Pars owe fans a result over Rovers

“You cannot afford to let the games pass you by because before you know it you are well out of the play off spots and promotion hopes.

After mixed experiences playing in all the five games against Raith Rovers last season, Aaron Comrie is hoping Friday night’s Fife Derby can produce the Pars first win at Stark’s Park since the second day of 2017.

Last season the Rovers had the upper hand with two wins, two games drawn and one Dunfermline victory. That win was all the more special for Aaron as he scored the second goal in the 4-1 win in February this year. He fondly remembers:-

“Obviously it was a good night for us and me personally. To score a goal doesn’t happen often, it is right up there in my memories in a Dunfermline shirt.”

That was countered by a 5-1 Rovers home win the following month and Aaron recalled it is never nice losing a game and especially to lose it by that margin:-

“It was a big night in terms of play off places but it is something I’m sure that this group of boys won’t let that happen again.”

The play off matches in May were huge matches too but Aaron who was born in Kirkcaldy and was raised in Glenrothes claimed that this Fife derby is a big game in its own right, particularly after the Premier Sports Cup knock out to Rangers:-

“We never turned up when it mattered. We were all over the place and individually we just didn’t do our jobs good enough. I think we made it an easy night for Rangers.

“Coming off the back of a bit of a doing, I think we have something to prove to the fans first and foremost and no better game than the derby away. Hopefully they will come and support us like they did on Friday night when they stayed behind. I thought that was a nice touch. I have no doubt there will be a big crowd on Friday night.”

The fans missed out big style in those play off games in May. Possibly the biggest matches between the clubs since the Martin Hardie double match in April 2011 that was a major factor in winning the First Division title for the Pars that season. Aaron said that it would be brilliant to have their backing again this Friday:-

“We played Raith five times last season and a lot of the games were good open games of football, there wasn’t really much between us over the course of the season. Looking back at the play off games, both stadiums would have been close to sell out numbers. The only thing missing was the fans.”

When you look at the attacking styles that both teams will probably deploy, Raith will undoubtedly try and play football and Aaron states that is Peter Grant’s ambition as well:-

“I think that makes for a good exciting game. It is bringing that bite and enthusiasm that the fans will cheer on. That is the only difference that will make, but in terms of openness I think it should be quite an open game.”

Aaron has played right back in a back four for his first two seasons at East End Park. This season Peter Grant has transformed him into a centre back but he is the first to admit that it is clear to see that there is work to be done there:-

“Players are going to take more time than a few weeks. Everyone has bought into the new manager and the way he wants to play. A lot of the misdoings are coming from our mistakes so he never puts that pressure on us, he knows that mistakes are going to happen. In the right areas we are making wrong choices and there is definitely stuff to work on.”

To expect supporters to be patient is not something that the 24 year old who joined Dunfermline from St Johnstone in May 2019, feels is realistic:-

“I am not sure about that because fans demand results and if you are saying that it takes time, results are the most important thing. Maybe not playing nice football but gritting it out at times and have more of a purpose and an emphasis.

“You cannot afford to let the games pass you by because before you know it you are well out of the play off spots and promotion hopes. By Christmas it could be a dog fight so results are high up the list of priorities.

“The derby is the perfect game. All the boys know there is no better - Friday night on TV with hopefully a really good crowd. It won’t take much to get up for that game.”

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