Kenny defends Simmons after ban

Stephen Simmons celebrated with a pretend cigar

Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny thinks two-goal Stephen Simmons did not deserve the booking that rules him out of the Scottish Cup semi-final.

"I don't see how that's a booking," Kenny told BBC Sport after watching a re-run of his goal celebrations in the 2-0 victory over Partick Thistle.

"What are you supposed to do? Walk cordially back to the centre circle with your hands at your side?

"It is his second booking for celebrating, which is a harsh."

Interview: Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny

Kenny led Derry City to victory over St Pat's Athletic in the FAI Cup final in December before heading to Dunfermline.

His new side have become detached at the bottom of the Scottish Premier League while knocking Rangers and holders Hearts out of the Scottish Cup.

But he rejected suggestions that he had become a cup specialist or that his luck had followed him to the knockout competitions.

It was the same referee who booked me in the Rangers game Dunfermline defender Stephen Simmons

"It's nothing to do with luck," he said. "It's about the players.

"They prepared thoroughly, their attitude has been good and they have got their reward.

"But we won't be celebrating getting to the semi-final too much.

"We have to have higher ambitions than that.

"The goals are going in no problem in the cup, but we have to start doing that in the league.

"I know some people have written us off, but we don't see it that way and think we can still avoid relegation."

Kenny had particular praise for recent signings Adam Hammill, Jim O'Brien and transfer-listed winger Owen Morrison.

Simmons was thankful to Morrison for supplying the cross for the opening goal.

"It was a great result and I thought the boys thoroughly deserved it," he said.

Simmons admitted that he had made a gesture towards the Thistle fans before being booked by Iain Brines.

"Their fans were giving us a lot of stick and I just gave them a bit of stick back," he said, exlaining why he had motioned like smoking a cigar.

"It was the same referee who booked me in the Rangers game when I didn't do anything.

"It means I am out of the semi-final and I'll just need to deal with that."