Potts Post Final Comments

01/05/13: "That was Celtic's Under 20 team who can pick from all the players they want. I thought we more than matched them

Coach John Potter was disappointed to lose the first goal of the cup final because he felt his team edged it in the first half and had started the second half well:-

"They got their goal against the run of play and after that started moving the ball about and making it difficult for us. We scored right after they got their second and it could have been a good last ten minutes but we lost a sloppy goal again.

"I am proud of the boys, they were great. Alex Whittle had to come off injured, Blair Henderson would have come off but we had no more subs to use. Grant Munro was struggling as well but the boys have been working hard for the last five or six weeks and that has taken its toll.

"We will make one last push for Saturday because the majority of the boys will be needed for the first team."

Michal Hrivnak, Callum Morris, Stephen Husband, Josh Falkingham, Andy Geggan and Ryan Wallace can come into the side for Saturday but Potts praised his young squad:-

"They have been great for me all season. They have been pushing into the Manager's first team and we must take the positives out of this.

"That was Celtic's Under 20 team who can pick from all the players they want. I thought we more than matched them but there is a more important game for the Club in the grand scheme of things on Saturday.  It is a major game, they have to dust themselves down and be ready to go again. The thing about sport is that you always get another chance and that comes on Saturday."

John Potter explained that he had discussed the players availability after the penultimate First Division match on Saturday and he agreed that since they were all desperate to play and deserved to play, Jim Jefferies had given Potts free reign to choose his strongest side for the final.

The players will all report for training on Thursday morning and although it will be a quiet day it is crucial that they are rested up and ready to take on Airdrie United.

"Alex Whittle got hurt but just went over on his ankle and should be okay for Saturday. The rest should be fine they are just tired right now. By the time Saturday comes they will be ready to go again."

MATCH PICTURES

MATCH REPORT: Dunfermline 1 Celtic 3