Keeper makes Lions share the spoils
Monday, 7th Aug 2017Sean Murdoch`s 85th minute penalty save ensured both teams took one point from the first match of the league season
In Callum Morris`s absence with an injury picked up against Hearts, stand in skipper Sean Murdoch played a major part in securing the Pars a point at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Saturday.
The keeper had faced nine spot kicks in the penalty shoot out against East Fife and four against Hearts and his save success rate was zero so it was a timely change of fortune to pull off what was a match saver in 85th minute of the match against Livingston. He told the media:-
"To be fair I was due a penalty save. In the League Cup they either went wide or over the bar, I hadn`t actually save one so it was good that this one in the League meant more than the ones in the League Cup.
"It was a really good save, I was happy with it and to go away with a point."
Sean had no idea where to expect Danny Mullen to plump for with his spot kick but knew that the Livi striker would feel the pressure in front of his home crowd. He continued:-
"When players are under pressure they usually open up, into reverse and go to the other side. That is why I chose that side and luckily enough I managed to save it."
The Pars keeper was impressed by the League One champions saying that he thought they were excellent:-
"We knew that it was going to be difficult with the unveiling of the flag, it was the first league game and they started like a house on fire. We couldn`t cope and we were terrible for the first 45 minutes.
"In the second half we kind of calmed down and did what we were supposed to do. We got a good point in the end because I think a lot of teams will come here and be honest."
Sean revealed that the manager was very unhappy with the team`s performance at half time and he told the players that they were not good enough. It was quite a contrast from the praise of last week but the keeper who turned 31 just last week, stressed that it was a totally different game:-
"I am just glad that we managed to take something out of the game and did better in the second half. We still could have done better but we improved for being in a position where we could not get any worse really.
"We could easily have got nothing out of that, credit to Livingston they were really good and I think they will do well this season. But in our own performance we will need to do better this season.
"We want to be challenging up the top and if we keep playing like that then we will have no chance of getting out of this league."
There is no doubt that the performance will need to be significantly better when Dunfermline travel to face Rangers at Ibrox in Wednesday night`s Betfred Cup tie. Sean confirmed that all the players were looking forward to the match:-
"It is a break from the league, a big occasion for the club and a totally different type of game but one that we are relishing. The main aim remains the league and we need to do better, we need to get points on the board."
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