Manager Post Morton

24/10/09:- "The substitutions were different class and gave us the wee bit of extra impetus to go on and win the game."

Jim McIntyre conceded that it was a poor game of football for the first half of the match with neither side showing a great deal of quality.

"There are lots of games like that in the First Division and it is all about taking three points. We have not done enough of that in the last couple of seasons. Other teams seem to beat us when it's a scrappy game.

"It was a hard game and I don't think that there was much between the teams. We had to dig it out today and I was really proud of the players who I thought were excellent in the second half.

"The substitutions were different class and gave us the wee bit of extra impetus to go on and win the game."

The Manager had plenty of praise for his keeper Greg Fleming:-

"He was fantastic; he had a great save at 0-0 with his feet when he closed the boy down. That is crucial and it is crucial moments in the game that can turn games. He had a great save at 2-1 when he clawed it out and he had a great save at Morton's goal as well. He earned his wages today and I thought the back four did well as well. They won a lot of important headers because Morton are a difficult team to play against with their height and strength."

Results have improved and Macca felt that his players have taken on board what he has been trying to tell them:-

"They have been solid defenders and limited their mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes but it is all about making them in the right areas, earlier on in the season we were getting punished for every one."

The Pars Manager's half time team talk seemed to make a significant difference:-

"I just said to them that we need to do more, we weren't doing enough. I felt our wide players weren't in the game and I said to them that we'd need to up it or I would need to change it. That's the beauty of having a choice of wide players; if one or two are not quite on their game then we can freshen it up by bringing on others.

"Willie Gibson was superb when he came on and really gave them a torrid time. Joe Cardle as well just sprang into life in the second half. That was the key to us winning the game I felt, that and some great saves from our goalkeeper."

A question suggested that his side didn't appear to panic when the lead was reduced to just a single goal:-

"There was plenty panic in the dugout" joked Macca. "They did well and we tried to pass the ball but I don't think we did enough of that in the first half when it was really scrappy. You are just so relieved as a manager to see the third one go in. It was a great counterattack and a fantastic piece of skill from David Graham to set it up in the first instance."