Fans owed derby success
Wednesday, 6th Apr 2022DP:- “The two teams are evenly matched, we both want to play football and we know that we need to be right at it with a high intensity
For Pars fans it was a strange weekend without football and that frustration was shared with the playing staff who would rather have had the chance to make up for a disappointing match in the Highlands the week before. Midfielder Dan Pybus had two ways to look at it:-
“We had three games in a week and then we missed a weekend. Especially when you finish on a loss, and probably the way we played wasn’t great so it is frustrating not playing for another ten days. I suppose you flip it and on the other side we have had the chance to freshen up and work on a few things. It can work two ways.”
Wednesday night’s meeting at home to local rivals is a good game to come back to - a big derby and one that the team will be looking to go and win of course. Dan warned:-
“I’m sure that they will be looking to do the same with them still able to get into the top four. We just need to look after ourselves and play the way we have been playing in the last couple of home games. I’m sure that the football will take care of the result on the day.”
With the exception of Inverness, Dan takes confidence from recent matches:-
“Even before the last two home games, we went to Arbroath and got beat 1-0 but played very well. At Hamilton we were unfortunate not to win the game on the day and then we went into the two home games. I personally thought that we played brilliantly against Morton. We passed the ball well but didn’t take chances.
“Against Partick Thistle we went one goal down and everyone was probably thinking ‘here we go again’ but the lads reacted really well and everything clicked as we went and scored four really good goals. We were a bit fortunate with the first one but we are probably due a bit of luck. You go into the Inverness game thinking let’s carry this on now, play this game and then we have ten days off.
“I think everyone will admit that we weren’t at it. The tempo was slow, we didn’t get after the ball and when that happens there is only one thing going to happen and that is getting beat. It was disappointing but we have had ten days to freshen up so we are looking forward to Wednesday night now.”
Dan has started in all three of the matches this season against Raith and both sides will be seeking the first win. The 24 year old who joined Dunfermline in the summer observed that all three games have all been different:-
“The first time we played them we got a bit fortunate, we weren’t at our best in that away game. When we played them at home they scored late on to draw so we were unlucky. The last game on 2nd January, I felt we should have won. The two teams are evenly matched, we both want to play football and we know that we need to be right at it with a high intensity, I’m sure we will be and hopefully we can take three points.”
The squad were in on Saturday morning for training, they had Sunday off and were in again on Monday morning working hard, so no weekend off Dan admitting:-
“We don’t deserve one right now. I tuned in to the Morton v Kilmarnock game on Friday night and then the cup final on Sunday.”
Did he pick up on anything from the SPFL Trust Trophy final from Airdrie?
“That is the manager and assistants’ jobs not mine but it is nice to know who you are playing against. I thought in the first half it was an even game but obviously in the second half Raith just edged it and went on to win. Hopefully they have had a late night last night and tonight and are not ready to go on Wednesday.”
Dan really feels that they owe their fans derby success and it would be a great way of repaying their loyalty:-
“I know that we haven’t done the best as a team collectively this season but it would be great to take the bragging rights in the last derby of the season. Hopefully that can kick us on into Saturday when there is a quick turn around.
“The full focus is on Wednesday night first though and making sure that we win the game of football. We have only lost four games since the turn of the year and we can take a lot of positives from it. We will definitely be looking to go and win the derby and stop these draws happening.”
Jakub Stolarczyk International Catch up
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