnstone are flying, I think they have taken 16 points from 18 so it is going to be very very tough. We are at home so we have got to make it count."