Celtic: different game, different side

JM:- "It is a chance for my players to show what good players they are and prove that they can play at that level. We believe that there are many in that team who can.

Jim McIntyre is hoping that his side will go into Sunday's Scottish Cup tie against Celtic in a relaxed fashion since they are unquestionably the underdogs. Nevertheless he feels that his players should have that professional pride within them that can make them believe that a result can be achieved.

"You need certain factors on the day, you need to play your best, you need a few Celtic players to have an off day and you need to get the break of the ball but you have the inner belief that every team you play against is beatable.

"They have made some top quality signings and that is excellent for Scottish football. It gives everybody a lift but if my players are not up for a game against Celtic then you are struggling. It is a massive game, our biggest of the season so far in terms of the calibre of opposition that we have faced."

Macca acknowledged that each game is different and Celtic will be a different side from the one he watched defeat St Johnstone by four goals to one.

"They didn't play well in the first half but St Johnstone lost a man and they went on to score some fabulous goals from fabulous attacking play. You know that Celtic are well capable of that so we need to make sure that we are playing to our strengths and going right at it from the start.

"Celtic have got quality all over whether it is on the bench or on the park and they have more options now as well."

The Pars gaffer doesn't need to go back too far to recognise that the Celtic team was stronger in the past but there is still a distinct gap.

"They had some unbelievable players when you think back to Larsson and Hartson but they still have a lot of quality there, more quality than we have but you can't say its not going work in your favour.

"The cup is a one off competition. Like us against Stenhousemuir in the last game, we were expected to win but the pressure is off us in this match because Celtic are expected to win. It is a chance for my players to show what good players they are and prove that they can play at that level. We believe that there are many in that team who can. But it is alright talking about it, you have to go and do it and show it."

Macca described the time between the two Stenhousemuir matches that it took Dunfermline to reach the Fifth Round as "the toughest two weeks of my managerial career.

"We have definitely have learned from the mistakes that have been made but we got through but that's the made thing. It was excruciating because we didn't know which way the appeal was going to go. We were delighted to get a second chance to get through."