Manager Post Dundee United

29/10/11: JM - ""We gifted the first goal away by leaving a man at the back post, that was disappointing as were some of the decisions. The sending off was never as sending off.

Referee Stevie O'Reilly was the talking point

MATCH PICTURES
Pars gaffer Jim McIntyre was very disappointed after watching his side defeated by Dundee United at East End Park but was adamant that the sending off of Gary Mason in 26th minute was worth appealing against:-.

"We gifted the first goal away by leaving a man at the back post, that was disappointing as were some of the decisions. The sending off was never a sending off. I have watched it on the video and he has not left the ground. He slid along the ground and he has won the ball. I don't even think that it was a foul because he has played the ball and he flashed the red card as quick as he could.

"That gave us a mountain to climb but I thought the players were exceptional in the second half. They gave us everything when I asked them to go out and give it a go. As it stood we were beaten anyway so I  said 'go and give it a go, be positive' and when we got it back to 2-1 we looked a threat. I was really pleased but obviously you are susceptible to the counter attack. United punished us on a couple of occasions but that was what I asked of the players and they carried it out.

"For me it wasn't important whether we lost 4-1 or 2-0; it was important that we showed courage and commitment to go forward to try and get a goal to get us back in the game."

The Manager felt that Referee Stevie O'Reilly made the correct decision near the end when after a lengthy deliberation he showed the Dundee United defender a yellow card:-

"It's a yellow card by the letter of the law, it is not a sending off offence the referee got it spot on. If he hadn't handled the ball then you were hoping that Pat Clarke was through. It certainly looked like it so it was very frustrating."

Frustrating too is the growing number of players unavailable for selection:-

"Liam Buchanan was ill Thursday and couldn't train. Friday he did a bit but phoned me this morning and showed a good bit of honesty because a lot of players would have wanted to play after doing so well last week.  He wasn't right and put his hand up. Joe Cardle has tendonitis in his knee so that adds to Hardie, Ruitkiewicz.  Phinn hurt himself in training again on Friday and it just seems never ending at the minute. Bell (has had another operation on his ankle) then Barrowman had an appendix operation, so we have got a healthy list of players who would complement our team. At the same time you just have to get on with it because other clubs are in a similar boat. I don't know if anybody has got quite our list but it does take a toll."

Dundee United manager Peter Houston commented on the game

"To score four goals at Dunfermline, which is a very tough place, is great credit to the players. We have played three times this week and played well in each game.

"The sending off had a bearing in the match but we were winning before that occurred. We continued to create chances and knocked the ball about well. Recently we have had to work with a reduced budget and lost players too. The team that finished today included nine players under the age of 21 and with younger players you can often get inconsistency."

MATCH PICTURES

Match Report: 29/10/11 Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 4