Macca on Friday

28/08/09:- "They were always in the game and they have dangerous players. They are a well organised side and we know that they will be smarting from the result.

Jim McIntyre is making sure that his players feet are firmly on the ground when Raith Rovers return to East End Park on Saturday:-

"We are only three games into the season. We have played three league games and we have lost one of them so it is not exactly a start you could call spectacular. We have got to remember, keep grounded and keep working hard for each other. When we get the ball we must try and get at teams as quickly as you can."

He is happy with Wednesday night's performance but assures that his team can still do better:-

"We looked a real threat going forward but we need to cut out the defensive mistakes. They could have been more costly on Wednesday night with the second penalty; it was a great save by Greg Fleming. There are still bits and pieces to get better. You are never happy with your lot but I am relatively pleased with the way we have started."

Rovers will have had time to address the weaknesses that were exposed on Wednesday night and Macca is well aware that the cup game is now history and it's a different 90 minutes on Saturday. Rovers or no Rovers Macca has been working on getting his team ready for the next fixture.

"There wasn't much between the teams; it was a tight game and I never felt at any stage that we were cruising or that we were comfortable. They were always in the game and they have dangerous players. They are a well organised side and we know that they will be smarting from the result. They will be doing all they can with the incentive that if they beat us they go above us. Derbies are about getting that wee bit of luck at times and winning your battles."

Macca has every respect for Raith Rovers and in particular their coach who has been involved in that department far longer than him:-

"John McGlynn is a very good coach, he has been involved in the game for years and brought through some terrific players at Hearts. Now he is a manager in his own right, he won the league last year and is doing a grand job. You can see by the results that they have had in the league so far that they are a good addition to our league so it was a really good result for us on Wednesday night."

The Manager and his players were deeply appreciative of the backing given to them by the East End faithful especially when the visiting fans celebrated their goal:-

"The players definitely feed off a crowd that's why I have said in previous notes that I want our fans to be as vocal as we can to make it an intimidating place for the opposition players. When we have had a kick in the teeth that we bit of response from the crowd lifts the players to go again."

There were no new injuries to report after Wednesday night's match and Graeme Holmes is still out following an ankle injury incurred in the Alba Challenge Cup tie against Queen of the South.