Manager on Monday

06/02/12: JM - "You have got to keep the workrate up and hopefully your better players produce."

Jim McIntyre reflected that it was only three games back that Kilmarnock were his team's opponents, so after inflicting a 3-0 defeat on the Ayrshire side was he wary of a backlash?

"I don't think that you get two games the same. I watched them on Saturday and they probably had the bulk of the second half and were unlucky not to get anything out of the game.They are a good side and have good players and have added to their squad in the window as well so it will be a difficult game.

"Although we won well down there at Kilmarnock, you must have the right foundations in place again to give yourself a chance of winning the game. You have got to keep the workrate up and hopefully your better players produce."

The match will hopefully end Dunfermline's poor home record and with that it would be another great incentive:-

"There is no hiding from the fact that it is a chance to move off the bottom and that is exactly what we will be trying to do."

With nine games to the SPL split this is fast becoming the business end of the season.  Crucial begins to be the key word:-

"You have it spot on.  We have five out of the next eight games at home and what better way to try to manage the negativity of not having won at home in this next spell of games "

With the Pars injury list shrinking was it the wrong time to have a ten day break from competition?

"I would rather have been playing Celtic actually. Unfortunately that was not to be.  I don't think it has done us any favours but we managed to play a couple of bounce games against Partick and Dundee which was good in terms of the boys coming back from injury. It was good for the players who needed game time, so that was beneficial."