Manager on Friday

04/03/11: JM - ""They will be looking to get points to catch the teams above them but we are unbeaten at home and we have got to maintain that.

Jim McIntyre expects a difficult time tomorrow from Morton when Allan Moore's team visits East End Park.

"You just need to look at their recent results, they have taken points off the Rovers, Falkirk, Dundee.It will be a tough, tough game.  If you look back to the two games between us, they were excellent the first game at East End Park, but we put the ball away and were ruthless when opportunities presented themselves.

"Down there, the better team won but there were a couple of big turning points in the game.They should have had their keeper sent off and a penalty when Davie Graham was put up in the air and then obviously big Belly snapped his Achilles in that game.  After that they were the better team and deserved their win.  We are expecting a really tough game.  We've watched them a couple of times, Cabie was there on Tuesday night and I was there the week before."

The Manager agreed that Morton having taken points of both the Rovers and Falkirk they would be looking to take another scalp in Dunfermline.

"They will be looking to get points to catch the teams above them but we are unbeaten at home and we have got to maintain that.  We have taken four points from two difficult away games and we are looking to capitalise on that. To do that you have to make home advantage count.

"At this stage of the season yes you want to play your best stuff, but I think the pitches are now in such a state that it is not conducive to great football anyway. We will still try and pass the ball the right way but the be all and end all is getting the three points."

With all the games coming up this month the Manager confirmed that training was being eased back:

"Basically its just maintenance. They are never going to lose any fitness now, it's just keeping them ticking over, making sure they recover.  We are entering a crucial period now and it is a big ask so it's important that they are well rested and ticking over between games."

With the signings made in January, the Manager was pleased that his squad had increased but injuries are ruling Dowie, McGregor, Phinn and Bell out, while Rutkiewicz is rated 50/50.

"We had 20 to choose from at Ross County but struggled to fill the bench at Queen of the South.  That's football, it's just the way it goes.  The rest of the squad are ok after last week's game."