Favourites are next up

10/09/09: Jim McIntyre - "We need to approach the game working hard and try to take the three points."

Jim McIntyre looked forward to the match against Dundee on Saturday and discussed the reason behind the great expectations for Jocky Scott's team:-

"When any team spends money, people automatically make them favourites. They are favourites with the players that they have accrued but sometimes it takes a wee while for teams to settle. It is a difficult league and it can take a little longer for results to kick in. You are not going to get everything your own way but Jocky has great options with good players than means it will be a difficult game for us.

"They have a big squad and Dundee are viewed as favourites because of the size of their squad. It is what they have from 12 to 20 as well as 1 to 11. That is where the strength lies in their squad but on their day they are as beatable as anybody else.

"We need to approach the game working hard and try to take the three points."

Macca recalled how hard it became there this time last season when Calum Woods was red carded in the first half. That reminded him of the most recent league game against Raith Rovers when Willie Gibson's first half sending off posed the same difficulty:-

"Second half they did well and there were lots of good chances. There should have been goals but we have to move on. We have to move on, we have Dundee on Saturday and we are looking forward to it."

Willie Gibson has a one game ban, Graeme Holmes is back in training, David Graham is midway through his 8 week rehab, Stephen Glass has had an operation and will be four weeks.

The Manager reported that there was a closed doors friendly on Wednesday when Dunfermline lost 2-1 to Kilmarnock. Steven McDougall scored a good goal for the Pars and could have had a few more. Holmes played against Killie and will have his eye on the Reserve League Cup match when that kicks off on Tuesday with a 7.30pm kick off against Raith Rovers. Macca was pleased with the game at Kilmarnock:-

"It was a right good game. It was good to get Nicky a game, in fact good to get all of them a game. The boys need games and they have games coming up in the next couple of weeks; reserves on Tuesday and then the following week against Hearts."