Role change positions Clark to make a mark
Sunday, 25th Feb 2018"It is looking well, we just need to turn these draws into three points.
Nicky Clark led the Dunfermline Athletic side out against Queen of the South on Saturday in search of three points and he felt that there were enough chances in the match to have won it. Speaking to this website Nicky said:-
"First half we were probably better because we never really started in the second half. We had chances in the first half from set pieces then there were a couple of chances in the second half. It just feels that we cannot get that bit of luck in front of goal just now."
The 26 year old striker had a good opportunity just before half time when he met a James Craigen corner at the far post. He revealed that it was a move that had been worked on in training.
"I got beaten by the bounce on the surface. I just didn`t manage to get there to hit it high into the net. Unfortunately I wasn`t able to do it."
Then there was a strike in 74 minutes that had keeper Jack Leighfield stretched.
"The goalie did well to save but apart from that I have not had any other chances. But we did have enough chances in the game to win it.
There was the one that the keeper dropped for Higgy and the one from the free kick that he deflected with his toe. I don`t know how he saved that. It is just wee things like that are not going for us right now."
The one point earned keeps Dunfermline level on points with Queen of the South and with Morton winning at Inverness the gap between Dunfermline and Morton is now six points. Dundee United in between have two matches in hand (v Dumbarton and Inverness).
"It was probably a disappointing result for both teams but we can only concentrate on ourselves and we are frustrated that we didn`t get the three points.
"There are eleven games to go and who is to say that we cannot go and win eight or nine of them. We are more than capable with the talent that we have in the dressing room. We just need to get through where we are just now, hopefully our luck will change in front of goal and we will win a few more games."
Nicky is the club`s top goalscorer but for the last two matches he has been played in a different role sitting in behind the front two of Andy Ryan and Declan McManus. This came about as the management team decided to change things a bit revealed Nicky.
"We have done that by getting Chucky (Andy Ryan) in the team. Him and Decy (Declan McManus) are playing well together upfront with me just dropping back a bit. I think it has worked alright so far, we did well against Livingston and again against Queen of the South where I thought we did enough to win the game.
"It is easy saying that after but we have to do the business on the park and score the goals. Unfortunately we did not do that at Dumfries.
"I still have licence to get into the box, I am still able to do that and I feel that it has worked okay in the last couple of games. Obviously not as good as we wanted because we have not won the game. Yes, I feel I am doing okay in that position but we will see what happens on Tuesday night."
Kallum Higginbotham and Joe Cardle both came on late on the second half and reminded everyone how dangerous their crosses can be.
"We had great talent on the bench and you can see that when Higgy and Joe come on. Big Nat was on the bench and throughout this club we have really good players in it. But we need to do it on the pitch."
The five new players who came in the January transfer window are now up to speed and Nicky feels that they are already gelling well together:-
"I thought James Craigen and James Vincent did really well again in that position on the middle of the park. They have got energy and legs and willing to take the ball under pressure. You need to do that in this league and I think they have settled in well.
"Tom Beadling has come in and Daniel the young lad from Wolves and done well. It is looking well, we just need to turn these draws into three points.
"It is frustrating but it is down to us to change that and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday night."
Tuesday night sees the Pars travel to Glebe Park to faced a Brechin City side still seeking its first League win of the season. Nicky hopes that it is not against Dunfermline that they will break that duck.
"We need to prepare right. We are in Sunday and Monday to get our legs back ready to make sure we get the three points on Tuesday night."
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