Manager on Boxing Day

26/12/08: "They have a new manager so they are buoyant with two good victories under him so far. Sometimes that happens when you get a new manager; players respond to something different.

Preview: Dunfermline v Livingston
On Boxing Day Manager and players were in good form after enjoying a rare Christmas Day that they were able to spend with their families. Usually the match schedules do not allow such a luxury but this year most Scottish clubs found them in a situation that permitted a chance for relaxation and family life. It was a full training session this morning and one that Steven Bell was able to participate in after injury forced him to miss last week's match at home to Clyde.

Jim McIntyre confirmed that unless Bell had a reaction to training, he would be in the squad to face Livingston. Having been ill all week, Scott Thomson is expected to miss Saturday's match. Although back in training, Iain Williamson is still weak after falling foul of a viral infection - a similar problem that affected him pre season in Austria.

"Livingston were very good at the start of the season, they had about six wins. They have a new manager so they are buoyant with two good victories under him so far. Sometimes that happens when you get a new manager; players respond to something different. The two boys up front know where the goals are and have done well. They have good experience at the back. It will be a very hard game."

Memories of the home defeat to Livingston at the end of August are still fresh with everyone aware of the threat caused by Leigh Griffiths:-

"He is quick and lively; a good player and has the foil of the big man, Calum Elliott. They will need to be watched at close quarters but we know that we have to get back to basics and defend properly as a team. That is something that we did not do last week.

"You cannot give goals away like we did last week. To win football matches you really need to cut out those kind of mistakes, especially when you put four in at the other end. OK, one of those came from a goalkeeper's mistake. It was very pleasing in the way that we kept going, even after going down to ten men. They kept at it and showed the desire to come back and not to get beat."

The Manager acknowledged that the Livingston defence with James McPake alongside Chris Innes would be formidable but felt that his strikers were good as well.

"You can bet your bottom dollar they'll be thinking the same thing about our strikers. They know that they will be in for a handful. Kirky scored twice against them the last time."

Macca knows Innes very well from their days together at Tannadice and Livingston Manager Paul Hegarty was also his boss for a short spell while at Dundee United. The Livi gaffer has watched Dunfermline at Clyde and Livingston this season for Dundee United:-

"Heggie is a knowledgeable man; he knows his players and the players that have been in the game a while. I am delighted that he got the job to be honest, he is a good football man and a lovely guy. It is great to see him back involved."

Asked whether Santa had given him any players, Jim replied:-

"Not yet. Hopefully Santa is still about on the 31st!"