Dunfermline Athletic

Manager on Thursday

Thursday, 4th Feb 2021

04/02/21: SC - “We have got to build on the confidence of the result against Raith Rovers, scoring goals, being positive in our attacking play and try to cause Arbroath problems

Looking back on the match against Raith Rovers, scoring four and picking up the three points delighted the Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawforda satisfactory outcome of a horrid wet, windy and freezing February night.

“I know Raith had lost on the Tuesday the week before to Hearts, but they had gone to Tynecastle and come away with three points. So we knew that it was going to be a challenging game, they were in a good bit of form and they had been scoring goals.

“Equally we had been struggling in front of goal. It is like waiting on a bus and then three come at once. I did feel that we deserved to go in ahead and the goal just before half time just allowed the boys to get a little bit more freedom in their play and on the night I think the score maybe flattered Raith. We could have had five, six, seven goals on the night.

“It was a good competitive derby that we can take confidence from but it is not getting carried away. Going to Arbroath is a really tough place. There home record is unbelievable when you look at the stats so having won there 3-1 earlier in the season, albeit in the cup, we have to take confidence from that to go up against an Arbroath side that is in a good bit of form themselves.

“They are well organised, they are well drilled, they have got really good players. They are a part time side but they have got boys who have done well for them for a number of years now. They are a settled side but Dick has added a few additions.

“He is very shrewd in the way he uses the transfer market. We will be wary of what Arbroath’s strengths are but we have got to build on the confidence of the result against Raith Rovers, scoring goals, being positive in our attacking play and trying to cause Arbroath problems that allows us to try and compete to win a game of football.”

While Dunfermline were defeating Raith Rovers, Arbroath were earning an important point against Inverness Caley Thistle and Stevie felt that only underlined how tight a league the Championship is:-

“People were saying ‘we’re Hearts going to go through the season without losing a game’ but they are not finding it as easy. That is not me having a pop at Hearts, that is other people talking. Inverness went there and picked up a point, and probably a good point.

“A couple of Fridays ago Dundee took a point away so it brings attention to us going up there and winning 3-1 in the League Cup and how good a performance it was on the day. It is going to be a totally different game, I think Dick is setting up his team slightly different from what he did on that day. He was forced into playing three at the back that day against us and it is a game that we are looking forward to.”

Player availability?

“We took off Euan Murray as a precautionary thing, he just felt things tightening up and we are hopeful that Euan will be fine, we can’t guarantee that. Ryan Dow is the one where we are going to see where he is at, it is still too early to tell on that one. Otherwise full squad.”

Stevie’s comments on the signing of Lithuanian international defender, Vytas Gašpuitis and pre-contract agreement with Craig Wighton can be read on the two stories linked below.



Views : 2,601

Related Stories


Archived website
This website served as the official Dunfermline Athletic website from season 2006-2007 until season 2022-2023.

Stories, match reports and interviews for these seasons can still be accessed here.

The current DAFC website with up to date information is on this link https://DAFC.co.uk
DAFC Archives
Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust. Information on past players, fixtures, league tables and archives can be found at www.daht.org.uk
ParsTV
For Season 2023/2024 SPFL regulations mean that on a Saturday afternoon we have to offer a Subscription service for overseas viewers. This will either be a monthly or a yearly subscription (on a Saturday it is FOR OVERSEAS viewers only - some dates are exempt.) https://ParsTV.co.uk
  • files/Newsletter_advert_9112.jpg
  • files/CB_Dunfermline_Programme_Ad_300px_v2_9109.jpg
  • /files/KiltCompany_280_2285.jpg
  • /files/youngpars_2016_9593.jpg
Archives
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1991
1986
1979
1968
1965
1962
1961
1960
1957
1949

To top