Wallace looks forward to Central Park
Saturday, 19th Mar 2016Coping with the expectations of fans is being controlled by keeping calm.
Ryan Wallace was pleased to back in the Dunfermline Athletic starting eleven last week at Ayr. It was for the first time since 21st November and he was even more delighted to be scoring goals.
"There is a good chance that in the next few weeks that we could possibly go on and win the league which is obviously exciting for the club but we are solely focussed on the weekend and hopefully going to Cowdenbeath, getting three points and continuing the run that we have been on."
Ryan has made 35 appearances this season so far but 28 of them have been off the bench. That's a far cry from the total of five last season when he feared that with the injuries he had that he might never play again:-
"To back fully fit for this season and not missed barely a days training has been excellent. The run that the club is on is magnificent as well. To be part of that has been wonderful this year and a joy for the fans to watch as well. It has been exciting this year but we need to get back to where the club belongs - high up the First Division, chasing for the Premier League again."
The 25 year old striker accepts that with Faissal El Bakhtaoui having scored 26 goals, Joe Cardle 14 and Michael Moffat 13 goals that it is tough for him trying to break into the side.
"I don't think I can have any complaint about not being in the team because the boys have been doing well. It is frustrating sitting at the side every week and getting only ten or fifteen minutes at the end of a game. I just try to make the most of coming on and scoring as many goals as I can, contributing to the team either making a tackle or scoring a goal. That is what you have to do, that is what I am being paid by the football club to do."
His two goals against Stenhousemuir followed by one against Albion Rovers proved that Ryan can still take the opportunity when he gets it. He continued:-
"I think the three goals in two games forced the manager's hand to put me in. On Saturday I felt that I did well enough; I set up the first goal and had a hand in the second goal as well. It is up to me now to grasp it, kick on and try and stay in the team until the end of the season."
Coping with the expectations of fans is being controlled by keeping calm.
"The boys were messaging on Tuesday night about the Peterhead game but really we're are solely focussed on the next game. We know that if we win the next two or three games then it the title is ours and we don't need to keep talking in what ifs.
"Now we have to go to Cowdenbeath on Saturday and pick up three points and take it from there. Eventually I think we will win it, that is my personal opinion. It is really close now and I don't see us throwing it away"
Next opponents are Cowdenbeath on their tight pitch, Ryan continued:-
"It s not the nicest place in the world to go, it is a small pitch and I cannot imagine that there will be much grass on it. The last time we played them there the ball was out of play for 42 minutes of the game. You can't understand how that happens but it happened and we drew which is not ideal for us but overall it has worked our in our favour.
"You need to roll your sleeves up, dig in and get on with it. We need everybody behind us and everybody working together to get to that stage. I am sure the boys will be focussed on that.
"Last week we put up a fight. We sat in and I thought the back four were brilliant, the midfield were brilliant and as a team we were brilliant. We scored two great goals on the counterattack that won us the game. I think it will be similar on Saturday as well - a really tough match.
"I think Cowdenbeath will have their hackles up as well because they will say that they don't want us to go there and pick up three points. They will want to prolong it as long as possible, that's football isn't it. That is the way it goes.
"It will be exciting to go there and hopefully get a win, it is always nice to get a win in a local derby."
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