Manager in Midweek

09/11/11: JM - ""Normally if you have a win you are wanting to build momentum but I just think that with the amount of injuries that we have it is not a bad thing

Jim McIntyre felt like his side were back to looking like a "real team" last Saturday when they secured their third away win of this SPL season.

"We were fairly solid and obviously scoring an early goal really helps. The first goal is crucial in any match."

Important in the end was the very impressive defensive display that did not let Hibs back into the game.

"It started up front where the two boys kept them under pressure. The three in the middle of the park were excellent; the wingbacks and three central defenders did well in what was a real team effort. I wouldn't like to say that it was just the back three because it wasn't.

"We limited Hibs; OK Paul Gallacher had a couple of important saves to make but the rest were fairly routine. Hibs had a lot of pressure in the second half but we were so compact and tight that we made it really difficult for them."

With selection options limited the match allowed certain players to come in and get a chance to stake their claim on a staring place in the team. Paul Willis was one who appeared to grab that opportunity:-

"We had a chat with Paul a couple of weeks ago when I left him off the bench. I felt that he was quite complacent in training and wasn't doing enough. He really took it on board and in the last couple of weeks in training he has been exceptional. His attitude was excellent and that's what it needs to be if you want to get a game in the team. With Jason Thomson injuring his groin it has created an opportunity to try something. He took his chance and I thought he did very well. He has a fantastic right foot on him and crosses a great ball. He is young and keen, he has taken on board the chat and long may that continue."

On loan Jason Thomson will be treated for his injury at Hearts but will still go to the Dunfermline matches.

"He is gutted that he will be out for a wee while. It looks like eight weeks plus but some people heal quicker than others, so we will just have to wait and see but it will be a fair stint. He has really enjoyed his time here and would like to stay."

In the meantime the gaffer will just have to use the squad that he has. That is not improving much on the recovering from injuries front. Craig Easton was named last week as having a problem but Macca continued:-

"He is still feeling his calf that caused him to come off against Dundee United. Andy Barrowman is back in full training now; it is good to have him back. Joe Cardle's knee is giving us a bit of a problem. He trained a couple of days and made himself available for selection. His knee felt fine but he was really sore after his brief appearance on Saturday. It has been sore all weekend. Tendonitis is something that I have had myself and it can play up at any stage. The only thing to get it better is rest so he will spend the week getting treatment and try to calm it down"

The absence of SPL fixtures this weekend because it is an international weekend is probably a good thing for Dunfermline Athletic:-

"Normally if you have a win you are wanting to build momentum but I just think that with the amount of injuries that we have it is not a bad thing. We will play a bounce game against Inverness on Thursday for the boys who haven't played and we will put a few young lads that I want to have a look at in that as well."