Smith no bobbles and blunders

"I thought I was in control of the situation but the way our luck is going just now, it fell into their path and again it is a hard one to take.

No one is more disappointed that Dunfermline are out of the William Hill Scottish Cup than keeper Chris Smith. He talked about Wednesday night's Fourth Round replay:-

"The boys worked hard, it was maybe not the prettiest game in the world but the boys showedcommitment. It was just unlucky. It goes to extra time and the boys are a wee bit dead on their feet.The boy scored a wonder goal and it is hard to pick yourself up from that."

Andrew Shinnie's extra time 'wonder' goal virtually ended the Fifers chances but Chris felt that his team had competed hard:-

"We had a right good go.There was a good ball into the box from wee Joe and a great header but we have the problem just now of conceding soft goals.We will just need to dust ourselves down and get ready for the game on Saturday."

What went wrong at the equalising goal that came early in the second half?

"I just came out and I shouted, I don't know if Kevin (Rutkiewicz) shouted as well but I was stepping on to it and have went to clear it and he got in the road.I don't know if he sees it the same way but it is just one of those ones. I thought I was in control of the situation but the way our luck is going just now, it fell into their path and again it is a hard one to take."

Compounded on top of the keeper's mistake at Inverness, the incidents were a nightmare for the 25 year old who achieved 25 shut outs last season:-

"The first game I came out to clear the ball and it took a big bobble.Sometimes football kicks you when you are down. I'm down and it has knocked lumps out of me. I need to be professional; just try and forget about it. I enjoyed the game on Wednesday night and tried to be as commanding as possible and help the boys out. But it's the nature of the goals we are conceding just now, that is tough to take.

"To be a football player you need to be mentally strong and I am just working my hardest to just keep working away. In games I've not had that wee bit of luck but I just need to keep my head focussed on the game and see what happens.

"No professional wants to lose a game but I just try to be as helpful as possible to the boys at the back but obviously the nature of the goal takes the shine off what would have been a confident game for me."

Would Chris and Kevin Rutkiewicz still be talking after the mistake that Kevin described as "Keystone Cops"?

"It was Kevin's first game back for a while. What happens on the park, happens on the park. Obviously we have our wee bit in the dressing room after the game but if you let that affect your relationship with the players, then you wouldn't be talking to anyone after a game."

The big question now is there enough confidence in the squad to stave off relegation?

"No doubt and no disrespect to the teams round about us but we feel that we can take points off them and it is up to us to work a wee bit harder maybe. Stay a bit more focussed and hopefully things will come good. "

Iain Turner will step back into the side for the match at Rugby Park so how did Chris feel about the on loan signing?

"The gaffer had to sign somebody, I understood that. He has signed Iain and he is a great goalkeeper and has played down in England for so long. I feel as though I have plenty of experience myself so it is up to the Manager who he wants to play. I will keep working away and make sure I can make an impression on him."