Stephen Kenny Post Inverness

"We have to go to the First Division, it is a kick in the teeth for us.

It was no surprise that Stephen Kenny was in subdued mode when he addressed the post match press gathering:

"We were one nil up in the game but you are never going to come up to Inverness and dominate them completely. Most teams haven't probably won up here this season but we were on the verge of winning twice, 1-0 up with 12 minutes to go. Inverness had a little spell just after half time but they weren't really threatening us. The game was petering out, the second half was a low enough tempo and there wasn't much in it.

"We had a couple of chances. They had a great save from their goalkeeper from Tam McManus and there wasn't much in the game in the second half. At 1-0 up we were comfortable enough but you can't be too comfortable obviously because it is only a goal and that proved to be the case in the end.

"While it was a mistake from Dorus, there is no question about it, I can't really point the finger at him because he has been very very consistent for me and that is very uncharacteristic of him. It was just one of those things, a mistake at a crucial moment. He is a really good person and an excellent goalkeeper. I was very happy to have him here.

"The second goal came should have been a free kick for felling Owen Morrison. The fellow (Rory McAllister) swung at it and it deflected off one of our players and gone in. We accept it, that's the way it goes.

"We have been the form team over the last six weeks, we were ahead of Rangers at the top before today. We were comfortable at 1-0, as much as you can be at 1-0. It was just one of those freak situations really.

"We were trying to get a second goal and we had a few chances but I think Inverness are dangerous, they are always going to be dangerous. OK you are concerned because it is only 1-0 but it easier said than done, while Inverness are piling on a bit, for us to get a second. We tried alright. It was a free kick out of nowhere."

Stephen refrained from commenting on what he had said to the players after the match and he was asked how aware was everyone of the score at Fir Park between Motherwell and St Mirren:-

"The players wouldn't have known the score, that was irrelevant."

Phil McGuire did not realise that St Mirren had won and relagtion was reality.

Success has followed Stephen Kenny in football but how did he feel at this set back?

"The reason I am disappointed is because at the moment Dunfermline look a really good side now. We have a lot of talent in the team and getting six wins out of seven looked like, had we stayed up, we could have been a really good side next year in the SPL, one of the better sides. Now that we are relegated there may be implications - will players want to leave and so forth. These are things that could be the case and we will be weakened by that.

"Nevertheless we will try to have a strong squad so we can try and win the First Division next year. That must be our ambition. It is very important at a club like Dunfermline with the ground that we have got, the momentum of the last few weeks, being in Europe, the Cup Final and the crowds and the potential that exists there that we have to go to the First Division, it is a kick in the teeth for us because it sets you back as a club."

Dunfermline may well be down but they are not yet out since there is of course a Scottish Cup Final to look forward to. The Manager added:-

"We have two weeks to digest that. We have to accept today, it is cruel really. We have played some fantastic football in the last two weeks and looked like we were a decent side but that's the way it goes."

"Inverness Manager Charlie Christie commented after his side's win moved them into eighth place in the SPL:-

"Considering how far Dunfermline were behind at one stage, their recent run has been tremendous. They got a couple of bad breaks today in the game but I felt our play and our pushing deserved that break.

"We showed good desire in the second half without creating a huge amount of chances. For long periods of the second half Dunfermline were keen for the game to end 1-0 to them and only showed the desire to score the second goal after we scored the two goals.

"All credit to the players it is very difficult in the SPL to turn around a deficit but to do that at home all credit to them."