Manager Q&A: Stevie Frail

Mar 3 2008

Q: Was that the perfect response to recent criticism?

A: I think so. We deserved criticism because we were poor last Wednesday. I was asked on Friday if the criticism was slightly over the top and thought it was but I'm delighted we reacted so well.

Q: What did you think of the performance of Calum Elliot?

A: It's always the same with young players who come into the first team and dowell then go through a little dip. It didn't work out for Calum on loan at Motherwell and he has been in and out the side and taken a lot of criticism. But he'll win the fans back - he had two great finishes today.

Q: Is there a basis of a partnership there with Christian Nade?

A: Both are quite clever. They try to do opposite things and it will help Calum to play off someone who can hold the ball up so well. They've played three times together now and we've won two of those games but it's too early to say if they can fill the void left by Andrius Velicka. I hope the loss of him won't be felt too badly.

Q: Was it equally pleasing not to concede a goal after Rangers?

A: I was delighted. People expected wholesale changes and I thought about it but the only change I made was Lee Walace for Jose Goncalves.

Q: Can you explain the background to the situation involving Jose?

A: It's an internal matter. There was something on Wednesday I would not accept and I spoke with Jose about it, who acknowledged he was in the wrong. That's the end of the matter.

Q: Has he gone home?

A: He might have - I believe someone saw him at the airport but he could have been picking someone up. I fully expect him to be back on Monday. He shook my hand on Friday as I got on the bus to come here and he wished the team all the best.

Taken from the Daily Record