Manager Post East Fife

23/08/11: JM - "We have been beaten by a lower division team who had a few injuries as well and they have outplayed us on the night. That's something that we have to swallow because they deserve it and we don't."

Jim McIntyre felt that his team just didn't turn up for the cup tie at Methil on Tuesday night.

"The best team won, there is no getting away from the fact that East Fife were better than us on the night and thoroughly deserved their victory. Great credit to them but we weren't at the races; we never started well and continued on throughout the night. It was just a bad day at the office.

"We are gutted that we are out of the cup but we got what we deserved. They were well warned about these types of games and what can happen. Sometimes teams just don't perform and when I mean team, I am just as much a part of that as anybody. It has just been a bad night; we have taken some great praise in the last couple of weeks and we need to take this one on the chin - there's no hiding place.

"We have been beaten by a lower division team who had a few injuries as well and they have outplayed us on the night. That's something that we have to swallow because they deserve it and we don't."

The Manager made four changes from the side that took three points at Tannadice on Saturday; Kevin Rutkiewicz, Steven McDougall, Andy Barrowman and Liam Buchanan replacing Gary Mason, Martin Hardie, Joe Cardle and Andy Kirk. He said that he selected the team that he thought could go out and win the cup tie.

"It wasn't wholesale changes; I was not bringing in any lesser quality player. That team that was put out tonight is more than good enough to go and win the game but they never and we didn't deserve to."

The cup exit might allow the Pars to concentrate on the league but this was not a notion that he was willing to support:-

"I don't look at it like that at all. It is a cup competition; one of our two big cups and you want to go as far as you can. We are gutted to be out of the cup. All teams want to have a cup run and we are no different."

Could the result stimulate their league performances then?

"Anytime in adversity it is how you respond, we want to see them bounce back. You have got to remember that we have started the season fantastically well but as I said to everybody on Saturday, let's not get carried away here, let's keep our feet on the ground. They have been well put back on the ground tonight."

Asked if his players had a responsibility to perform better on Saturday, Macca forcefully point out:-

"They have a responsibility to play every week. I have a responsibility to try and win football matches. Tonight we never turned up and that's the simple facts."

East Fife gaffer, John Robertson was chuffed to bits in taking the scalp of their SPL local rivals, rating it as highly as his cup defeat over Celtic when he was Caley Thistle manager:-

"From the opening minutes when Ryan Wallace could have put us one up I thought we dominated the game. We were sharp, we were inventive and took the game to them from the start. It was amazing really, probably one of the finest results, and I include beating Celtic in the Scottish Cup in this, because we had no rights with the squad we had out tonight - Steven Hislop playing centre half. Ryan Wallace and Scott Dalziel shouldn't really have been playing but they gave their all and we just hung in there."

Robbo claimed that he had eight players out for this Scottish Communities Cup tie and he further praised his players:-

"The attitude and commitment they showed tonight, if they show that for the rest of the season then we will have a good season. Tonight wasn't a fluke - I am sure that Jim will agree that we thoroughly deserve what we got tonight and if it hadn't been for some wonderful saves from Paul Gallacher it could have been more.

"The score didn't matter; we are a team that create chances - whether we take them or not that dictate what happens but I think we have had 15 or 16 shots on target. You are looking for that third one to kill it off but Paul Gallacher was pulling off wonder saves. We were hitting sidenettings, over the bar and past the post.

"You are always nervous and in the very last touch of the game Broony came out, there was a big scramble in the box and Hislop headed it off the line. It would have been an injustice if that had gone in. It just shows you what a crazy and wonderful game football can be.

"Apart from the goal Michael Brown didn't have a save to make all night.  We are middle to bottom of the Second Division and we have beaten our local rivals, a team who are fourth in the Premier League. It was a fantastic result for us and the fans.  Hopefully it will give the players belief as well.

"To get a cup shock you have to have a bit of luck, play very well and hope they don't play well. Tonight we played really well, didn't get much luck but Dunfermline were not at their best.  They made a few changes tonight, Jim will be disappointed but I'm sure they will be concentrating on staying in the Premier League, that will be their main aim. Given our resources, players playing out of position and players coming in, I thought we were absolutely terrific."