Nick happy with the nod

"If fans want me in the team I suppose I must be doing something right but at the end of the day I have just got to impress the gaffer in the games where I get my chance......

Nick Phinn finished his first 90 minutes of the season on Saturday and the match against Partick Thistle was only his second start of the season. Prior to this week his competitive season had been just half an hour against Livingston in August and injury then sidelined him until he made the bench at Broadwood on 22^nd September.The 19 year old was very pleased to be given his chance in Stephen Kenny's team:-

"It was great again today, obviously coming back from injury I was delighted to get the nod from the gaffer so soon. Last year and the season before I played mostly reserve games being involved and the atmosphere of the home crowd is something different; it helps you along."

In midfield he played with some experienced players who have been instrumental in guiding him on:-

"Stevie Crawford has been brilliant because he talks you through the game as well as Stephen Simmons. At the start of the game things weren't going too well for me but they were saying 'just keep your head up, play your usual game' - it was helping me a lot."

Since Gary Mason left and with injuries pulling back Stephen Glass into defence the Pars midfield has never really had a settled look this season. Nick is keen to stake his claim for a regular selection:-

"I suppose you are always involved. Today I was a wee bit disappointed with my own standards at the start of the game, I never really got going and got caught on the ball quite a lot. It was a learning experience with that part of my game, sometimes you have just got to help the ball on and get up and support - you can't play nice football all the time.

"Pre season games against the likes of Nottingham Forest and Man United they let you on the ball quite a lot but the likes of today when you got the ball you were shut down a lot quicker.It is just learning curve for me.

"As the game went on I got a bit more wise to it just get the ball out of my feet and try and find one of my team mates a bit quicker."

Nick was closely involved at the winning goal with Scott Chaplain intercepting his pass:-

"I actually tried to play it in into Jim Hamilton's feet and the boy cut it out and it just so happened that it broke to Burchill and he did his bit brilliantly.It was a great finish from Mark."

The ninth minute goal was remarkable since it transpired Burchy had to call it a day at half time:-

"I didn't know that he wasn't feeling well but at half time he was actually sick."

Iain Williamson took the place of the goalscorer for the second 45 and Dunfermline looked comfortable until Partick's final push:-

"We got a bit hemmed in towards the end when they put a bit of pressure on with balls into the box.  At the end of the day it wasn't pretty but it was all about three points at the end of the day."

While fans have debated what has caused their side's poor start to the season, many have clamoured for Nick to be given his chance.Unaware of his "solution" tag Nick just said:-

"If fans want me in the team I suppose I must be doing something right but at the end of the day I have just got to impress the gaffer in the games where I get my chance and in training. Hopefully he will keep picking me.

"He didn't really go for me last season, I had injuries as well that didn't help.The gaffer came in with his own ideas about how to keep the club in the SPL.It was more experience that did my chances in a bit but I am just glad to be getting my chance now."

With matches against Ayr United and Queen of the South in the next seven days Nick is hoping to be part of it all:-

"We will try and kick on from here, try and go on a wee run of victories and try to get a starting place."

Having seen how Stephen Kenny has used the Challenge Cup to field all his squad, Nick could fall foul of the very tactic that got him a starting place in the first instance:-

"That's me just come back after four or five weeks of injury so I have to try and get as many games under my belt as I can and get back to match fitness.I welcome as many games that I can start."

If Dunfermline progress to the Challenge Cup Final that would mean re-scheduling of the Livingston fixture on 3^rd November and yet another midweek fixture. After a schedule of nine midweek matches since the start of the season midweek games will cease until Boxing Day (unless successful against Ayr United). Nick feels that might be welcome

"The break from two games a week will do us a lot of good."

On Saturday he was just as keen to get off the park as to get on for the start.At the final whistle Nick headed straight for the dug out:-

"I needed a drink I was dehydrated but I had just put in a bad tackle and I didn't want to go anywhere any of them in case they said anything.I just wanted to get off the park!"