Macca looks for bounce back

21/12/11: JM- "Mistakes are not giving us the chance to win games; the goals are defendable and that has been our downfall.

Saturday's match against St Johnstone will be just the second home game since playing Dundee United at the end of October. Manager Jim McIntyre and his players are looking forward to the game since they are keen to bounce back from recent reversals and he is well aware how well the Perth side have done this season. St Johnstone sit fourth in the league and their form has seen them lose only once away from home. Macca insisted though that this is an opportunity for the Pars to get their first home win of the season:-

"We played really well against them at McDiarmid Park earlier in the season. It was one of our better performances and when down to ten men it was a fabulous performance. We know that they are a good side but on our day, so are we when we do things properly."

Like any manager who had watched his side concede four goals, Jim McIntyre was naturally unhappy following the defeat by Hearts:-

"Mistakes are not giving us the chance to win games; the goals are defendable and that has been our downfall. We know that we need to cut it out soon because if you want to climb the league you need to start doing it right away. It is so important that we bounce back this week."

That is not a new statement and the Manager would rather he could change the record but really his option to change starting line ups has been severely hampered by the length of his injury list::-

"If we had a fully fit squad there would be personnel changes and the players know that themselves. They know that if they continue to make the same mistakes they will be out of the team but we have not had that luxury. You just need to show them where they went wrong and hopefully that sticks with them not to do it again."

On the positive side the team is still creating goalscoring opportunities:-

"It is equally important as defending properly that we start taking our chances. For every mistake we make, we get punished and it is so important that we start punishing teams from the good bits of play where we create chances. We have not been doing either in the last couple of weeks. Goals change games, we have had the chance to equalise in the last couple of games but not taken them."

A further possible way of increasing selection choices would be the introduction of new players in the January transfer window. Jim added:-

"The Board are working extremely hard to try and raise some money. Of course I want to strengthen, there are targets that I have but we will just have to wait what the Board come up with."

Gary Mason sustained a knock on Saturday but was back in training this week but Paul Gallacher looks like being out for a number of weeks after being flattened by Rudi Skacel in injury time at Tynecastle.

Chris and Paul head to head in pre season

"Paul still can't lift his arm and until he can we can't scan him.  They need to open up the joint to see what the medical people can tell about the nature of the damage. He is not looking good.

"It is a huge blow but we have an able replacement in Chris Smith, it is not as if we have had a kid on the bench. We have a boy who played every game last season, he has a championship medal and has also played Premier League before with St Mirren. He knows exactly what the job in hand is and we have every confidence in him."

With Paul Gallacher's arrival for the start of the season Chris faced stiff competition for the goalkeeping position and Macca acknowledged that Chris has not really had a chance. "Now is his chance and that is the way football is."

There is good news in that full back Jason Thomson is back in training having been out since the aforementioned home game against Dundee United and he is expected to come into contention for the game against St Johnstone. Craig Easton has likewise returned to training and was actually available for last Saturday. Jim McIntyre said:-

"Obviously he has not played. We had a game arranged against Dundee United on Tuesday but unfortunately it was cancelled. That was disappointing because a few boys needed a game but Paddy Boyle is back in training as well."