Manager on Thursday

05/04/18: “I am sure that both teams have moved on from that hopefully. We just want to go there and get the result for the fans.

Manager Allan Johnston is hoping that his team’s good run of form will continue at Falkirk on Saturday. He told the media on Thursday:-

“There is still a lot to play for, the league is still really really tight. We just know that we have to continue playing the way that we have been playing because we need to get ourselves into the play offs.”

It can’t be said that winning the four remaining games will guarantee a play off place but both Dundee United and Morton have to play St Mirren so the Pars need to position themselves to benefit for any slip ups. The manager continued:-

“It is easier said that done. The both are playing with a lot of confidence just now and games into games expecting to win. It is going to be a really tough game at the weekend. Falkirk’s record shows that they are on a good run as well.

“I think Falkirk are a much changed team from the team we played at the start of the season. I’m sure that both sets of players will be desperate to win the game.

“Our run has given ourselves a fighting chance considering we went through a bad spell where we couldn’t buy a win. You can see the players’ confidence coming back, we are creating chances, we are defending well.

“If you look at our record recently we are not losing a lot of goals. We are going to need to continue that between now and the end of the season. When you see strikers like Nicky (Clark) scoring a lot of goals then it certainly gives you an opportunity to win games.

“We need goals from all over the pitch, not just Nicky. That is why it is so pleasing to see big Ashy (Lee Ashcroft) pop up with a goal. It is something that we have been asking defenders to do a bit more and see if they can get themselves on the goal sheet.

“It was a good striker’s finish, I don’t think he could have hit it any better. It was probably one of those chances where you don’t even think about it, it is just instinctive and he finished it really well.

“It was a real hard battle the other night, I thought the boys gave everything and deserved to get the win. I hope that momentum carries on into the weekend.”

Paul Hartley has taken over at the Bairns since Allan Johnston’s side were last at the Falkirk Stadium. The Pars manager does not really know him very well, they never played together but he acknowledged that the new man in charge of the Fifers rivals had done a good job at Dundee and appeared to have come in and freshened things up successfully at Falkirk.

“He has brought a lot of new faces in and it is certainly going to be a hard game. We know where we want to be, we are full of confidence just now, the team is playing well and we just have to make sure that we get the result that we need.”

Asked about the animosity present in recent derbies between the sides, the Pars gaffer replied:-

“I am sure that both teams have moved on from that hopefully. We just want to go there and get the result for the fans. You know what it is like, it is the biggest derby. The fans always look forward to playing against their rivals. You want to go and get the win so that they get the bragging rights probably for the rest of the season.”

Both teams will undoubtedly display passion on the park and committed to try and win the game, AJ continued:-

“ I think as a player the derby atmosphere gives you that added edge, it always lifts your game and hopefully takes us to a new level.

“There is competition for places now that we have the injured boys back as well. That gives us a major lift and just shows you the strength and depth that we have got with these players coming back.”

Joe Cardle, Jean-Yves M’Voto and James Vincent all trained on Thursday.

“I think over the last few weeks that it is the competition for places all over the pitch that has pushed us on. Positions in midfield and centre half have been taken when injuries or suspensions have given the opportunity for people to come in and take their place.”

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