Manager on Boxing Day

26/12/10:- "It was so so disappointing that the match against Falkirk had to be postponed especially after the lengths that the Club went to clear the playing surface ...

Following the postponement of the Boxing Day derby against Falkirk, Jim McIntyre got some return for all the efforts that had gone into clearing the  playing surface by putting the players through their paces with a training session at East End Park. The Pars' Manager then took in the First Division match between title challengers Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle at Firhill.

Jim was very pleased with the news that Cowdenbeath will visit in a re-arranged fixture on Wednesday night:-

"It was so so disappointing that the match against Falkirk had to be postponed especially after the lengths that the Club went to clear the playing surface and spending the money on fuel.  Temperatures are to improve and there can be some confidence that we might get a game. Certainly that's possible if the weather is as predicted in the forecast."

Macca will have the same group of players to pick from as faced Partick Thistle on 14th December. Wullie Gibson was suspended for that game and serves a further two match ban from 26th December.  The Manager explained that the player has been struck down with a virus that hospitalised him.

"Wullie is feeling a lot better now but he still has a bit to go in terms of recovery. The virus has really floored him and he is not to train for three weeks."

The Pars were recorded as league leaders at Christmas but Jim McIntyre dismissed suggestion of any psychological advantage to be taken from that:-

"We have been up there and around about there all season. We are a decent side but need to maintain this challenge.  Our form has not been blistering of late but we have been picking up points and we need to continue doing that.

"The lads are desperate to get football and Wednesday night should provide that opportunity.  We will be training on the pitch again on Monday."