Managers Post Cup Tie
Thursday, 27th Aug 200926/08/09:- JM - ""It was a very hard game; Raith Rovers were never out of it.
Jim McIntyre was very satisfied with the Co-operative Insurance Cup win over the Rovers:-
"It was a very hard game; Raith Rovers were never out of it. For the first twenty minutes we weren't passing it and switching the play enough but then we started to get a few moves going and it seemed to settle us down a bit. It was a tough, tough game and I am just delighted to get through into the next round."
It was the first derby between the sides for nine years and the fans enjoyed it probably as much as the Manager:-
"You heard the very vocal atmosphere and credit to the Rovers fans. They brought a good few through with them and generated that but I thought our fans were superb tonight. They roared us on when sometimes we were under pressure."
The fans also enjoyed the attacking style of Macca's new team:-
"That's the way we are trying to play - to get it wide and get at teams, and do that as quick as you can. It worked well on occasions but it could still be a bit better. I am not going to have any complaints tonight we are just delighted.
"We had our keeper to thank at the right times as well; it was a great save from Iain Williamson's penalty. Andy Kirk is prolific but that was the strain of thought behind getting in some wide players. Willie Gibson was superb and the ball he put in for Andy Kirk when Kirkie slid in and just missed it with a first time pass was just a world class ball for me.
"He mixes his play up, he slot a ball, he can work a ball and he tends to pick the right option more than most. We are delighted with his contribution but I must make mention of Joe (Cardle) - he wasn't in the match much in the first half - but his composure for Kirkie's tap in was superb. He rounded the defender and then had the foresight just to not try and beast the keeper but put it on a plate for Kirkie. Fantastic from the wee man."
The Pars gaffer can look forward to Saturday's league fixture against the same opponents:-
"It will be another tight game and I don't expect it to be any different. You can see that Raith Rovers are a right good side and I felt that they gave as good as they got tonight. There wasn't much between the sides at all."
That was not the view expressed by Rovers manager John McGlynn when he emerged from the dressing room after the cup tie:-
"Obviously getting the goal at the start of the second half was a big boost to us but unfortunately we didn't keep it level long enough. We were a bit unfortunate to give away the free kick but Mark Campbell miskicked it into his own goal.
"Dunfermline took the lead in the first half and I thought we were a bit fortunate to be only one goal behind. On the merit of play they deserved to be more ahead. The early goal in the second half gave us a chance but like anyone losing a goal so quickly after getting back in the game it is a massive blow to you when that happens.
"Probably from one of our corner kicks they have broken up the park and scored. We could have cleared the ball better; we cleared the ball to the boy on the edge of the box but he squares it for a tap in.
"If we'd scored from the (second) penalty kick it might have been an interesting last seven minutes or so."
McGlynn felt that his team did not compete well enough in the first half:-
"We allowed Dunfermline too much of the ball in too many good areas. It is a certainly rehearsal for the game on Saturday, we have had a good look at Dunfermline and we know where they hurt us and need to look out where we can hurt them to try and cancel that out."
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