Manager ahead of Hibs

15/09/11: JM - "We will not forget that they have got a good manager and they have good players - they have a strong squad albeit they have not reached their potential yet."

Jim McIntyre reflected on the Pars defeat at Kilmarnock last Saturday:-

"I was delighted with the manner in which we played, I thought it was our best performance in terms of going forward. We know that we made individual mistakes which ultimately cost us the game.

"In terms of creating chances and passing the ball we were excellent. That doesn't matter when you've come away with nothing, though. We need the positives from that and take it into the next game.

"As a manager all you can do is highlight the individual mistakes. You show them and you tell them, but nine times out of ten the player knows himself exactly what he's done wrong when you show him on the video. So much is spent on video analysis these days to help the player improve and learn from the actual error - if you keep doing it you have a problem.

"We had a one on one with Andy Kirk and the same in the second half when it was squared across the goal. Killie had a great chance for Dayton when he twisted through and Gall has made a great save. Leaving Kilmarnock without any points at all was a hard one to take but we've got to take the positives from that and try and make sure that we are tighter at the back and not just at the back but as a team."

Saturday's opponents Hibs have had a sticky start to the season. They have appointed the 60-year-old former Hearts number two Billy Brown to work alongside Colin Calderwood at Easter Road and he fills the vacancy left by the departure of Derek Adams to Ross County in the summer. Macca highlighted the number of striking options that Hibs have:-

"Lets not forget that they have been to Inverness and won one of the toughest away venues in the league. They have very good striking options after adding a few boys from down south, bringing back Leigh Griffiths who is always a thorn in our side and big O'Connor who is a Scottish internationalist. We know what we are facing and sometimes you need to be wary."

The Manager acknowledged that when you make as many changes in personnel as Hibs have it takes a while for the team to settle in.

"When you get a few results it starts to breed confidence. I watched them against Aberdeen last week and although it wasn't the best game, both teams had chances to win the game. If one of them goes in then all of a sudden the picture changes. We will not forget that they have got a good manager and they have good players - they have a strong squad albeit they have not reached their potential yet."

Billy Brown's first game after crossing to the green side of the capital will be at East End Park and whilst he will be on the touchline Jim McIntyre won't as he serves a one match ban. Macca praised the role of his assistant manager, Gerry McCabe:-

"Your relationship with your number two is key; you have to bounce off each other. Gerry is a very experienced man, he was a long time at Kilmarnock when they were a successful side competing in Europe. The wee man is very good for me, we work very well together and it is very important."

Jim McIntyre is relieved that the new disciplinary system has restricted his ban to just one match after being sent to the stand when he threw his bottle of water to the ground at Rugby Park:-

"I have to learn to control my emotions better. I was just frustrated and happened to be taking a drink out of a bottle at the time"

It was just the wrong time for the Pars gaffer who is passionate about his football:-

"I am a heart on the sleeve type of guy - what you see is what you get. The bottom line is that I was in the wrong."

Macca had a one match ban last season and admitted that he didn't enjoy sitting in the stand, preferring to being on the touchline. Unfortunately there will be a few injured players on the sidelines beside him.

Dunfermline's injury list has grown in the last week with Craig Easton's first half knock at Kilmarnock meaning that he is added to the names of Kevin Rutkiewicz, Martin Hardie (ankle), Nick Phinn (hamstring), Steven McDougall (abductor muscle in his groin) and Steven Bell on the injury list.

"Craig took a bad kick last Saturday and played on until half time but he just couldn't sustain it; he is 50/50 for Saturday. Hardie is progressing so he might be ready for next weekend."