Manager on Friday

20/08/10:- Jim McIntyre claims Saturday's derby against Raith Rovers is bigger than the opening league game against Falkirk.

Jim McIntyre was happy to have a maximum six league points going into Saturday's match against arch rivals Raith Rovers. Firstly he expressed how pleasing it was to take three points from a below par performance against Allan Moore's Morton:-

"There were plenty of times last season when we were happy with the performance but walked away with nothing. It does balance out and you have to take the positives out of the game. We dug in and we defended well. When the chances came along we were ruthless; that's what football is all about and Morton for all the pressure they had, didn't really have a cutting edge to their game. Our keeper only had one save to make although they dominated the possession and were winning more second balls than us. From that point of view we were disappointed."

So a 2-0 win over Morton sets up a top of the table clash against Raith Rovers - a team that has scored eleven goals in the last three games. The Pars Manager was cautious:-

"Both sides have made a good start to the season and that sets the game up nicely. It will be a sell out and they were great games to be involved in last year.

"We will be going there to try and win the game but we are under no illusions about how difficult it is going to be. Raith have made a couple of good signings - the wee boy Baird is on fire for them and he is linking well with Tade from the reports we have received so we expect a really tough game."

The last three games have all ended with scorelines of 2-1 with Dunfermline winning all three but the Pars gaffer is well aware that none of those results were easy to achieve:-

"The games were close between us last year so I don't expect anything different. This is a derby and the players know the importance of the game. The majority of the squad are still here from last year so they know what it means and what this game is all about. We just want to try and make sure that we try and win the game and the three points."

Though delighted at beating Falkirk, the club that most fans rate as enemy number one, Macca feels that the fixture against Raith Rovers is the bigger of the two derbies.

"It is the Fife derby - two big clubs - and we are really looking forward to the atmosphere of the game. The atmosphere at Falkirk was fantastic and I'm sure that Saturday will bring more of the same. Hopefully we can get the right result."

Jim McIntyre confirmed that his injury list is reducing:-

"Burke is back in training, Bell has trained this week - obviously they are a bit short of match fitness and it is just a matter of getting some game time."

Preview Raith Rovers v Dunfermline