Murray in a hurry to re-ignite season
Monday, 1st Feb 2021“Our goals internally haven’t changed and that is promotion. It is important now to get back to the basics and win games.”
After producing one of their best performances in recent weeks Dunfermline were disappointed to leave Tynecastle on Saturday with no points. Captain Euan Murray just felt that with a Fife derby at home on Wednesday night it is important now is that they re-group and start winning games again. He described Hearts 1-0 win as a sore one to take:-
“I thought on the day we were excellent to a man, the shape of the team was different class - probably the best we have been for a while, even though we have had clean sheets.
“We had probably the better of the chances over the piece. At the minute things are not going our way in front of goal but that is a collective thing. I think we are due the rub of the green at some point but if we keep putting in performances like that we will start picking up wins again.”
Dunfermline were out of the blocks fast after they kicked the game off forcing a goal line clearance within 21 seconds but they found goalkeeper Craig Gordon in cracking form throughout and the 38 year old displayed all the talents that earned him 55 Scotland caps. Euan continued:-
“I think he is different class, you would struggle to find a goalie in the Premier League who could make a save like that from Ryan Dow in the first half. You just have to take your hat off and say it was unbelievable and, when you look at it, he has maybe kept them in the game at certain stages. That is the thing, Hearts have a brilliant squad and he is certainly a big part of that.”
Jamie Walker returned to Hearts in June 2018 and it was the 26 year who would score the only goal of the match just nine minutes from the end. Euan agreed it was another touch of class that won the points:-
“He has come on with fresh legs and was maybe a bit different from what they already had. A lot of things were going into feet and going back the way and it was just a moment of magic. Sometimes there is not a lot you can do.”
Walker, a product of the Hearts academy system produced something special to penetrate the Pars defence and the captain added:-
“You can look at it from a defensive point of view and but also you could say ‘fair play to the attacker’. It was brilliant play and I think that when he has got past me he had a fair angle to go and try and hit the target. He has produced a worldly finish across the goal. That wee bit of magic has been the difference on the day.”
There were positives from the match with Stevie Crawford agreeing with Euan’s view of the Fifers performance.
“Throughout the ninety minutes I felt that we were fairly comfortable, probably not the right word coming to a stadium like Tynecastle but to a man we defended well as a team from the strikers all the way through to Fônners in goals. Sometimes teams come up with a wee moment of magic and there is not too much you can do.”
The Pars goalkeeper certainly pulled off a number of first class saves and Euan was delighted how the big man had produced the good at big moments in both halves of the match:-
“We all played our part, Fônners made some great saves, but then again he is an international goalkeeper.”
Hearts now sit 12 points ahead of Raith Rovers and Dunfermline. The Fife sides have games in hand over their capital rivals but at the half way point in the season it is realistic to believe that route to promotion for either of them will be through the play offs. Euan did not disagree:-
“Since the start of the season it has not really been a case of us trying to put ourselves against Hearts. They have got unbelievable resources and international football players. For us it has been a case of taking it game by game. We started the season like a house on fire and we have tailed off with a couple of draws. Our goals internally haven’t changed and that is promotion. It is important now to get back to the basics and win games.”
Euan Murray made 92 appearances for Raith Rovers in seasons 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 and he is looking forward to the derby match regardless of his personal connections with the opposition:-
“It doesn’t bother me at all. It is not something that I think about. I had a good period of time at the club but I am a Dunfermline player now, captain of the club and my sole focus is trying to produce as best a performance as I can for my team.
“We know what Raith Rovers are all about, me more than anybody. It is one that we will look forward to because it is another chance. You want the games coming thick and fast at you and it is an opportunity to put the disappointment of Saturday behind us. It is a home game where we can go and try and win.”
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