Cold Play

As the clocks turn back, Dunfermline know they are heading into the winter months `off the boil`. The Pars want to be in summer climbs but their route to the Premiership is looking a long way off, currently sitting 13 points behind league leaders Ayr United.

t is fair to say it has been a stuttering start to the season for Allan Johnston`s men and that their present 7th placed position within the SPFL Ladbrokes Championship is disappointing. You could say, they`re suffering from `cold play`.

Coincidentally, a lyric from the band of the same name may just sum up the whole situation, right now:

"When you try your best but you don`t succeed; when you get what you want, but not what you need"

If we look at the season so far, it is obvious to see the desire, commitment and effort of the players. That can`t be brought into the equation - they are trying their hardest to make this club successful on the pitch this term.

However, it is also fair to say that they haven`t met expectations yet. Since Johnston arrived at East End Park, Dunfermline have improved year on year. This campaign, the minimum requirement was to qualify for the promotion playoffs. While only 5 points off that elusive fourth spot, it hasn`t been plain sailing for DAFC during the 2018/19 season to date.

If we look at Tuesday`s match in isolation, for example; we got what we wanted: to see an improved display and more importantly, to not lose the match and drop further behind the promotion playoff pack. But, it wasn`t necessarily what the West Fife club needed!

A win could`ve closed the gap to 2 points and put Inverness Caledonian Thistle under immense pressure as they head into their Highland Derby encounter versus Ross County on Saturday.

The Pars travel to Clackmannanshire for a massive match against 9th placed Alloa, who`ve drew 0-0 with Dunfermline already this season in the second-tier of Scottish football, while also seeing off the DA via a penalty shootout victory in the Irn-Bru Cup following a 2-2 stalemate. Jim Goodwin`s men have lost only once in their 5 previous matches, in all competitions, with that defeat coming in the midweek card just past, as the Honest Men snapped up another victory at Somerset Park to condemn the Wasps to zero points as they headed home from Ayrshire.

The home form of Alloa is OK. At the Indodrill Stadium, they`ve picked up 5 points from 6 matches in the Championship division. Whereas, Dunfermline have accumulated 8 points from a possible 15 as their sway form continues to out-do their return at EEP. Johnston will hope that run can continue tomorrow.

Goodwin has reduced the pitch this term to try frustrate the opposition as he looks to find any small detail that could help his team pick up points come 3pm on a Saturday. But, the part-time club (the only one in this season`s second-tier) haven`t made the most of that so far: Pars fans may find themselves further away from the pitch but a large and vociferous crowd could be key to DAFC reigniting their campaign... 🔥

Let`s Get Right Behind The Team.... COME ON YE PAAAAAAAARS! ⚽🏁🏆