Louis returns to BairnaBoo
Friday, 5th Oct 2018Boo boys - “I’m sure it will spur me on to try and get that goal to silence them.
Louis Longridge knows just how passionate affairs Falkirk v Dunfermline derby games can be. During his six months at Falkirk under Paul Hartley, the Pars man played for the Bairns in their last three derby matches - a 1-1 draw in November, a 2-0 Dunfermline win in January and a 2-1 Dunfermline win in April. He admits that it is going to be different going back there:-
“The Falkirk fans were cheering me last year but I think this time I will be getting a few boos because of the rivalry between Dunfermline and Falkirk. That is expected but the fact that I’m going there with Dunfermline and wanting the win, I will be focused on the game and just trying to get the three points for Dunfermline.
“Let people boo if they want to boo. If they want to cheer they cheer, you cannot really pay too much attention to that. I had a good spell there and have some good memories of there but obviously now my main focus is Dunfermline. I will try 100% to win the game, to try and score goals and help the team to come away with three points on Saturday.”
With Myles Hippolyte and James Craigen potentially in the Pars team, Louis is one of three former Falkirk players who might like to prove people wrong.
“Whatever reaction I get on Saturday, I will try and focus on the football and not really pay attention to the crowd. But if I do hear it I’m sure it will spur me on to try and get that goal to silence them. I think that is the best way to do it - by doing well on the pitch, that is my main priority on Saturday.”
Falkirk have had a clear out of players since Louis was there last season.
“There are a couple of boys I know because they were there when I was there. The manager who was my manager last year is no longer there, it is a new management team.”
Louis worked under Ray McKinnon however while he was on loan from Hamilton to Raith Rovers between January to May 2016. The 27 year old feels that the new Falkirk manager will have changed his style of play somewhat since then.
“Last year I knew the style of Falkirk’s play, I would maybe have been able to take advantage of that but they have changed everything for a fresh start. It will be like playing against a team that we have never played before.
“I thought they finished the season well under Paul Hartley so it is a surprise this season that they didn’t really kick on. It is maybe down to the large turnaround trying to get that many bodies to gel together.
“Last year there was quite a solid core to the team and they brought in boys in January to try and help that. It will be difficult for Ray as well because he will look at it as not his players. Maybe he will want to make a few changes in January.”
Players in both camps don’t need much motivation for these games. Louis is looking forward to a big crowd, a good atmosphere and a hotly competitive game:-
“I played in some last year as well but as a player these are games that you want to play in. I will just be buzzing for the game and try and exploit them anyway I can. I will do the best I can, the team will be going there to try and get all three points and nothing less.”
Dunfermline travel across the Kincardine Bridge on the back of a win that was extremely important following the disappointment of the previous weekend. Louis added:-
“It was vital to get back to winning games. The week before against Morton we were very comfortable and an individual error costs us the three points.
“It is a difficult league and any three points are going to be vital. We got the three on Friday and we just hope to build on that.”
It was an important win and hopefully the Fifers can take a lot of confidence from that. Louis agreed that the television viewers were not served up a thriller however:-
“I watched the game back and it wasn’t the greatest of spectacles to watch. It is just important to get the three points because we played good football the week before and just came away with a point. You would rather have scrappy games as long as you take the three points.
“We finished the game very strongly and we need to take that into the Falkirk game this Saturday.”
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