Managers Post Raith

23/04/11: JM - "Destiny is in our own hands and we said before the game make sure that we come back in with it still in our own hands.

MATCH PICTURES

Jim McIntyre thought that his team played exceptionally well against Raith Rovers:-

"They definitely scored against the run of play although we had the better exchanges in the first half. We were the better side but these things are sent to test you. There is one thing in that dressing room we have character and the way they came out and dragged themselves back into the game.

"I have got to mention Martin Hardie; he could have been off at half time and I think many a player would have been off because he was struggling a bit with an ankle injury. He has a heart of steel and was magnificent. The team was magnificent; and my back four were put under a lot of pressure towards the end.

"We should have made it far more comfortable than what it was, we had some great chances to extend that. Davie Graham had two glorious chances; one when he didn't take the ball with him and another one when he was through. But all is well that ends well and we are delighted that we got what we deserved because we were the better side."

Asked how his emotions felt after such a difficult week, Macca replied:-

"All over the shop but when you have a group like that it makes things a bit easier."

Martin Hardie made a huge impact in this match and his Manager described him as a key signing:-

"Him and Rutkiewicz; all the signings we made in the transfer window have really contributed. We have been looking for his type of midfielder for a long time and I have enquired about him a few times before when he was fit but nobody was wanting to part with him and you can see why.

"Destiny is in our own hands and we said before the game make sure that we come back in with it still in our own hands. We have managed to do that and I am delighted.

"It was a fabulous occasion; both sets of supporters were excellent. The noise when any attack was at one end or another; the support right behind it and the reactions from ours or the reaction from theirs it was just a fabulous spectacle."

The Pars gaffer served notice that the job is not yet finished:-

"This is the First Division and you are easy turned over in this league if you are not at the races. We know that, Morton have beaten us twice already this season. They are a good side; Allan Moore has got them playing a lot more football than they did last year. We know we will be in for a game. Cappielow is one of the toughest away fixtures in the league."

Raith Manager John McGlynn gave a very frank commentary on how he had seen the game:-

"We never did enough to win a football match. We got ourselves into a good situation to be in the lead at half time probably against the run of play. Overall we can't have too many complaints; we didn't play well enough and we have to face the consequences.

"There have been games where we have played particularly well and won the game, so there is a wee bit about you that thinks that it might be our day. We might not play particularly well and get away with it but two set pieces have cost us in the end. We need to look to next week and make sure we play our part and try and win the game next week.

"It is out of our hands now which is not what we wanted to happen, it has been in our hands all along, but we just need to take it to half time."

McGlynn confessed that he felt his team could only play better in the second half:-

"We didn't think we played well in the first half at all, we gave the ball away and Dunfermline were much more dangerous than we were. We could only play better but it didn't really materialise that way. We didn't really set up just to hold out, we set up to try and get another goal and win the football match.

"There were early signs in the second half that we may go on and do that but it didn't really come to an awful lot. They got a free header at a corner kick which was not really good defending either. The goals albeit were avoidable. I couldn't argue with the balance of play and the goal attempts would be heavy on the Dunfermline side but the actual goals themselves - the guy obviously executed the free kick very well - but the free kick was needless."