Cup exit can boost Pars

David Graham hopes to keep standard of performance up for promotion push.

Goalscorer on Sunday, David Graham, believes that Dunfermline can get a lift from doing so well against Celtic in the Scottish Cup and inject some impetus into a promotion challenge:-

"I don't think we were expected to get anything from Celtic but to go 2-1 up and lose it all is disappointing. We put in so much and then conceded a penalty that killed it off. The boys worked their socks off and can be proud of the performance we put in."

Sunday was the third time David had faced Celtic as opponents but on a personal level to hit the net with an equalising goal only 73 seconds after going behind was particularly pleasing:-

"I have played against Celtic in the SPL with Hamilton and never even got close to getting a chance, so for Nicky to put it on a plate for me and for it to go in was great. It was good to get it back so quickly because after they scored the heads could have gone down but we bounced back right away. That gave them a wee thought - 'we are in a game here' - and then when we got the penalty as well and Kirkie sticks it away. I was going in for the rebound but I had faith that he was going top score. It was a great penalty sending Boruc the wrong way."

It is often claimed that the closing minutes of the first half is a bad time to lose a goal. It's always a bad time when you lose a goal to Celtic but the adage was proven correct in this cup tie:-

"Losing the goal just before half time got their tails up and when we went 2-1 up, not deliberately but we got deeper and deeper. That invited them on us, they got the goal and went in at half time with their tails up. If we could have gone in 2-1 up it could maybe have been a totally different story.

"Second half we started reasonably well but having brought on Keane and then McGeady. That's how they got their goals but that is what they are there to do; obviously the class showed in the end."

The Pars did really well in containing such a physically strong and skilful Celtic side for so long and in so doing attracting comments from the all too long absent SPL focussed media that they would not be out of place in the top flight. David was equally full of admiration for the stars Celtic brought to Fife:-

"That's why they are paid so much money but it was a pleasure to be on the pitch with them. That is the kind of quality you want to play against week in week out. We would rather have won ugly than get beaten playing well but we just have to take this into the league You want to play against the best week in week out and if we can keep playing football and get the rub of the green who knows."

The 26 year old who won promotion from the First Division in consecutive seasons with Gretna in 2007 and Hamilton in 2008 is well aware that the First Division title can go the distance:-

"The league is never finished until it is mathematically impossible. When I was at Gretna we had a big lead but it went to two minutes into injury time on the last day of the season so it is not over until its over. We will just try to get as many points as we can as see and what happens at the end of the season."