Andy Kirk aiming high

"Bayne said that it was a stonewall penalty and I think after seeing it on video the Manager is saying the same.

Andy Kirk returned to the starting line up for Dunfermline's match at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday after being sidelined for three weeks with a groin injury.

The former Hearts striker said that it was nice to get back in and playing again but he acknowledged after relying on the likes of Nick Phinn, Calum Woods and Greg Ross, that it was about time the strikers were back on the scoresheet .

"It has been that sort of season for us where we have been the better team in most of the games and not been ruthless enough in front of goal. On Tuesday night it was a bit different for us because we lost two players early on and then another one at half time.

"There was myself who hadn't played a game in three weeks, there was Greg Shields and Scott Muirhead (who had been out) as well. There were a few tired legs towards the end of the game but we just didn't have the subs to bring on. Second half we were the better side and possibly deserved to nick something.

"We had a chance when Baynee went for a flick on and the centre half and him missed it. I thought it was going to bounce through but I just managed to get a toe on it. The one in the box when I put it back to Bell; he struck it alright on a bobbly pitch but Alan Main made a good save. It just wasn't to be for us.

"Bayne said that it was a stonewall penalty and I think after seeing it on video the Manager is saying the same. It was a push first of all and then an arm across. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't."

Andy is hoping to get a better result on Saturday when the sides meet again and although he knows that it is still mathematically still possible that the Pars could win promotion he conceded:-

"You have got to be realistic, it is a lot of points to claw back at this stage in the season. We want to finish as high as we can in the table; if we can't be first then we want to aim for second. There are a lot of experienced players in our changing room and pride will make us want to finish as high up as we can."

The Scottish Cup Semi Final is the kind of game that Andy considers every player wants to be involved in:-

"When you are a professional footballer you dream of playing semi finals and finals at big grounds. It is a big game for us, a big game for the Club and hopefully we can put a run together to give us the confidence to go into the semi final. Saturday is an important game for us as well and we cannot look too much further into the future."

It's St Johnstone who are the opposition again on Saturday and Andy is of the opinion that there is not much between the league leaders and themselves despite the sixth places and twelve points separating them:-

"They have been a lot more consistent, they have dropped points and we have had the chance to go top of the league a couple times and we have blown it. We have never capitalised when they have drawn but we have lost games. Over the season maybe its consistency you need in this league."