Macca Friday lunchtime

20/03/09: "We need the points but we know that we will be in for a tough game; you never ever get it easy against Clyde. ..

For the league match against foot of the table Clyde, Jim McIntyre will be making sure that his side has come down to earth after the midweek success at Aberdeen that took the Pars into their third Scottish Cup Semi Final in six years.

"We are getting in recovery sessions after they exerted so much energy. The boys were delighted with the way things went so we just had a wee loosener on Thursday morning."

Greg Shields is not being considered for the Clyde game meaning that the cup team can only David Graham will be added to Wednesday night's squad. Graeme Holmes is probably another week away from coming back into contention.

Clyde have not been easy opponents for Dunfermline for even though the Pars won through in the Scottish Cup tie at the start of January, memories are still fresh of the 4-4 match at East End Park. Macca observed:-

"They are a good honest team and work their backsides off for their manager." The goal threat of former Par Pat Clarke has not missed the Pars gaffer. "He has gone away and got himself back scoring goals. He has already scored against us a couple of times this season, so he is one we need to keep an eye on."

Dunfermline have left Broadwood with all three points on the last two occasions and Macca knows that nothing less will do again this time.

"It is crucial that we goal there and try and pick up the points. We need the points but we know that we will be in for a tough game; you never ever get it easy against Clyde. They are a stuffy team that get right in about you and they have a couple of individual players who can hurt you. That's something that we have to combat."

Even though he has been looking upwards all season, Jim McIntyre is very aware of the teams below him in the league:-

"You have got to realise the importance of the game, how many games are left and what you have to do if you want to go anywhere."

That anywhere has got to be the SPL and the gaffer reflected on how his team has done well against SPL opposition in cups this season but have struggled to get the results in the First Division to get them out of it:-

"Every team that has been relegated has found it that way as well. It's a tough tough league. The bottom line is our consistency level has let us down, we do not produce every week and that is why we are where we are. We keep on at the players that we have to improve our consistency because we have got good footballers.

"There is not a problem with their application or their workrate. Obviously we could improve their final ball and option on the ball at times. We could be more clinical at the other end and defensive mistakes have cost at times. That's the same for every team but the teams with the most consistency win things."