Managers Post Partick

23/01/10: JM - "What can I say about Joe's finishes? They were just top drawer but he has th

It was Firhill for thrills as far as Dunfermline were concerned on Saturday and Manager Jim McIntyre was elated after his side's best league result of the season.

"I was really pleased, we started the game really well but Thistle probably had the better of the last fifteen minutes of a scrappy first half. We had a few efforts at goal early doors. We just asked the boys for someone to be the catalyst to spark something off.

"Steven McDougall had to go off with a bruised toe that will need an x-ray so we brought Joe Cardle on and put David (Graham) up front. That just seemed to set things alight for us.

"It was a forced substitution because of the injury, I am not going to take the credit, but Davie can play up front. He has played there several times before and he gives defenders headaches with his pace. I thought he was excellent in the second half but what can I say about Joe's finishes? They were just top drawer but he has that in his locker.

"You should have seen him at Murray Park on Wednesday, you would have thought 'he must be getting released' but he is that type of boy. He can be brilliant and unbelievable but then you can be pulling your hair out with him at times. He deserves everything he gets today because I thought he was superb and he was desperate to get on. He always wants to play and he has that natural enthusiasm in him."

For Macca the week has had its ups and downs. There was disappointment after losing to a late goal at Dundee, then the re-instatement to the Active Nations Scottish Cup but the demolition of Partick Thistle was a great end.

"It has been a very tough week for everybody at the club, fans included. We have won the appeal that we are absolutely thrilled about but it is a totally different game now on Tuesday. We will have to be right on the money again because there is a big carrot there for both sides. That will take care of itself, I'd rather speak about today."

The gaffer described how at the start of the year the management had discussed the month ahead of them:-

"We felt that the month coming up with the games against Raith Rovers, Dundee, Thistle and Queen of the South - it was going to be a really big month for us. Now we have the replay in the cup now as well. The Rovers game has been postponed to probably the start of next month but it is still a very important period. We were very unlucky not to get anything from the game last week.

"It is about showing what you are made of and the character because it is quite easy to think to yourself 'we have been beaten by Dundee and they have gone into a sizeable lead' but I thought the boys were excellent and I am really pleased with them.

"It was great for Calum Woods. I felt that it was time to get him on, Willie looked a bit tired and he came on and put away a goal but Woods is well capable of that, he is so good with both feet that he can go both ways. It was really pleasing."

Jim McIntyre took time to praise his keeper, Greg Fleming especially for a terrific double save:-

"That was a crucial period at 1-0 and Greg was earned his corn today, that's for sure. That is the kind of moment in games that can change games. Goals do change games, there's no doubt about that but we have also hit the post from a free kick, Davie Graham has had a one on one, I don't know how Nicky Phinn's shot bent out the way - it looked in all the way. We had plenty chances today but Fleming kept us in the game at the right time, that's for sure.

"There was no need for me to come on as substitute, that gives me another week's recovery" joked Macca.

Partick Thistle Manager Ian McCall said:-

"That's the worst performance, worst result since I took over here. We have made great strides as a club but that was awful albeit at 1-0 we missed three absolute sitters but you don't want to begrudge Dunfermline, they probably deserved by the scoreline they won by.

"You sometimes play bad, although not often as badly as that. Too many players didn't perform. We felt at half time that we had a real chance because we were under the cosh but defended really well. They put in a lot of cross balls but they didn't have a chance at goal. Then the young boy Cardle came on and absolutely took us apart.

"I didn't enjoy watching that today - in all aspects of the game. We didn't take the chances that would have given us a way back into the game that we didn't deserve. They weren't just wee chances, they were absolute sitters."