Manager on Thursday

01/04/21: SC - “ Unfortunately we find ourselves at the moment at the low point of that rollercoaster ride and we have to pick ourselves up very quickly to make sure that we are winning games again.

“Probably our worst and best performances have come against Raith Rovers this season. To lose 5-1 against your rivals is a difficult one to take. Equally we won 4-1 against them earlier in the season and we never got carried away at that point.

“That is history now and we just have to make sure that we pick ourselves up and dig deep to get a reaction that gives us an opportunity when we play Hearts at the weekend and in the last five games of the season.”

Stevie is still hurting from Tuesday night’s defeat and the 47 year old boss was quoted after the match, saying that it was his lowest point since being appointed Dunfermline manager in January 2019.

“I will not hide from the responsibility, the club means too much to myself. The supporters will be hurting and we have got to prove over the next six games that we are capable of getting in these playoffs.

“I am not saying that Tuesday night’s performance is acceptable by any means but it is going to be a rollercoaster when you are working with younger players, when you are working with boys who possibly haven’t had game time at this level.

“We have to make sure that we stay together. Unfortunately we find ourselves at the moment at the low point of that rollercoaster ride and we have to pick ourselves up very quickly to make sure that we are winning games again.

“I have signed every player that is the dressing room now, so it is my team. I speak to the players regularly. I know that they are hurting but I need them to show that they are hurting. They know that collectively that wasn’t good enough against Raith Rovers on Tuesday night.

“(The defeat at) Dundee was a sore one because we scored two goals away from home and lost goals to setplays where we hadn’t been earlier in the season.

“We have to regalvanise and soul search but certainly not feel sorry for ourselves. Taking the criticism that comes our way is also part of it, it is not the nice side of the job but it is accepting that there are going to be people really disappointed and angry with the performance and making that right by showing that we are better than what we showed on Tuesday night.”

Dunfermline have conceded eight goals in two games but the gaffer said:-

“When you go searching for goals you leave the back door open as well. That is the balance of management I suppose. Scoring two goals up at Dundee and losing three is a sore one to take but as I say we can’t look back, we have got to look forward and make sure that we are harder to beat but also have a goal threat. That is the challenges that we are going to have over the next six games.”

Stevie agrees that there has to be belief and confidence that games can be won:-

“There certainly is from myself. The early season form when we were getting results and wins together, it was a great run, everybody was in a great place but if you are going to achieve something in life, not everything runs smoothly.

“I have said it is a rollercoaster and it is being able to get over the bumps and bruises of what’s thrown at you. It is going to be a test now, I don’t just mean that on the players, it is the management staff and the coaches.

“We are facing something that is not nice to face, we can’t hide from it. We know the supporters are going to be angry and I don’t take that lightly. We will do our best to make sure that we start winning games to give ourselves the best chance to finish in the playoffs now.”

Craig Wighton (above) will miss out against Hearts due to his loan agreement with his parent club. Vytas Gašpuitis will be back from international duty with Lithuania but both Paul Watson and Steven Whittaker (ankle) are doubtful through injuries.

Fixture kick off time amendment
The kick off time for the home match against Dundee on Tuesday 13th April has been brought forward to 6.00pm and will be broadcast live on the BBC Scotland channel.

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