Manager on Friday

25/02/11 JM:- "We went and watched Queens at Morton last week when our game was off and they were excellent. They scored goals, they have seasoned pros and good experience.

Jim McIntyre will be missing the injured Kevin Rutkiewicz for the trip to Dumfries and his selection problems are compounded by the absence of possible replacement Andy Dowie.

The Manager would not be drawn into comparing similarities between the last trip to Dumfries and the most recent away game at Dingwall where on both occasions the Pars failed to score:-

"We never looked like conceding on Tuesday, Ross County had 15 minutes of pressure but the defence stood up to it well. There were a few cross balls flashing in across the face of goal but we defended it well enough. What is different is that against Queen of the South as soon as they scored the first goal they always looked like they were going to win. We never came back at them enough and that was disappointing whereas we were always looking to create something the other night."

Queen of the South were also held to a draw in midweek and no doubt they will feel as frustrated with that as Dunfermline were as they made the dark trip back down the A9. Macca was disappointed with the result because of the chances his team created.

"Anytime you come away from Dingwall with a point it is not the worst result in the world but it was just the manner given the opportunities that we had, that disappointed me that we didn't get three points. The game was fairly even but when you get two or three really good opportunities we should be 'putting teams to bed'.

"The Queen of the South game will be hard, it always is. They are a good side and by all accounts they absolutely battered Stirling on Tuesday night. They missed umpteen chances that both managers, Kenny Brannigan and Jocky Scott talked about. We went and watched Queens at Morton last week when our game was off and they were excellent. They scored goals, they have seasoned pros and good experience. They have players who have played at a higher level so it will be the same again - a tough, tough game.

"It is up to us; we have got very good players - we have a problem obviously in the centre back area but we just have to get on with it. Every team gets their share of injuries. Kenny Brannigan only had eleven players last week but we have just got to worry about ourselves and hopefully we are good enough on the day."

On Thursday the Pars Manager attended the Scottish League Managers' Association meeting at Hampden where Neil Doncaster met the members to discuss reconstruction proposals which would see the implementation of a ten-team top flight and a 12-team first division.

"It was just to inform us about how they had arrived at what they were proposing for league reconstruction. It was very informative and it was a good meeting. To be heard you need everybody to be a member so it was good to bolster support for the GMB.

"We were allowed to voice what we thought of the set up. It is the first time that the managers have been involved and it is important to hear what they think because they are football people. Decisions can all be based on business and money. Neil Doncaster was very willing to listen but obviously they have a view on what works for them and what they think is going to work for the whole of Scottish football. Nothing has been set in stone yet, it is still at the early stages of discussions."