Managers Post QOS

11/12/10:- JM "It was end to end stuff and we managed to get a great three points. We go top of the league which was our aim before the game."

MATCH PICTURES
Jim McIntyre thought his team was a bit sluggish in the first half:-

"You could see that we hadn't played for a wee while and our fluency wasn't great. We stuck to it and always looked a threat."

The effort to clear the pitch and make sure the game went ahead seemed all worthwhile as the 1-0 win took his side to the top of the First Division:-

"A big, big thanks goes to all the supporters who came out and helped - the groundstaff deserve enormous credit along with a few directors who were out there shovelling last night at quarter to eleven. It has made it all the more worthwhile that we have delivered the three points."

Those three points came courtesy of a Joe Cardle goal in 87 minutes and since it was the substitute's first touch the Manager's decision looked like an inspired one:-

"A couple of weeks ago we put an extra defender on and tried to hang on to a lead. It never quite worked out. Previously I have kept the two strikers up and obviously if you do that you are going to have to deal with a lot of crosses if you do that because you will only have three in the middle. Their extra man can count if they move the ball wide. I thought our defenders did really well; sometimes the subs work, sometimes they don't. You are always hailed if they do work but the bottom line is the game is all about players."

The Manager felt that the red card shown to Wullie Gibson was a harsh decision:-

"He didn't leave the ground with two feet - I have just watched it - but the referee chose to give it and his is the only opinion that counts."

Jim McIntyre was also sent from the dugout by referee Stevie O'Reilly:-

"He previously warned Cabie (Gerry McCabe) and said that 'if I have to come back over I will be sending one of you to the stand. So for the first time I have said something I have been sent to the stand but I don't want to talk about the referee, let's talk about the game.

"It was end to end stuff and we managed to get a great three points. We go top of the league which was our aim before the game."

The winning goal took some time to come and everyone was concerned that it might not be coming:-

"We had a couple of good chances; their keeper had a great save from Andy Kirk; he has just blocked it and somehow it has spun over the bar. We had a couple of other near misses but on the balance of play we deserved to win. I don't think there is any doubt about that. We really took the game to Queens in the second half and you have to credit the boys for the spirit to keep going with just ten men."

Was the Manager thinking the chances of winning had gone?

"Sometimes it is like that but you have got to keep believing. If I start thinking that, what are they going to think? That is why we made a positive substitution in Joe Cardle because we believed that there would be a chance there. Luckily enough David Graham has produced a magnificent chance. I thought he was superb today - our Man of the Match. He was everywhere, he was really dynamic and back to his best. It was a great set up for Joe Cardle."

With the Pars top of the league the Manager agreed that it was a boost to the team:-

"We had the chance to go top of the league a month ago in our last game and we never took it. We blew it but we managed to get there today and at times it is about grinding out results when you are not at your fluent best, it is really pleasing.

"We have won every home game except against Raith, we are undefeated at home and that is the type of record that you are going to need to have if you have any aspirations. But there is a long, long way to go. Rovers have a game in hand now, we cannot be worrying about that - we can only take it game by game. We have a couple of important games coming up, we will get the legs rested ready to go on Tuesday night against Partick."

Queen of the South manager Kenny Brannigan:-

"I don't think we created a lot of chances today but when they went down to ten men we took our foot off the pedal a wee bit. There weren't many chances throughout the game; the best chance of the game probably came to McMenamin who was through one on one. He has got to do better and finish from there. I am disappointed overall and disappointed not to take something out of it."

MATCH PICTURES
Match Report: 11/12/10 Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 0
Joe Cardle Interview