Manager post Hibernian

"I think there are more positives to come out of the game than negatives.

- - Listen to these Allan Johnston`s post Hibs comments

Allan Johnston felt that a lot of fans would feel as frustrated as he did after seeing the pre season friendly spoiled by left back Jason Talbot's early sending off.

"People paid good money to come and watch a game and we end up a man down after twenty minutes. It is one of these things that happens in football but I think it showed the character of the players and the quality that we have got that we could defend for long periods. We looked good on the counterattack and got a well deserved goal at the end."

Asked about the red card the Pars manager reckoned it was hard to say because it happened at the other side of the pitch.

"I will probably need to see it again (on the video) but obviously we are all disappointed since you do not really see many sending offs in pre season games. I think the reaction of the Hibs players wouldn't have helped as well.

"It is a first for me, I have never seen that and I have been involved in football for a few years now. It is very frustrating because Jason will probably get a suspension now."

On other occasions in friendlies, the option of substituting the offending player have been known to happen and that is something the Pars manager would have done had that been offered.

"We will lose a player at an important player at this time of the season. It is extremely disappointing but there is nothing we can do now."

With just ten men the remaining defence was given a severe trial by Hibs who did find an opening twice through Allan and Stevenson.

"Yes they were cracking goals. Scott Allan's goal especially was a fantastic strike. You can always say that we could have prevented it but its difficult when you are playing against the quality of Hibs, your goal is going to be under the cosh for long periods."

Given the situation in being down to ten men, it was important that newly signed keeper, Sean Murdoch had a very impressive return to East End Park.

"He did really well and we are really happy with him. He is a presence and he is a talker as well. Overall it was a really good team performance. Faissal deserved his goal; he was unlucky with the one off the post as well. It just shows you the fitness levels and the quality within the squad."

Dunfermline showed plenty to make Allan Johnston pleased even in defeat:-

"We looked a threat as well. Playing against a team like Hibs, we frustrated them for long periods and we broke at pace. We created a couple of chances and I am delighted."

Arbroath provide the opposition for the Pars first competitive game and the manager confirmed that everybody who had played was in contention to start at Gayfield next Saturday.

"I am just disappointed for the fans. We would have loved to have got a result today. It spoiled the game a bit going down to ten men. You want to win every game but we always knew that it was going to be a tough test.

"I think there are more positives to come out of the game than negatives. With the quality that Hibs have got they cut most teams open with eleven men. I thought for the first twenty minutes, when we had eleven men, that the game was very even. I thought we started really really brightly. Credit to the players."

Post match Allan Johnston confirmed that he has appointed centre back Callum Fordyce (above) to be the first team captain.

- - Listen to the post match thoughts of Hibs manager Allan Stubbs

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