Diamonds will be hard

Austin McCann's former team mate, Kenny Black will have his men fit and organised.

Austin in action on Saturday against St Johnstone

Austin McCann is looking forward to Tuesday night's match as a quick opportunity to get the team back on the rails. Having lost both the Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter Final against Dundee United and then the top of the table clash with St Johnstone he expressed the sheer disappointment of the Pars players

"We are gutted to come out of these games with two defeats. The Manager is telling us to keep our heads up, there is a long way to go in the season and it has taken two great goals to beat us on Saturday."

Scott Wilson had headed Dunfermline back into the match after going behind to a Martin Hardie free kick but Liam Craig's goal was a wonder strike:-

"Once we got a goal back the next goal was going to be really important but for the boy to pick that out from 30 yards was sickening. I felt the ball was out. I was close to it and didn't think the ball was out. I didn't think there was a doubt, it was one you wouldn't even claim for. I had a decent view of it and I am 99% certain the ball was out."

This was not the only occasion when the match officials decisions came into doubt:-

"In the first half the linesman tried to give a corner when it was blatantly a bye kick and the referee had to change his mind. It was a bit frustration but you just have to take it on the chin."

The fact that the next fixture comes up fast on Tuesday means that there is the chance for Dunfermline to put the bad results behind them:-

"When you lose a game you are looking forward to the next game. It is a good thing that it comes so quickly. It has turned into a massive game against Airdrie and we have to win to get back in amongst the teams at the top."

Conscious that a win would put Dunfermline just two points behind league leaders St Johnstone, Austin is keen to erase the memory of the first fixture against Airdrie when the Diamonds nine man defence was impossible to break through:-

"We went down to ten men when Nicky (Phinn) got sent off but we still should have won the game. They were hard to beat, they defended quite well and the keeper had a world class day. It is going to be a tough game and massively important now."

Austin was a left wing back at Airdrie from the age of 15 after leaving St Columba School in Clydebank. Although its technically not the same club, no one really views it that way. For Austin it will be his first match back there since he left to join Hearts at the age of 21.

At Hearts that he was moved to play in a back four but his debut in senior football was in an Airdrie team that included the current Diamonds boss:-

"They are going well and I know Kenny Black having played beside him at Airdrie for years. I know what he is like having them fit and organised. Dundee having been trying to get him as manager so he must be doing something right."

The St Johnstone match on saturday drove home just how difficult it is going to be to get out of the First Division and the Tannadice game demonstrated that the Dunfermline players could cut it in the SPL.

"We have always believed that. When you lose games obviously the boys are down but the Manager is telling us he doesn't want to see any long faces about because of the last two performances. He could have won the two games but that's football. we have just got to keep our heads up."