Kevin's survival agenda

"If we start picking up points between now and the end of the season, we will be in with a chance.

Kevin Rutkiewicz feels that a point at home where it had been hard to pick up any points, was a decent start to the new regime at Dunfermline. This Saturday will be a severe test against who Kevin described as the league's in form team:-

"They are very potent at the minute going forward and have a good steady ship at the back as well. We are under no illusions how difficult this game is going to be. We will go into it positively and as the gaffer stated when he first came in - he is going to be in charge of eight cup finals and so this just another one to tick off."

Kevin was quick to remind everybody that United gave the Pars a going over when they came to East end Park at the end of October even although the Fifers had taken all three points off the Arabs in August:-

"It evens itself up. We have different agendas in terms of what we are playing for at this stage of the season. Every dog has its day so we will go up and give it our best shot. What we can't do is be too interested in what is happening elsewhere. We need to make sure that our own house is in order."

Kevin did not start an SPL game for the Pars until late January but he enjoyed the early successes away to St Johnstone and Dundee United:-

"It was unfortunate that I was watching but it was great to watch because the boys were carrying the momentum from winning the First Division title. We carried that into the season but unfortunately the honeymoon period came to an abrupt end for us and it became a little difficult.

"It was a great result up there after Paul Burns scored with a good volley. We made some chances as well and got the rub of the green at times. That is what we are going to need this time as well. As well as a lot of work on the park we are going to need a slice of luck as well to get a result."

The consequences of losing are not one that anybody at the Club would want to contemplate but Kevin stressed that it is a one game swing at the moment between the Pars and Hibs:-

"It is important not to get too interested in what Hibs are going to do. Make no mistake about it Hibernian are in this with us. They are not too far ahead and they would be silly to think that they are out of it. I don't think they do but what we need to do is concentrate fully on what we have got to do as a team here.

"If we start picking up points between now and the end of the season, we will be in with a chance. Psychologically the fact that it is only a game or a weekend away from us being on scratch; every point that we edge closer to them we think oh come on. Maybe they do get a little more nervous but both sets of players get paid well to do something we love so we wouldn't be complaining about it.

"We are playing for our future in the Premier League and for both clubs it is of huge significance in stature of the whole club financially. For players as well it has an affect, there are enough incentives there and if you cannot motivate yourself for times like this you shouldn't be in it."

The need for the defence to be solid was clear to Kevin:-

"It has something that has been getting drilled into us since the start of the season. It isn't something new. Jim McIntyre stressed all along that it had to be better. Everybody in that dressing room and that includes me has made individual errors. We have two things to do; one - to prove Jim McIntyre was right to have me here and we let him done. Football is football and we must move on - there is a new manager in charge and we now have to fight for our lives to prove to the new manager that we are good enough to be here."

Kevin claimed that the players were working hard but the new manager arrives with a long standing reputation of toughness:-

"The experienced boys here know what he is all about, a few of the younger boys are waiting on the shock as well. With change sometimes it brings about a wee bit more impetus, a bit more freshness to the team and you start an immediate resurgence. Hopefully that will be enough to sort the season out in the short term. First things first, we need to take care of Saturday."