Manager Post Rovers

02/01/11: "When you are caught on the break sometimes you need to take a foul for the team and maybe a booking. People might not like hearing that but it is the professional side .....

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Jim McIntyre felt that the Fife derby in Kirkcaldy on Sunday was a good game.

"We started very well and today got into a lot of great positions only for our final ball to let us down. A few times we hit the bye line especially early doors in the first half and a lack of quality cost us a goal scoring opportunity."

The Dunfermline Manager put forward the case for the professional foul at the winning second Raith goal:-

"There's such a thing as a good foul and we had two opportunities. When you are caught on the break sometimes you need to take a foul for the team and maybe a booking. People might not like hearing that but it is the professional side that you have to take. We never did that. Yes they might have tried but it was half hearted. They thought about it but let him run on and the boy (John Baird) played a great pass and it was a great finish. I have to compliment Tade for the finish, it was an excellent finish.

"The first goal we gave away was just poor marking. Dowie got done and that set the tone for the second half for him.

"Any time you lose a game, you are looking for a positive reaction. I feel that I have got the players who will do that. They are hurting in the dressing room; they are obviously disappointed. I don't think that there was much between the teams; it was quite a tight affair - end to end and it was as described a rip roaring derby. Unfortunately we didn't have the cutting edge at the other end.

"We had a chance right at the death and what really summed it up for us was that Nicky's header was going in and it hit Andy Kirk on the back and goes past the post. On another day those go in and people would have said well probably a draw was the right result. We will lick our wounds, go away and get back on the training park and look forward to Montrose on Saturday."

Throughout the game Jim McIntyre's voice could be heard shouting from the stand as he sat out the second game of his touchline ban after being sent off near the end of the game against Partick Thistle.  Whether or not he could be heard no one knows but he described the situation as frustrating:-

"I think I am better placed on the touchline although it is good because you get an overview of the whole shape of the team. There are benefits that way but obviously you want to be on the touchline.

"Football is about putting the ball away and we never did that. It is crucial to try and score the first goal, stats tell you that. We got ourselves back in the game with a great finish but when you concede the type of goals that we conceded then you are giving yourselves a mountain to climb. I always thought that we were in the game.

Still top but only by one point having played one more game than Raith Rovers, the top of the table is very tight. Macca maintains that's the way that it will be like until the end of the season:-

"That is why we have not been carried away and shouting our mouths off. We know how difficult a league it is; you are easily turned over in this league if you are not at your best. A lot of teams are evenly matched and it is important when you do win and you are top that you remain respectful of the opposition because there are good teams out there and everybody battles away with similar squads. If you get two or three injuries your season can change so you have to make sure that you don't get carried away."

Raith gaffer John McGlynn thought that the derby was a great game and a good advert for First Division football:-

"It was end to end stuff, both teams were very attack minded. I thought Dunfermline started the better; they came out the blocks and and put us on the back foot without creating anything but they certainly had us backed towards our goals during that opening spell. We settled down, passed the ball about a bit better because early in the game we gave possession away very cheaply.

"Once we got a wee foot in the game when we created a couple of chances. Probably John Baird had the best chance of the first half when Gregory (Tade) won a header. He was in but he snatched at his shot but we started the second half very well taking the game to Dunfermline. We got a nice early goal from a setpiece.

"We were disappointed to lose the goal from a cross ball; not a great defensive header - one when you are stretching you can't do an awful lot about it. The lad hits a shot and scores - very similar to a goal we lost at East End Park not that long ago.

"You would expect with Dunfermline's stature and where they are and how they have been playing for them to come back at you. The big question mark on our players was could they bounce back after that after the disappointment of ;losing the goal so quickly. They showed tremendous character, tremendous spirit and it was a great ball by John Baird and an excellent finish by Gregory Tade. A goal worthy of winning any match.

"Gregory then had a chance that went over the bar before we changed it slightly because I knew we could defend that lead and although we had a few nervous moments towards the end it was a great victory for us. It puts us one point Dunfermline with a game in hand so we will enjoy it tonight. I hope the fans enjoy it - both sets of fans were tremendous again today and there was great banter between the fans. That's the difference between the derby in Fife and the derby in other places; it is not sectarian."

The Raith boss highlighted the strength of his defence:-

"That's sixteen games and we have lost only nine goals and have had nine cleansheets. We want to enjoy tonight, it is a great start to 2011 but next week there is no point in playing the way we did today in a very tight top of the table match and then not performing next week at Stirling.  We must go there with the right attitude; every game in this First Division is difficult - you can take nothing forgranted.  We need to go there, perform to the best of our ability and put the pressure on while other teams are playing in the Scottish Cup."

Match Report: Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 1

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