Super Joe takes knock out

A knock right at the end of extra time meant the Man of the Match, Joe Cardle was not fit for penalty shoot out..

Joe Cardle was disappointed that he wasn't able to take one of the penalties in the shoot out but he had taken a knock just minutes from the end of extra time:-

"I took a knock on my shin, it is nothing major but I didn't really feel too confident kicking with it. That was the only reason I didn't take one; I just didn't feel too confident stepping up and felt it better if someone else stepped forward. If I had to take the next penalty I would have but that's just the way it goes."

The former Airdrie man came off the bench and did enough to earn the Man of the Match Award. He called it weird but felt that reflected the kind of game it had been. After Saturday's superstar performance at Falkirk Joe had been warned by his Manager before the game that he would be rested for the Challenge Cup tie:-

"I kind of felt that I was going to get rested anyway. I have played the last three or four games and been getting 90 minutes under my belt. He put me on with 25 minutes to go and we got the goal back but I think we left it too late.

"Unfortunately it went to extra time and penalties and we lost on penalties so it turned out to be a bit of a nightmare."

Joe was praised by Jim McIntyre for the efforts he made and of course he created the opening for the goal:-

"I am always going to get opportunities to do that. The players that I am playing with - the likes of Nick Phinn and Gary Mason are always trying to get the ball out to me. They are trying to get me on the ball as much as possible so I cut inside, put it in the box and fortunately Kirkie was there. It was a good goal to be fair."

Getting the chance to start games is what Joe has been looking for since arriving back at Dunfermline after the close season:-

"Last season I was injured a bit, I had suspensions but I just want to play as much as possible. I want to get a regular run in the team, that is what I have been doing in the last two or three games. I just have to keep that together now.

"Last season was a bit up and down. I was coming back from injury and I was getting goals here and there but I just want a more consistent season. I will keep my head down, work as hard as possible to get the starts I want."