Steven Bell Post Airdrie

"Nobody has given up hope but we know we can't afford to keep dropping stupid points at home.

Steven Bell was central to all the talking points in Saturday's league win over Airdrie United. Talking after the match Steven was adamant that the penalty decision early in the second half where he was deemed to have been brought down by Airdrie keeper Stephen Robertson was the correct one:-

"The goalkeeper is saying that he caught the ball first but he came through me as well. I got a wee touch to the ball but it was a good decision as far as I am concerned but I am sure that they will be disappointed with it."

Stephen Robertson duly gave his version:-

"I think the ball just reacted off a player. Our player (Tom Parrott) was shadowing him off the ball for me to come and get it. I put my two hands on it and it went wide. The referee booked me for bringing the boy down but I have marks on my leg where he stood on me. When you put yourself in that position it can be hard. The referee has only a matter of seconds to make the decision, there is no point in saying anything else about it."

Andy Kirk scored from the spot but it took until 88th minute before Steven Bell made sure of the win. His headed goal came from a wonderfully executed free kick from the right. Steven was very appreciative of his supplier's technique:-

"That just shows what Willie Gibson has got in his locker, his delivery is second to none. Steven McDougall blocked my man and it was an easy finish from six yards out."

Steven Bell's headed goal dealt lowly Airdrie yet another another blow. The result leaves the Diamonds eight points behind Ayr United in ninth and their prospects of avoiding relegation for the third season in succession look bleak. Dunfermline on the other hand are still looking upward with Saturday's goalscorer remaining optimistic:-

"Hopefully other teams around about us will drop points and we have to try and get three points every week. There are a lot of tough games coming up for us so we must win as many as we can.

"Nobody has given up hope but we know we can't afford to keep dropping stupid points at home. Our away form is decent, it is our home form that has let us down again this season."

Saturday's win over Airdrie was the Pars first three points at home since 14th November but Steven hoped that this was just the beginning in a change of fortune:-

"We defeated Stenhousemuir 7-1 in a cup game but it has been a long time coming. It is good that we have got a game every Tuesday, Saturday in March so that we can get up some momentum."

For Steven and his team mates it has been an unusual season:-

"No one in the team can say that they have had a season like this before. We have had all these postponements and there's talk of them extending the season but it is good for the league that there are five or six teams still in with a shout of winning it. Hopefully no one will run away with it now - you have seen in the last few seasons how nobody has ran away with it - it is always a hard league this First Division."

Steven has personal reasons why he would like to see the season completed as planned on Saturday 1st May since he is due to marry his fiance, Louise in Cyprus on 7th May:-

"You need to arrive in Cyprus three days before you get married but I'm sure I could sort something out with the gaffer. If we have a chance of winning the league then obviously no but there are four of the boys going - Graeme Holmes, Nick Phinn, Alex Burke and Joe Cardle."