Managers Post Partick

25/09/10: JM:- "There is not much between the teams in the First Division and the first goal was vital - very very important - and it was a good goal. Pat Clarke has got some power in his shot ....

MATCH PICTURES
Jim McIntyre was delighted to leave Firhill with all three points and he was not surprised that his players showed little reaction to their midweek defeat at Ibrox in the Co-operative Insurance Cup::-

"We have been going well in the league and there was no way the players confidence was going to be affected by what happened on Tuesday. We were against a right good side; we made some mistakes and got punished. Today it was back to basics and defending well. I thought we did that; I thought our back four were excellent and the team were excellent in general.

"It is a tough away venue and one piece of sheer quality from Pat Clarke that got the goal. Gary Mason won the ball fair and square and fed Pat for us to punish them.

"There is not much between the teams in the First Division and the first goal was vital - very very important - and it was a good goal. Pat Clarke has got some power in his shot for a boy who is quite slight. He hits a great ball; he got it out of his feet and just smashed it into the top corner, it was a hell of a finish. He does that every day in training and it was great to see it fly into the net because I think we needed it.

"We started the game very sloppily and for both teams the game was lacking in endeavour and lacking in a bit of quality. It was a kind of scrappy game before the goal settled us down. We had words at half time saying that we needed to pick the right options more often and start getting at them.

"Young Paul Willis came in for Wullie Gibson who was a late call off due to injury; he did very well in the second half with some dangerous balls into the box. McDougall did brilliantly when he came on, he gave us a lift. There were a lot of pleasing factors."

And it wasn't just Steven's eventful first 20 seconds that were important:

"You are always hailed as making a master stroke but the game is about players. Players can come on and not do much, or they can come on and set it alight. Steven certainly gave us a big lift being very positive, being busy and energetic. That's exactly what you are after from a substitute - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

"He was on his weaker side when he smashed the ball against the post and the goal machine (Andy Kirk) was there. It came off his knee but that keeps Kirky on the goal trail. McDougall can consider himself unlucky that he wasn't started but you go with the two who you think can win you the match. Pat has done his part (with the goal) and McDougall has come on and played his part. That's exactly what we want."

Dunfermline stay top of the First Division but the Manager reminded everyone that the season has a long way to go.

"It is a fantastic start, we are not going to get away from that but it is only seven games. It is an old cliche - one game at a time. The teams in this league are very evenly matched so it is about taking your chances, making sure you try and score that first goal because the stats proved that is absolutely crucial. We have managed to do that more often than not this season and that is why we are where we are."

Ian McCall claimed that he was not going to look at the league table again until March:-

"We look as though we have forgotten how to win, it is as simple as that. We have played seven games and we have only won one. Today is not the day that has done the damage. I thought it was very even in the first half but we made a couple of bad decisions for their goal. It was the same with the second goal but certainly there has to be more belief that we can win football matches."

The Partick manager thought that Jackie McNamara was fouled by Mason as the ball broke to Pat Clarke for the first goal:-

"I think it was a foul but we are where we are for a reason, it is not all about that. You find when you are down there that you don't get these decisions.

"Dunfermline is a good side and they will be right up there challenging with the leaders but we are nowhere near that stage."

McCall said that "its another weekend ruined" but claimed that there were "better times ahead for Thistle":

"There is no doubt about that. Billy Allan had a chat with me and the players on Friday and let us know that Thistle will be a good place to be in the next two or three years but right now its really tough."