Manager on Friday

26/11/10: "I can see another harsh winter coming and a back log of fixtures so it is important to try and get the game played as soon as possible

Jim McIntyre spoke to the website after participating in a ten a side game in training at Pitreavie on Friday.

"Obviously after the Rovers game it was a hard weekend for everybody at the Club but despite the disappointment you should never lose sight of the fact that we never lost the game. We were all really gutted by the way the game finished so we had a normal training week and then the boys had the weekend off before being back at it this week."

The Manager can't get a match fast enough to flush that performance against Raith Rovers out but of course the lack of a fixture last weekend because of a bye in the Scottish Cup and now as a consequence of 'Ref Row' has snookered that.

"That's the negative side if you go into a break having been in a good position to win the game which we never took. It lingers for a couple of days longer than what it would have if you were preparing for another game. We didn't have one and that was the way it was."

The draw against the league leaders felt like a defeat for the Pars fans but equally so for the management and players:-

"It was difficult to take especially with the way it ended. In the last seven minutes we lost two goals through sending offs and mistakes. We lost the chance to bury the game but let's not lose sight that we are still up there; it's a long way to go. We have got over that disappointment and we are back and focussed on our next game."

The Manager was just as miffed that the game against Cowdenbeath had been lost to the Referee's dispute:-

"It is outwith our hands; it is very frustrating for us given the fact that we missed the previous week as well. We have managed to arrange a game against Ayr United tomorrow so we will play them in Glasgow."

Macca was still awaiting confirmation that Cowdenbeath had agreed to play the postponed fixture on Tuesday night.

"We want the game played as soon as possible. They might look at it thinking they'd rather have the game on a Saturday later on in the season but I look at what happened last year - you could see by the end of November that we were going to start to have call offs. I can see another harsh winter coming and a back log of fixtures so it is important to try and get the game played as soon as possible but as I say the two clubs need to agree to that. We are up for it."

The Manager described the progress made by injured midfielders Nick Phinn and Alex Burke whose recovery is now all the more critical given the serious injury to Steven Bell and the suspension of Neil McGregor:-

"It has allowed Burkie and Nicky to get a game against St Johnstone on Tuesday. They came through it fine and they have been back in training with no ill effects; I am pleased with that. On the down side wee Joe tweaked his hamstring in training yesterday so that will keep him out a week or so; it is not a major injury."

Reserve games have worked out well for the Manager this season and could be even more important as winter appears to be biting early:-

"When everybody is fit and we have healthy numbers then you are always looking to get games. It has been good this year to play Premier League clubs at their training grounds with their proper facilities. Coming into the frosty period it is hard to get surfaces and not everybody wants to play on Astroturf but the modern day player is going to get used to playing on Astroturf because of the tough conditions."