Cole’s help from a legend

“It is every young boy’s dream to play in derbies and big games like this. It is an exciting game and one that stands out on the fixture list, I can’t wait to get going on Wednesday.”

With just one start in the Premier Sports Cup and one in the Championship since arriving at Dunfermline in August, Reece Cole has revealed that he has tracked down a Pars legend to help him tune up and be ready to play when required.

The Englishman who spent six months at Partick Thistle in 2019-2020 has teamed up with his former Jags team mate Joe Cardle for some extra work on sharpening up his game.

“I have been doing a bit of training with Joe, just toning myself up. Obviously when you are not playing you are not getting the match fitness that everyone else is getting. I just feel that I needed to do a little bit extra just to keep my sharpness up, otherwise when I do get the chance, I have got to be ready for it. Little things like that can benefit me when the chance does come to me.”

The 34 year old who now plays his football with Kelty Hearts has had some pointed advice to give Reece, a product of the youth system at Brentford. He replied:-

“He probably won’t like me saying it, he is a bit of an old boy now and he has plenty of experience for me to take from him. As much as we are very good mates, he will tell me what I need to do better and things like that. I’m not there for a jolly, I’m there to work and get the best out of the sessions, it is good.

“I have said in interviews before he reckons that he is a Dunfermline legend, some people might say otherwise but I try and give him a little bit stick about that.”

Scoring a special goal at Tynecastle in July 2017 was just one of Joe’s 54 for Dunfermline but it is one that he has regularly mentioned to Reece who has been advised just to bide his time and be ready to take his chance:-

“He reckons that he is a hero because of his goal at Hearts but he has said that he just wants the best for me. Hopefully when the opportunity does come the quality will shine through.”

Joe has experience of both sides of the Fife derby and claims that these are enjoyable game to play in. Reece was on the bench when the match on 20th August away to Raith was abandoned, he did not miss the obvious puns to make in describing his night in Kirkcaldy:-

“I witnessed it on the last visit to Stark’s Park the boys started really brightly, it was a really positive fifteen minutes. The atmosphere was electric so hopefully the fans will come and bring that same energy on Wednesday and that will get us over the line.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the biggest or the smallest derby in Scotland. We have to go and win the game, I don’t think that it brings anymore pressure to us. Every game is the same, you are going out to go and get three points and win the game. Obviously there is a little more bite because the fans are louder and that can only benefit us.”

Reece was out of football for a year so the prospects of a derby and even to be going in training everyday are a blessing to him. He knows he can’t take anything for granted any more and he needs to work at it, get the head down and prove to everyone that he is good enough:-

“Hopefully when my chance does come I can show everyone what I can do - the fans, the manager and the boys as well. It is every young boy’s dream to play in derbies and big games like this. It is an exciting game and one that stands out on the fixture list, I can’t wait to get going on Wednesday.”

Cutting out the sloppy mistakes that have caused earlier defeats has helped pick up points of late but Reece knows that goals have to be scored to win games:-

“We have cleared out those grey areas of defensive duties and everyone knows what there job is, not that we didn’t before, but we just need to build on it now. We haven’t conceded yes, but it is disappointing that we haven’t scored in the last few games but it will come and the clean sheets can only be a positive.”

The midfielder thought that his scoring opportunity had come in the last game against Hamilton Academical when he and Dom Thomas found themselves standing over a 91st minute free kick:-

“First of all, I said that it was a right footer all day and I thought Dom said ‘I’m not going to hit it’. So I have lined it up and then I think Dom saw the way the keeper positioned himself and thought he would have a go. I said ‘alright you have it’ and well, he has no excuse to not let me have the next one! I will be looking forward to hopefully getting a free kick on Wednesday if I’m on.

“It reminded me of when I was at Partick playing against Dunfermline here. It was similar but a little closer but hopefully I will be on the next one and it goes in the back of the net instead of going out for a corner and we won’t look back from there.”

Saturday saw Reece introduced as a 63rd minute sub for the injured Nikolay Todorov and he explained how he hoped to change things at that stage in the game:-

“I just want to get on the pitch and help the boys in any way possible. Coming on in the number ten maybe suited me, there was a lot of space between the defensive line and their midfield. So the manager just said to try and pick up those pockets, try to get on the ball, get Kevin in behind and to link the play. It was just good to get on and enjoy football.

“When you are looking to come on and you are thinking how can I make an impact in a game, you are hoping to get an assist or a goal. Can I help out defensively just to not let us concede? It is all about getting that chance, staying in the team and then pushing on to get our first league win.”

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