Manager on Monday
Monday, 25th Mar 2019Stevie Crawford spoke to the media on Monday ahead of Tuesday night`s SPFL Championship match against Dundee United
With home fixtures against Dundee United and Ayr United, the manager acknowledged that it was a big week ahead for the club but one that they would all look forward to.
"We will embrace it after the disappointment of the game being called off on the Saturday. Football being football, Dundee United have had two games in between and they have taken maximum points from them and all credit to them.
"I went up to the game and watched them against Ross County on Tuesday night, they worked extremely hard and under difficult circumstances - for them it was a must win game - they started very brightly and managed to see the game through.
"Callum (Davidson) went and watched them on Saturday against Alloa. They went a goal behind and again in testing circumstances they managed to turn it round. They will come down with their eyes firmly set on Ross County.
"I was through on Friday night watching Inverness play Partick. Inverness have managed to leap frog us in the table and that is our focus. In as much as the Dundee United game is a good one to be involved in, I said a couple of weeks ago we were not setting our sights on Dundee United, it was whoever was above us.
"In that period since Friday we find ourselves two points behind Inverness. If we can close that gap this week I would be delighted with that."
Looking ahead to the Dundee United fixture ten days ago, Dunfermline sitting fourth were facing opponents off the back of two defeats but now fifth they face the same opponents off the back of two wins over Ross County and Alloa Athletic. Stevie agreed that was football.
"As I said at the time Ayr United was our focus, it was not trying to catch Dundee United and I have said that to the boys. Inverness have gone down to Firhill on Friday night and got the victory so we find ourselves with two really good games to look forward to this week. If we can close the gap on Inverness and Ayr United then I would see it as a positive week for us."
The Pars need to regain the momentum they had after five wins in a row. SC commented:-
"The boys were disappointed with the Dundee United game getting called off but the boys have trained. You just want games to come thick and fast when you were on a run like we were.
"No excuses, the boys will be up for it and with the floodlights on Tuesday night and the supporters behind us, our goal is to get ourselves back up into the play off positions again."
On player availabilty, Stevie said Andy Ryan and Aidan Connolly have progressed and no one had picked up any injuries on the training ground in the last ten days.
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