Dan convinced quality will shine through
Wednesday, 8th Sep 2021“It is a performance industry and it has got to happen on Saturday now.
Pars midfielder Dan Pybus is not one to dwell on setbacks in the football world because there is always another game looming to put things right. Certainly he has never before had experiences like the last week at Dunfermline but with only one point on the board he has a positive slant on the league situation:-
“We are only three games in, there are still 99 points to play for and that’s a lot of points. We need to start this weekend by putting three more on the board and really kick start our season.
“Everyone knows that the start has not been good enough, all the players know that individually and collectively as a team. We all wanted to put it right starting at the weekend, it is just unfortunate that the Elgin game was called off. Now we have to be ready for this Saturday.”
This weekend’s opponents Ayr United have also had matches off due to shortages caused by Covid and Dan observed:-
“Yes they have had it difficult too and it is the same for a lot of teams. Come Saturday that all goes out the window and it is the three points which matter.”
So after abandoned and then cancelled matches, the 23 year old midfielder is looking forward to completing a game of football this week:-
“It hasn’t been great for anyone with the Raith game been called off after 15 minutes and then the Elgin game getting cancelled. It hasn’t been great and so I think the lads are just looking forward to getting into a routine of playing every week and building some momentum.”
Dan is like any other football player who has suffered adverse results, he wants to rectify that as quickly as possible:-
“Elgin would have been a great chance to do that, gather a bit of momentum and get some confidence. All the boys are confident, there are some good players here so we need to go into Saturday’s game and if we play the way we do and compete against a tough hard-working side. I feel confident that we can come out on top, quality always shines through and it is only a matter of time before it does.”
For Dan the last week has been like no other in his career, he explained how the squad trained in smaller groups:-
“Going into the Elgin game our numbers were smaller than what our management staff would have wanted, only 14, but you still managed to work on things. There was maybe not as much eleven v eleven stuff as you would have wanted but you still get your fitness, you still get lots of the ball and your runs but obviously more difficult with 14 than it is with 20 plus.
“Now everyone is back and healthy which is the main thing, everyone is ready for Saturday and looking forward to going to Ayr and putting on a performance.”
Dan has started just four of Dunfermline’s nine matches this season, he has come on off the bench five times and played the full 90 minutes only against St Mirren and Rangers. In the last match against Arbroath he was subbed at half time but he pointed out that was a tactical change which he was totally fine with:-
“The team was 2-0 down, I would probably have made that myself. I can understand that I could have done some things better but I am a team player and always play my part for the team. If someone else needs to go on to create more chances or to try and get a goal then so be it.
“I am not going to dwell on it. I came in on the Monday morning, the same of old me, worked hard, kept my head down and set off to try and get in the team for the next game.”
Admitting that it is not nice to be brought off whether it be the tenth minute or the 85th minute, the Englishman who started his career after ten years at Sunderland claimed that everyone wants to play 90 minutes:-
“I am 23 years old now and I have been fortunate enough to play in this league for the last two years. Sometimes there is going to be a time where you are brought off after 45 minutes.
“There was a game at Queen of the South where I was brought off after 25 minutes and that was a reality check. I got a stupid yellow card, just typical from me. Knowing my luck I would probably have put in a stupid challenge in the second half as well.
“Listen, being brought off at half time is what it is, you just have to get on with it. Dom Thomas is a brilliant player, everyone knows that, so 2-0 down at home so why not put on one of the best forwards/wingers in the league so why not try and get yourself a goal back. I completely understand it.”
Dan also understands the frustrations vented by the fans at the end of the 3-0 defeat at home to Arbroath in the last game:-
“The fans have a right to boo and jeer when we are not performing. We conceded three goals at home and that is not good enough. I’m sure if players were up in the stand they would be doing the same. We have got to accept it and go out and perform at the end of the day.
“It is a performance industry and it has got to happen on Saturday now. To be fair I think the performance could go out the window now just as long as those three points come home with Dunfermline.”
Dan talks to Jordan Burt on ParsTV
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