Manager on Friday

27/08/10: "The last time Stirling were in this league they gave us difficult games and we will expect the same again. They will be desperate for points and could be a real battle.

Jim McIntyre will prepare his side for the trip to bottom of the table, Stirling Albion with the usual meticulous care to make sure that the Pars are not treated to the same as when Stephen Kenny's side travelled to Forthbank to take on the newly relegated Binos in 2007.

"The last time Stirling were in this league they gave us difficult games and we will expect the same again. They will be desperate for points and could be a real battle. We have got to go there and try and get the victory."

Dunfermline lost 3-0 at Forthbank in October 2007 and even though the Pars won the other three meetings that season the winning margin was never more than one goal. In every game that Stirling lost that season to Dunfermline Chris Aitken scored. The 5'7" midfielder who has also played at Morton, Clyde and Hamilton even scored when he came to play against Dunfermline for Ayr United. Macca had noted the threat from the 30 year old who has returned to Stirling:-

"He is a good player, he can pass the ball well and he is a clever player. He is somebody we need to make sure we close down and not give him the freedom to pick a pass."

After the leaking of goals in the matches against Raith Rovers and Clyde there is a distinct need to tighten defences.

"Mistakes are part and parcel of football. We have looked at it and the boys concerned know that the goals came from us rather than good play from them. That's four goals we have conceded in the last two games after being very frugal in the first five games. We need to get back to being good defenders and doing the basics well so that we always have a foothold in the game.

"You take each game on its merit. We dominated the game against Clyde; we had something like 30 odd attempts at goal to their seven. Clyde came with a game plan and made it very difficult. We made a couple of mistakes to give them goals and when you do that right at the start of the game then you spend the next while trying to get yourself back in the game. We did that but then right away after half time we do the same again.

"Of course that gets everybody frustrated ; it gets me, the players and the fans frustrated. You just have to keep believing in what you are doing and keep battering away at the door. We did that and we deserved to win the game, there's no doubt about that but we did have some hairy moments defensively. Two games running that has happened and that is something we have spoken about so we need to get back to the basics."

Andy Kirk has won all the praise for notching eight goals so far this season but Jim McIntyre was mindful that comes from a team effort:-

"Midfielders are also creating the chances and assisting but you want goals from all over the pitch. This is something we did really well last season. I'm sure the midfielders will chip in with their fair share."

Midfielder cum striker David Graham could be back in a matter of weeks after a short lay off, the Manager gave an update:-

"David Graham's operation went well; it was just a minor one and we don't expect it to be any more than three or four weeks. Everyone else is fighting fit so I have a healthy squad to choose from."

The Manager confirmed that the players not involved on Saturday will feature in the Reserve League Cup Final at Starks Park on Tuesday night (kick off 7.00pm, Admission free). This is the final of last season's competition but win or lose there will not be a reserve side this season. Macca will fix up bounce games for players who are needing games. These will be against SPL teams to keep the squad match fit.