Nick an early goal
Friday, 23rd Mar 2018"If we can nick an early goal, it will get them going and hopefully the United fans turn in their players and make it an uncomfortable afternoon for them."
Three Nicky Clark goals lifted three points at Brechin on Tuesday night and a win over United on Saturday would see the Pars underline their last quarter push to finish in a play off place. The striker who took his season total to 16 from 32 games, admitted that the draw last weekend at home to Morton was a disappointment:-
"We had a few chances, we hit the crossbar, we hit the post and probably a wee bit unlucky not to get the three points but we reacted well with a good result on Tuesday night."
With Dundee United having won of just their last six games and their only home win in 2018 being against Brechin City, it would seem like a good time to go to Tannadice. Nicky agreed:-
"I think it is. We will get organise and be ready for them because we need to go up there and win. That would take us into a play off position and we are looking forward to the game, it is a massive one."
With seven games remaining Dunfermline`s next three games are against teams currently lying 3rd, 6th and 2nd after that the teams they play are all currently in the bottom four. Queen of the South have four of the top six to play, Dundee United, five and Morton four. Nicky observed:-
"We are going to be playing against teams round about us, the table is so close with Queens, ourselves, Morton and Dundee United. We need to make sure that we win as many as possible to pick up as many points as we can."
There are three play off places currently filled by Livingston on 51 points, United on 44 and Morton on 43. Dunfermline have 42 points and Queen of the South 41, Nicky
"It is hard to say, we have still to play Livingston and the teams round about us have to play each other so they can`t all win! We just need to take it as it comes - we can only concentrate on ourselves and win the games that we are involved in. We will be working hard towards that and making sure that we do it."
Pressure never seems to be far away from teams in the Championship and the Pars were certainly aware of the consequences of not winning in midweek:-
"We knew what we had to do on Tuesday night. There is pressure in every game that we play, especially at this stage of the season. Tuesday night was a tricky one for midweek, freezing cold and the pitch not that great.
"We obviously got off to a flying start with the two early goals, that made it comfortable for us. There was added pressure because if we lost that one it would have been a bit of a disaster."
On a personal front, Nicky had gone six games without scoring so his hat trick against Brechin clearly delighted him.
"Hopefully now with a few games coming up, hopefully I can kick on a score in the next few games. Pressure is on Dundee United as home team on Saturday.
"They were favourites for the Championship title before it kicked off. They have not been able to do that, St Mirren have been good and credit to them.
"We need to go up there and put on a great performance. I don`t think that we will go all gun ho and leave ourselves exposed at the back to concede goals. In fairness we have defended really well - Robby (Lee Robinson) has something like eight teams sheets in ten games. That is incredible for a goalie. The back four have been doing really well, we are getting clean sheets and I am sure if we can get another clean sheet up there on Saturday, we have players who can score goals."
"I anticipate that there will be a decent crowd because it is a big game for both clubs. I am sure that we will take a good travelling support that will get right in behind us. If we can nick an early goal, it will get them going and hopefully the United fans turn in their players and make it an uncomfortable afternoon for them."
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