Dunfermline Press | Sport | Defenders back after Broadwood ‘low point’

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 27th September, 2007 09:00

Defenders back after Broadwood ‘low point’

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IN IT TOGETHER: Kenny joins his players in a huddle in front of the Pars fans before extra time on Tuesday.

ATHLETIC could be bolstered by the return of key defenders Greg Shields, Scott Wilson and Scott Morrison as they bid to get their season back on track at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday.

The trio’s return from injury would provide welcome relief after boss Stephen Kenny described last week’s dismal 2-1 defeat at Clyde as the “low point” of his time in charge at East End.

Kenny took the unusual step of pouring his heart out to the club’s official website on Monday, admitting he had made mistakes since arriving in West Fife and saying he was “disgusted” and “livid” with the showing at Broadwood.

Yesterday (Wednesday) he explained that step to Press Sport, saying, “I initiated it. In the SPL, you’re on TV every week and people get the chance to hear what you’re saying but people don’t get that chance when you’re in the first division and there’s nothing really bar your paper. I just felt I wanted to set the record straight.

“I am very disappointed with the start to the season. I have to be honest, I’m far from happy. I couldn’t have envisaged us starting so badly if I’m being honest.

“It was very much a low point last weekend for everyone at the club. For myself as a professional, particularly, it was a low point to lose that game as, regardless of how many players we had missing, we had enough good players to get a result.

“I certainly won’t tolerate performances like that last week, for that to be a reflection of myself as a coach or a manager. When you’re coaching a team and the performance is so ineffective, it’s a reflection on yourself and you have to make sure your team is a reflection of your philosophy and passion for the game.

“I think you are nothing without hard work, absolutely nothing, and I think you have to have that determination to work extremely hard to put your body on the line. In the first half we practically allowed Clyde to strangle us really and we needed to fight harder, absolutely to fight harder.

“Have we got the balance right overall? No, we probably have not judging by how we’ve done overall here but I think there are some very good professionals here at this club.

“One of the things that is encouraging for me is a couple of the experienced players have found themselves playing unorthodox positions.

“Three times Stephen Glass has started in midfield only for the left back to get injured and he’s had to play in there and try to help and encourage the young players at the same time. He’s an excellent professional while Stevie Crawford has also worked extremely hard.”

Despite the 4-1 final scoreline, the Pars were much improved in going out of the CIS Cup at Tynecastle on Tuesday and now Kenny wants the win which would dispel the doom and gloom.

“We just have to refocus and put last Saturday out of the picture and put on a good strong performance against Partick Thistle and get a victory,” he said.

“They are probably one of the better sides that we have seen this year. They’re a good football side and there are not many sides in the first division that really pass the ball. A lot of teams are quite direct and are set up not to concede.”

Shields, Wilson and Morrison will be back, hopefully, while Nicky Phinn (dead leg), Tam McManus (knee) and Calum Woods (calf) will be hoping to shake off knocks picked up against Hearts.

Jim McIntyre, Kevin Harper, Scott Muirhead and Jamie Harris could be fit for the Queen of the South match the following week, with Scott Thomson likely to return the week after that.

Tickets for the Pars’ Scottish Football League Challenge Cup semi-final against Ayr at East End on Tuesday cost £10 for adults and £5 concessions.

The Main, West Wing and Norrie McCathie stands will be open to home fans but the North West Stand will not be open.

Season tickets are not valid and entry will be by cash at the gate.

Due to the limited number of wheelchair seats, access to this area will be by ticket only and season ticket holders will have priority until 5pm tomorrow (Friday). The ticket office will be open from noon-3pm on Saturday.

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