Aaron pleased to be onside with Dom

“I’ve been there myself in training. I think Dom’s caused everyone in the team problems in training.

Last Saturday Queen of the South came up against Dom Thomas in top form and Aaron Comrie is delighted that it was James Maxwell and not him who had to try and constrain him. The full back, who joined Dunfermline from St Johnstone in the summer of 2019, knows first hand just what a handful Dom can be:-

“He’s a really good player on his day and he makes my job so much easier, especially when he’s on song.

“I’ve been there myself in training. I think Dom’s caused everyone in the team problems in training. I’m sure the boy Maxwell will learn from that. Dom’s a top player and it’s happened to me before. It will be a good learning curve for him.”

Dom Thomas’ display earned him a place in the SPFL team of the week and if he can produce that kind of form again in the next two games Aaron feels Dunfermline can have a really good chance of making the play offs.

“He’s massive for us and for the rest of the boys it’s all about trying to get the ball to Dom high up the park and get him running at full-backs, because he’ll cause anyone a problem. It’s down to us to get him the ball.”

As seen on Saturday with a strike force of Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton and Declan McManus supported by Dom Thomas, Ewan Henderson and Fraser Murray, Dunfermline have good attacking options. Aaron continued:-

“There’s a lot of young talent in the squad, be that on loan or all the boys who have signed, and I think the club’s in a good place with the young talent we’ve got.”

Last Saturday’s win was a necessary one and it came as a bit of a relief to all admitted Aaron:-

“As you can imagine, we’ve just been trying to get that win and we’ve managed it, so it’s been a happy camp. It was a long time coming but it wasn’t just the win, I thought the performance was good as well.

“Performances haven’t been the best of late, so coming into the game on Saturday it was just important we put on a performance - and more importantly got the win and we managed to do that.”

Aaron was a near ever present last season and this season injury he has curtailed that to 23 starts and 3 substitute appearances out of 32 Dunfermline matches. Looking around the current squad he now acknowledges that he is one of the older ones:-

“Time catches up on you, you don’t realise how fast it goes. I’m still trying to play catch-up. I’m 24 now and I’ve not played as many games as I would have wanted. So, I’m still learning and trying to improve.”

Dunfermline have conceded only ten league goals at home, the fewest in the Championship and it is important to continue that good record against Arbroath on Saturday. Aaron is happy to have played a part in that defensive performance this season

“I think it’s a big part of the management and staff, they have put a big emphasis on trying to create that solid base. From Fonners out it’s about the back four and full team having a good shape and giving us the platform to go and not concede goals. If we need to win games 1-0 or grind them out, it gives us that platform. That’s been pleasing.”

Aaron is trying to become vocal since he knows that is a necessary part of the game and all the more important as Vytas Gašpuitis is integrated into central defence, he was not sure how much his new team mate understood but was impressed by how well the big defender had done:-

“It’s not one of the strongest part of my game, so week by week I’m trying to improve on that. It’s hard for big Vytas just now but he’s done well so far. He’s just new to the country, so any help I can give him will help him in the long run.

“Lewis Mayo has played a fair few games this season. He knows what it’s all about. He’s done well too.”

After last season finished prematurely, Aaron faces his first run-in to a season finale since he was on loan at Peterhead four years ago but he dismissed any suggestion of pressure beginning to get to him:-

“No, because I know how good the boys are around me. Everyone’s in it together. At this time of the season, I don’t think it’s on individuals; it will be a team performance and it will be the team that either gets us into the play-offs or doesn’t. But my experience of being down there and playing in pressure games will help and I’ll try to bring that to all the other boys as well.

“We are still in a good place this season. If we can win our next two games, even though they’re going to be tough, then hopefully it’s enough.”

There is no doubt that Arbroath will be difficult opponents but Aaron said that the priority was to take three points and not be concerned about any other results:

“That’s all we can do. As everyone has seen, this league is so tight and Arbroath are coming off the back of a really good win. They’ve still got everything to play for, along with us, so I think it’s going to be a highly competitive game and we’re expecting a really tough one.”

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