Encouraging
Date: Thursday, 26th Jan 2023We are all gutted with the last two results, but we should not be disheartened, despite the back-to-back Cup exits which have occurred against Partick Thistle and Dundee in recent days.
Both performances - within a few days of each other - were encouraging against two sides high up in the SPFL cinch Championship.
It was two displays where you couldn’t fault the players and you couldn`t fault their effort.
If there was one thing lacking, it was maybe the ability to put the ball in the net when it mattered.
Against Partick Thistle, we controlled a lot of the game and we missed some great chances in normal time and extra-time to win through the tie.
Highlights: Partick Thistle (4)1-1(2) Dunfermline Athletic
On Tuesday evening, we had a lot of good chances but we only had periods of pressure; they came in flashes, certain periods in the game – such as the opening quarter of the contest against Dundee.
Highlights: Dundee 4-2 Dunfermline Athletic
Dundee were good on the front foot and caused us problems defensively: we can even look at these negatives as positives - if you are winning in League One most weeks, you`re not going to get these types of lessons.
Plenty of teams will lose a few goals at the Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park between now and the end of the season.
I don`t think the players will be nor should be disheartened after these two Cup matches; they are more than capable at League One level, so competing with teams of a higher standard at present, can only be good thing.
We were also missing our three cup-tied loanees, all creative players in the attacking sections of the pitch. They will be back for this weekend`s trip to play Clyde, leaving us with a full squad other than Paul Allan, and it is important we get the momentum going again.
That`s three defeats across 29 matches in all competitions this season - that`s fairly impressive no matter what level of the game you are at. If you offered that at the start of the season, we`d have bitten your hand off for that, I am sure.
And Another Thing...
After Sam Fisher`s recall to Dundee, Sam Young came in for just his second start after playing against Celtic B in an earlier round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
At just 17-years old, the defender did enough to make Dunfermline Athletic fans think that we at least have someone who won`t look fazed if he is required between now and the end of the season.
Sam Young talks to ParsTV on Tuesday evening
"Courier Sport`s Craig Cairns got the view of Pars TV’s Jordan Burt ahead of Dunfermline’s return to league duty at Clyde this weekend."
Link to Courier Story
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