“I have not had seen the incidents again as the Hampden feed was not working.

“I am answering questions on incidents that I have not seen. My first reaction to Adam Rooney’s goal was that it was fine. The referee seemed adamant that there was a push in the build-up. I think the reaction from the United players said a lot. I did not think there was anything in it.

“I thought the first half was scrappy. I thought United looked more threatening and we did not look after the ball well enough. We were too loose in possession. We said to the players at half time that they needed to do more.
“We get the goal from the set play after Donervorn gets his head on it. I thought he was excellent today from the first minute to the last. We then had a good spell and looked quite composed and very much in control of the game.

“We then were loose in possession again which allowed them to win a corner that the goal came from. We did not defend the corner well enough. The game was finely poised at 1-1 and then there was the Rooney disallowed goal. Goodwillie has also headed one just over the bar. I thought we were in the ascendency, it was a good response from the players after losing the goal. But at no time did I feel we were in control of the game or felt confident with our performance. It was nip and tuck and then we lose a poor second goal. It was very scrappy, we should have dealt with it at the edge of the box in the place. There was some suggestion that Ciftci was offside but as I say I have not seen any of the incidents, regardless we should have defended the situation better at the end. We should have dealt with it.

“It was a poor goal to lose a semi-final.

“We had heard the pitch was poor. As the game went on it cut up. On several occasions it was very difficult for both players. There was not a true bounce. It is not an excuse as it was the same for both teams. Both teams like to pass the ball.

“It was a poor day for us. It was a missed opportunity. I do not think we were good enough. I thought my back four did very well. The defenders dealt very well with United’s offensive players but we did not have enough players playing well in front of them.”

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