Steven Bell Post Partick

"If we hadn't won today Thistle would have gone six ahead of us so we couldn't allow that to happen and the boys did well."

Steven Bell was in no doubt that the late winner at Firhill on Saturday secured a massive win for the Pars.

"We needed the three points to keep the pressure on St Johnstone and the teams round about us" he told the post match press conference.

"If we hadn't won today Thistle would have gone six ahead of us so we couldn't allow that to happen and the boys did well."

The game didn't start too well for the visitors with Partick Thistle taking the lead in nine minutes but Steven headed in an equaliser just four minutes later:-

"The boys came back well and I was delighted to get the goal because the gaffer brought me here to score goals. I was playing right wing today and he told me just to get in the box. The ball came to the back post and I put it away well."

At 2-2 in the second half the Fifers missed a few chances and it looked like they were going to fall another two pints behind leaders St Johnstone:-

"We had two or three great chances. I said to Rory (Loy) when he missed his good chance, "Don't worry, mate, you'll get the winner."

Rory's chance came with a last minute penalty. Steven felt that there was no doubt with the decision of referee Willie Collum:-

"It was a clear penalty and a red card. I was surprised it came to me because it went in to Rory and he stepped over it so that was good awareness from him. I was, hopefully, just about to put it in when I was brought down. There were no complaints from Thistle."

Loy had to wait a long time while Ian Maxwell trundled off towards the distant changing rooms and although Irish keeper Johnny Tuffey saved the penalty he sunk the rebound.

"It was a good save but Rory's a quality player. I knew as soon as it came out to him he was going to put it in. I was surprised he missed the one just before it, but that just shows the class of the guy to put in the rebound. Plus he was the first one to get it so that shows he's a confident player.

"I'm surprised he was sub today. I think the gaffer went for a bit more height because we were missing big Graham Bayne, because they're quite a physically strong team. I think that was the only reason he was left on the bench.

"Since he came here from Rangers he's been brilliant. He's not played at first team level and coming to the First Division with big centre halves and that, for a striker, is hard, but he's done well since he came in. Hopefully he'll be in the team on Tuesday."

Tuesday means the Pars switch their attention from league to cup and although the revenue from a home tie in the next round would be welcome, in the long run winning their way back to the SPL is by far the most important matter. Steven predicted that race would go right to the wire.

"It's a tight league. Every week there's teams beating everybody else. We've not had a run yet, our away form is brilliant but our home form needs to get better, simple as that. If we can go on a run we will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season."

Steven passed some comment on the contrasting away and home form:-

"I can't put my finger on it. I feel as if, when we're away from home teams come at us more because they're the home team.

"They need to be looking to come at you obviously from the fans' point of view and it leaves gaps. At home I think the fans get a bit restless when you pass the ball back. I'm not having a go at the fans here, they want to see attacking football, but sometimes you just have to keep the ball.

"Too many players at home, too many times have had off games, including myself and you just can't have that in this league."

Could it be that the Dunfermline players feel under greater pressure in front of their home support?

"Obviously there's extra pressure, there's a big crowd that comes. We've spoken about it a million times, we need to sort it out, but the gaffer and big Dinger the captain have had a word this week. We'll need to start getting our heads down, start winning at home and try to get a run.

I think it was the same last season, I wasn't here but I think it was the same for the boys. Our away form's good anyway so that's keeping us in the race."

Steven's goal on Saturday was only his second since arriving from Stirling Albion in the summer. Last season he scored six in a side that got relegated and he is disappointed with goal ratio for the Pars:-

"I've been injured a lot this season, wee niggly injuries that don't help, and I missed a pre-season. I've been shipped from centre mid to right mid and I don't think that's helped me but I'm not complaining. I got my goal today from the right wing and I'm a natural centre midfielder so I'll play anywhere for the team and hopefully just try to get more goals."