Managers Post Cowdenbeath

18/09/10: JM - "It is only six games gone, that's all it is - its a good start and nothing else.

Jim McIntyre claims that his team will not be getting carried away after hitting the top of the table. "It is only six games gone, that's all it is - its a good start and nothing else.

"Cowdenbeath got their goal early and sat in to make it very very difficult for us. It was not easy to open them up, get through them but we got there eventually. For me today was all about their character and determination because we had four or five players who were struggling to find their touch, their form, their final touch. I am thrilled with their attitude, to keep going and keep trying. They dragged something out of each other and that was the most pleasing factor.

"When it is like that you have got to move the ball as quickly as possible from side to side, try to create one v ones and get at teams but it is very difficult. Credit to Cowdenbeath, they scored their goal and after that made it very difficult. I don't think our keeper has had one save to make other than from a long range shot. We just had to battle away at the door."

Macca acknowledged that this might well be the kind of game that is important in the bigger picture of the season as a whole:-

"Without a shadow of a doubt. It is crucial to win your home games and the games that you are expected to win. With no disrespect, they are vital especially when you get a first half like we had, we weren't fluent, it was patchy and we were giving the ball away. The crowd was edgy and you have to dig deep.

"At half time you keep telling them to do the right things, keep being positive and keep getting at them. If you have the belief it will come."

After Tuesday night's cup tie at Ibrox, Dunfermline remain on the road for two away matches at Firhill and Palmerston Park:-

"We had three out of the first four away before going into a period with two home games. We have managed to take six points from them and I am delighted with that."

Those six points have come while league leaders Raith Rovers have taken two so is it hard to keep the players focussed?

"I don't think it changes that much in terms of the focus; the focus changes every week. This week we were speaking about how you need to concentrate on today's game and not about the big cup game on Tuesday. This is our bread and butter and we cannot be slipping up in these games. It was hard, hard work today to grind out that result.

"Going to the top of the league will bring its own pressure but if you want to have any aspirations you have got to handle that. You have got to keep doing the right things but we have a very good group of players who are a pleasure to work with so if they keep putting in that graft they will not be far away.

"It is nice pressure. This time last year the pressure was about lying seventh and eighth after we got off to a bad start. The pressure is there to keep your job and so the bottom line is this is where we want to be but we will not get carried away, it is only six games gone, that's all it is - its a good start and nothing else."

Cowdenbeath manager, Jimmy Nicholl was disappointed after his side put so much into the match.

"I'd like to think that in the future we could come to places in the First Division and be a wee bit more attack minded.  We got results against Partick Thistle and at Morton by holding on for the last twenty minutes. 

"Wee Mark McKenzie was doing a job for us on Woods and trying to make it difficult for Gibson.  At this minute we have got to look at the opposition players, see who their best players are and see if we can do a job on them.  It takes away from our boys a wee bit but they got themselves in a good position at half time and I honestly didn't think we would concede goals from crosses.  With big Joe Mbu and John Armstrong there I didn't think if we were going to concede a goal that it would be from a cross.

"It was just waves up the park from Dunfermline and I am just disappointed that they couldn't hold on.  Once they got the equaliser and then made it 2-1 it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep the ball.

"We are still sitting fourth but there are some really difficult games coming to complete the first quarter; we are at home to Dundee next week. I am learning from every single game and they can give me something to work on."