Austin McCann Post Saints

"Even though we had a bad performance today, we have to believe that we can get results enough to keep us up but today is unacceptable.

Captain Austin McCann described the Pars performance in Perth as "very unacceptable":-

"We are meant to be fighting for our lives and certainly in the first half we didn't show that. It was far too easy for St Johnstone and we were lucky to come in just 2-0 down. We got back into it with a goal and thought that we could equalise but again we shot ourselves in the foot by giving away another goal."

The result increased the frustration in the camp as the team tries to avoid becoming detached at the foot of the table. Kilmarnock's home defeat by Hibs allowed the Easter Road side to go three points clear of Dunfermline and with a four goal swing in goal difference a consequence of the results Saturday was not a good day for Ozzie and his team mates:-

"It is another game with no points picked up and it is very disappointing. We were miles off it and didn't show any fighting spirit at all. We managed to rally in the second half for twenty minutes, and put St Johnstone under pressure but it was too little too late. We should have been doing it from minute one but we never and were punished.

"We have a decent record here but it didn't count for much. We got the goal back and got our tails up. A couple of wee half chances gave us belief that we could get drag ourselves into the game. At the other end we conceded another goal and it killed us off."

Having been out with a lower back injury, Austin was making his first start since playing at St Mirren on 19th November, the Pars have only won once in his absence but the 32 year old is clear that he and the rest of the squad need to remain positive:-

"We have got to believe, there's nothing else for it. We are fighting for our lives; there are careers on the line. The Club is desperate to stay in the Premier League - I don't know what would happen if we went down to the First Division. Even though we had a bad performance today, we have to believe that we can get results enough to keep us up but today is unacceptable. That will not keep us up, that will put us down.

"The majority are out of contract; we are fighting for our own lives and for the Club's as well. We have to go and do the business between now and the end of the season using today as an example of what is not acceptable."

Last season Austin was virtually ever present as he led the Pars to the First Division title, missing just two of the 44 league games, and he desperately wants to stay in the upper flight. The skipper was speaking with a rough voice that suggested he had been shouting a lot during the match, did he feel extra pressure because of his position?

"To a certain extent I feel the responsibility but it has to come from the individual as well. You cannot expect one person in the dressing room to take responsibility. As the captain I do not want to get relegated, I will do my utmost to get the best out of my team mates to make sure that doesn't happen.

"We want to keep being positive that we are going to stay up. Keep believing that we can get points on the board from our next game."