Manager Post Blyth

11/07/09: "It is the way I want to play, I want to get it wide, start the play from the back and get at teams but sometimes in the First Division teams set their stall out and it is not quite so easy as that.

PICTURES FROM BLYTH
Despite the disappointment with the bumpy pitch at Blyth, Jim McIntyre felt that the 260 mile round trip from Dunfermline was worth it.

"The pitch was quite rutted in places but I said to the boys that it was all about attitude, playing fast football and not letting them get near you. I thought for the first half hour we did that, but then we gave them a gift that gave them a wee lift. Then we gave away that stupid free kick and it was a fantastic execution for the boy.

"I am really pleased with a lot of things. A few of the boys did really well, their passing was crisp at times and sometimes when you are in such control of a game you can get sloppy. It is important that they don't get into that habit and keep doing the right things, keep the right tempo - for me that is the key to try to move teams from side to side, especially when you are playing out and out wingers."

The Pars manager made no changes at half time because he wanted to give those that started more than just 45 minutes.

"In the first game out at Stirling I changed a lot at half time, but I wanted to give them 60-65 minutes today. That will increase over the next two weeks, it has got to because we need to begin looking at who is going to start. That was the reason for that and likewise the same will happen again on Tuesday night (against Dundee United)."

Macca felt that the margin of victory could have been greater given that he was adamant that Nick Phinn was taken out in the very first minute and there should have been a penalty.

"How did he not give that? Nicky had his legs chopped away. There were other opportunities to score while they didn't have many at all. It was just lack of communication between the two Greg's at their first goal. Greig Ross has actually played it back with his wrong foot. He should have played it with his left but he went with the outside of his right and Greg Paterson has maybe come a bit too far.

"We were comfortable and so we should be because we have full time players and they have part time players. These games are never easy, pre season games can be sticky and there is never much between the teams. At times we got a wee bit slack but there was a lot to be pleased about. I was pleased with the directness we showed when we got it into the wider areas.

"The two centre backs did fine, they will need a wee bit more talking and communication between one another but that will come. Austin McCann has played well in there as well and he could make another good partnership. Although we only have six defenders it gives us versatility. It is early days on that front and we need to see them in more of a test to judge how well they can do. They did fine today but it will be a harder test in the First Division and in the forthcoming pre season games."

Jim McIntyre agreed that Alex Burke was unlucky not to score with a fine first half break:-

"It was a fantastic move actually. The timing of the run by the midfielder is something we work on. Graham Bayne didn't see the one earlier when Nicky Phinn was on for him to play one round the corner but he saw that one. It was a fantastic touch and I thought Graham Bayne was excellent today. He was a real handful, his link up was good and yet again he proved what a threat he is in the air

"I was pleased with the way we took the ball from the back and tried to pass it. Opposition teams don't always allow you to play that way and you are not going to take chances at the back, if you get robbed in that area you can get hurt."

The Manager clearly knows how he wants to set his team out, injuries didn't always make that possible last season but the attacking style demonstrated at Croft Park on Saturday afternoon should bring Pars fans out in the coming season.

"It is the way I want to play, I want to get it wide, start the play from the back and get at teams but sometimes in the First Division teams set their stall out and it is not quite so easy as that. It is up to us to create movement and the biggest thing is the tempo we pass the ball at. If you can do that sharp and quick you can play most ways."