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Kenny defends record in Scotland

Sun 28 Oct, 05:15 PM


Stephen Kenny defended his managerial record after Dunfermline's 3-0 defeat by Stirling Albion, but admitted he needs to turn things around.The Scottish Cup finalists followed a 5-0 home defeat by Hamilton with another capitulation against a side who were sitting bottom of the Irn-Bru First Division before the game.

Goals from Colin Cramb, Steven Bell and David McKenna lifted Albion off the basement on goal difference.

The Dunfermline board last week backed Kenny's aim of being within touching distance of top spot by the turn of the year - but they are now just two points off the foot of the table.

Former Derry, Longford and Bohemians boss Kenny veered away from making statements on his future but admitted things had to change.

"There are three questions I suppose," he said. "Can I manage? Yes as I have managed three previous clubs and won trophies with all three of them.

"Can I manage in Scotland? Well we did well last season, winning five on the trot at the end of the season and beat the top teams to get to the cup final.

"Am I doing a good job now at the moment? No, because we got well beaten in the last two games.

"Obviously we have had two terrible results and that is not acceptable.

"The situation is ridiculous really, when we score the first goal we go on and win the game but when we concede it we go on and lose it."

Hamilton extended their lead to six points after a controversial 1-0 win over Morton, who saw a late goal by Chris Templeman disallowed for handball by referee Craig Thomson following talks with his assistant.

Morton boss Jim McInally said: "I've never seen both officials give a goal then change their mind.

"The whole thing was bizarre. Chris says he put the ball in with his shoulder so the goal should have stood."

Accies teenager James McCarthy's lob left Dundee six points behind after they drew 1-1 at Partick Thistle.

A Derek Lyle penalty cancelled out Paul Keegan's opener and Dens Park boss Alex Rae admitted: "We are going to need to play a lot better if we are to be serious contenders for the championship."

St Johnstone fell 10 points behind the leaders after a 1-1 draw with Clyde, while Livingston and Queen of the South occupy the bottom two places following their 2-2 draw at Almondvale.

Alloa moved two points behind Second Division leaders Ross County after their 2-1 victory over second-placed Raith.

Rovers boss John McGlynn refused to blame the synthetic surface at Recreation Park.

"We can't use the park as an excuse because we train on the same surface two nights a week," he said.

Scott Agnew struck a 10th-minute opener and Brown Ferguson added a second midway through the second half before Robert Sloan pulled one back.

"We were beaten because we lost bad goals at bad times," added McGlynn.

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