Tam McManus Post Celtic

"It is not over yet, I think we c

Tam McManus made his Dunfermline debut coming on after quarter of an hour of the second half at Celtic Park on Saturday.  He was pleased to speak after the match:-

"I was on trial with Dunfermline, done well and just delighted to be involved today. To get a run out for 25 minutes to half an hour was great and hopefully I can start pushing for a start in the next few weeks."

The 26 year old has competition for a starting place but with on loan Jim O'Brien not available to play against his club Tam was given an early chance to impress Stephen Kenny.  He acknowledged that Jim Hamilton, Jim O'Brien, Stevie Crawford, Jim McIntyre would place pressure to be in the team:-

"There are a lot of good strikers at the club, obviously Mark Burchill has to come back in but I can play on the either wing as well. In the next week on two there are a lot of big games coming up and I will try and force my way in.  There are four or five good strikers here I will just take my chances when they come."

Tam put in a good shift on his debut and clearly felt that there was a big opportunity to wrestle something away from Parkhead.

"At 1-0 you are always in the game and Celtic seemed to miss chance after chance. While we were losing 1-0 we were always there in the game but the second goal knocked the stuffing out of us.

"Adam scored a great goal and got us a wee sniff again in the last five minutes. We just piled bodies forward but couldn't get the goal."

The former Hibs, Dundee and Falkirk player's alternative position on the wing is also well covered at the moment and he had great admiration for the Pars goalscorer, the first in the SPL from open play since 10th December last year:- 

"He is a great young player but obviously has a lot to learn. He has got a lot of ability and I am sure that with the coaching he receives at Dunfermline from the Manager then he will continue to get better.

"It was a great goal, great strike he will be delighted with that. I am sure he will be buzzing tonight."

The downside about Tam's signing is his ineligibilty for the Scottish Cup campaign since he is already Cup tied:-

"Unfortunately I was on the bench for Falkirk against Berwick even though I didn't play. It is disappointing that I cannot play in the Semi Final since it is against my old team but I am sure that the boys will go out and do well.

"I came in when they had just beaten Partick Thistle so the Cup run has probably helped the confidence. There is a great spirit amongst the lads - they firmly believe we can stay up but next Saturday against St Mirren is our Cup Final really."

The new man felt that his new club could take a timely psychological boost from the Parkhead performance:-

"We came off the pitch and found out that St Mirren had lost so there is all to play for again if we can beat them next week. It will be tough but it would then be six points with them to play again and all the other bottom teams. It is not over yet, I think we can still stay up.

"We have not been close to them all season but if we get within six points of them next week then we will see what they are made of."

Match Report: 03/03/07 Celtic 2 Dunfermline 1

Managers Comments Post Celtic

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