Manager ahead of Hearts

14/10/11: JM - "We are up against the third strongest team in the league in terms of the scale of their finances and we know how difficult it will be because Hearts will be buzzing after their result against Celtic."

Jim McIntyre claims that the international break has made him take a step back to run a full assessment over his team and its performance:-

"Normally after a sore defeat like the one at Pittodrie you are looking for a game quick to bounce back but maybe the break has been a good idea to let us sit and reflect. But we reflected for a day and then we moved on. You have to look forward to the next game; get your minds ready and try and learn from it."

The Pars gaffer has been pleased with the attitude of his players in the two intervening bounce games, he has seen the kind of reaction that he was wanting but that's no real surprise:-

"I get that day in day out on the training ground. They give me everything but it is poor performances that have let us down and there's a chance to make up for that now. We are up against the third strongest team in the league in terms of the scale of their finances and we know how difficult it will be because Hearts will be buzzing after their result against Celtic."

Macca watched this game as well as the Jambos defeat at St Johnstone and summed it up:-

"They have had mixed results; at home they have been excellent but I saw them against St Johnstone who were excellent. From Hearts point of view they will be looking at what they could have done better. It has been a mixed bag for them as well.

"We have got to do what we do well and that is work as a team unit and hopefully our better players on the day produce."

The Pars injuries situation has not improved any. Martin Hardie, Kevin Ruitkiewicz, Nick Phinn and Steven Bell are all improving but are not yet ready for the training field. A further loss has been Andy Barrowman to appendicitis.

"There couldn't have been any worse timing for that so we are bodies short and it is key players so we are stretched at the moment. I'm sure every manager will have his tale to tell about injuries so I am not going to bleat on about it."