Managers Post ICT

17/10/09: JM - "We definitely didn't deserve to lose it, but did we have enough quality in the final third? Probably not."

Jim McIntyre felt that his side had lots of possession and got into good areas but was disappointed not to see more shots not being executed.

"In the first half our passing was very slack at times. Although we had good possession we gave the ball away in areas where it hurt. That is what let us down. It improved slightly in the second half but maybe not enough to win the game. We definitely didn't deserve to lose it, but did we have enough quality in the final third? Probably not."

To lose a goal on the stroke of half time was a bitterly disappointing end to what had been a reasonable first half.

"We worked on stopping crosses into the box but our wide players have not done it. We have given them all the time in the world to float a ball in and if you do that then you have a chance of losing a goal."

The Manager agreed that at times his players could be criticised for being shot shy.

"Most definitely. The one to Joe, where he cut inside and he had to let go with a shot but he rolled it to another. We didn't pick the right options on the day. Steven Bell had a chance to strike it with his left foot. There were two or three other occasions just to pull the trigger and we didn't do that. It was just one pass too many. When you get around about the danger area if you don't shoot you will not score."

Everyone shared Macca's relief when Andy Kirk scored the equaliser with just over twenty minutes to go.

"It was great, typical Kirkie. A cross in when he had just gone on the park, bang goal. That's what Kirk is all about. I had a bit of a dilemma as to whether to start with him or not today. We felt that the shape had served us well because we got into some really good positions. Although the final piece of the jigsaw was not there. We changed it bringing on the three subs.

"I thought all three subs, Bell, Kirk and Cardle did well and gave us that lift. If there was any team going to win it in the second half, it was going to be us. Credit to Caley, they came back and had a couple of decent efforts that our keeper has had to save. It is never a bad result coming up here and going away with a point.

"Andy Kirk is a good pro and he has come on and done his job. I am delighted that he got another Cap because it had been 5 years since his last. I am absolutely thrilled for him and it is great for our Club to have a current Internationalist.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Manager Terry Butcher was disappointed that his side didn't retain possession well enough and didn't take the chances that they had in the second half.

"I am disappointed that we have dropped the two points because for the first time this season we had gone ahead at home and we wanted to keep that lead. It wasn't to be and we have thrown two points away today.

"I don't take any consolation from the fact that we didn't lose. We didn't do enough during the game in terms of possession to win it, possibly a draw was a fair result. Dunfermline made it difficult for us and we had to change our system just to try and stop them dominating the game which we felt they had done in the first half.

"When we changed it around a little bit, it stopped them getting as much possession as they were having. We got the goal just before half time and went in buoyant and jubilant because we had scored first for the first time.

"It was bitterly disappointing to lose a goal from a set piece. We switched off on the edge of the box, it was a good delivery and a good header to make it 1 - 1. Then there was a lot of people thinking oh my goodness we are going to lose this game now, rather than we are going to win it. Even then we had chances, not from pretty football but from route one football in the end. "