Manager Friday lunchtime

10/04/09: "We have let our fans down at home, we know that, but it is important that they are right behind us with a big game coming up.

Jim McIntyre gave an update on the injury situation which means that he has at least five players out - Scott Thomson, Stephen Glass, Jamie Mole, Kevin Harper and Simon Wiles - and Nick Phinn's chances of making tomorrow's match against St Johnstone rated as just 50/50. Scott Wilson came through his Tuesday night's return without reaction.

"Nipper took a severe blow, it is like a dead leg but it's a dead calf and the match comes just too soon. Another couple of days and he would have been alright. Jamie Mole he will be another week to ten days before his hamstring recovers. We have had him scanned. Stephen Glass is feeling better but the injury on his ankle is at the worst possible place to heal."

Glass could have made the Ross County game on 18th April but is suspended for the first two SFL matches after the St Johnstone match meaning that his next match could well be the Cup Semi Final against Falkirk, if selected. "He will be nice and fresh" added the Manager.

Macca then reflected on what used to be a major problem for the Pars:-

"The injury situation has been miles better this year. We put it down to the pre season fitness and how they train every day. Everybody is timed - it is not a case of give them this, give them that. It is a certain time on each thing so they know how much they are doing every day and every Tuesday we do circuit training as well."

The big target for McIntyre and his players is to perform well in front of their home fans and rid themselves of the horrid record of no league wins at East End Park in 2009:-

"It has been so disappointing at home this year. It is doubly disappointing because there has been a great opportunity this season but we have to put our hands up and say that we have blown it. It is the home form that has blown it because we have the best away record in the league with the most points away from home.

"St Johnstone have won 13 games, we have won 11. Our failings have been at home. Not all these games have been terrible and dire, there have been games where we have been unlucky and should have won the games. The other side of that is when we have been dire, and it has not been good enough.

"It is the same players, the same system - in one game you look great and the football is entertaining and then at other times it is as though we haven't met each other. That's football.

"It is all about players when they cross that line, we can affect it so much but we need consistency. We have just not had that from week to week."

Macca felt that Tuesday night's draw was a fair result:-

"They were the better side first half and we were better in the second. We had one or two near things but after watching the video I think it was definitely a penalty. Anywhere else on the pitch it would have been a free kick. Derek McInness was claiming that they should have a penalty as well for Alex Burke's challenge.

"There wasn't a lot between the sides but they don't give a lot away. Del will be thinking that with other games being played that a draw might not be good enough for his side tomorrow. We can't concern ourselves about St Johnstone, we have to look to win our home games and give our fans something to shout about.

"We have let our fans down at home, we know that ,but it is important that they are right behind us with a big game coming up. It is important that we build up momentum going into that. I will contradict myself by saying that game will look after itself."