Cardle - out but not down

"The boys are happy with the performance but gutted that we are not through to the next round of the cup.

Joe Cardle was gutted with the way his team were knocked out of the Scottish Communities League Cup:-

"The team's performance from start to finish was quality. You could see that when we walked off the pitch - we got a standing ovation even though we lost the game - that doesn't happen very often. The boys are happy with the performance but gutted that we are not through to the next round of the cup.

"We had plenty chances but the ball never seemed to get into the back of the net. The chance I hit, the keeper made an unbelievable save. I turned away because I thought it was in. It just wasn't our night and it never happened for us really.

"I put a ball into the box from a corner and my hands were in the air ready for it to go in. We just need to bounce back and be ready for the league game on Saturday.

"Compared to last season fitness levels this season have been tremendous. That's because of the way that we have been working on getting the ball back. We have to stay positive, not get ourselves down about it and concentrate on the league. We want to be winning this league; we have started well and want to continue doing that."

Dunfermline had lots of chances against Aberdeen and Joe felt that in normal circumstances you might have expected three or four goals.

"On Saturday we got plenty of chances but put them away. It was just unfortunate. Andy Barrowman hit the post in the first half and we had chance after chance. That was the difference and they got the one chance at the end and made it count.

"The team spirit in the changing room is unbelievable. We need to keep continuing this throughout the season and then we will have a great chance."