Alex's Aberdeen Agony

Cup Specialist jokes "Hopefully I can get a league start but if that's us out the cup maybe I'll not get another game now."

Alex Burke returned to the Pars starting line up for the Scottish Cup tie at Aberdeen. This was just his third appearance of the season and he seems to be a bit of a cup specialist having previously played against Clyde and Rangers in the Co-operative Insurance Cup. Like the rest of the squad, he was devastated to have lost to a goal in 92 minutes.

"It wasn't a nice way to lose a game after putting so much effort into it. The boys were distraught, it is just the way football is, it is a cruel game. We just need to use the disappointment to try and drive us on to try and win the league.

"For 90 minutes we put in so much effort. We dug in and put Aberdeen under a wee bit of pressure. We stayed strong but to see the ball hit off Neil McGregor was so unfortunate. We just need to look at the positive side, how we have matched them and take the way we battled into the league. We want to come to places like Pittodrie on a regular basis.

"When we have played Premierleague opposition in the last few years we have pretty much held our own, its getting there that's the hard part. We are second in the league just now with a game in hand over Raith and there are still 17 league games still to go. We must drive on so that we don't feel that dejected way again."

Alex was pleased the impact made by new signing Kevin Rutkiewicz:-

"He has only been in a week training with the boys but the back four was solid and Aberdeen didn't have many clear cut chances. Young Kyle Allison came in and made his debut; the boys in front of him protected him well and it was good because we have been conceding goals recently and apart from the last unlucky minute, in the main we were solid.

"If we can keep clean sheets most weeks in the league with the attacking players we have got we will hurt teams. We broke Aberdeen a few times and had a few chances. Kevin will come in and create a solid base, I fancy us to go up the other end and get a goal or two."

With the Pars now with no interest left in cup competitions, Burkie is hoping to make a league appearance:-

"My last game was at Ibrox in September. I picked up a frustrating injury but I have now been back in training for the last six weeks but can't get a game. I was glad when the gaffer gave me the nod on Saturday to get a start at Aberdeen. Hopefully I can get a league start but if that's us out the cup" he joked "maybe I'll not get another game now."