Paul's goal is first team regular

Willis: "We need to keep the winning mentality and it is a real confidence booster to take us on to Saturday where hopefully we will get another result against Arbroath."

Paul Willis was on the books of Hearts as a schoolboy and so he had a point to prove when the team he always supported as a boy came to East End Park:-

"It is great that we got the win. Obviously it is a pre season friendly but it's good for me to get another 90 minutes in which we beat Hearts; it is great for the boys. We need to keep the winning mentality and it is a real confidence booster to take us on to Saturday where hopefully we will get another result against Arbroath."

Paul with only two starts and 11 appearances as sub in competitive matches is desperate to impress Jim McIntyre and retain his place in the team.

"My confidence is flying and that's what happens when you are playing all the time. Last year I wasn't playing as much as I'd have liked but I kept my head down, kept working hard and it has paid off so far this year with getting played a lot."

No goals for Paul against Hearts but he had several good chances mainly as headers. The youngster who will be 19 next month has pledged to practice these before Saturday:-

"The gaffer spoke to me about that but it is one of those things. He is happy that I am getting into positions and hopefully as the games go on I will get a few goals."

Once the double header against Arbroath is played, the opener against Falkirk is the focus of all attention.

"These are the kind of games you want to play in and I want to play in that first game of the league season."

Paul recognises that the kind of performance against Hearts is what is required.

"We need to keep it nice and tight like we did against Hearts. They were going to move the ball about but we kept the ball, moved them about and have taken our chances when they have come. Wide players like Joe Cardle need to get the opportunities to go and score as well. Hopefully I can get off the mark one of those days."

Also playing on Tuesday night was 19 year old Ryan Thomson. Ryan and Paul came up through the Dunfermline Youth system together since the Under 15s. Paul on Ryan:-

"He was given his chance against Hearts and he did well. There's another one who will be gunning to get into the team."

Paul feels that Dunfermline should do better against Arbroath than the 1-0 win recorded last Saturday in the Alba Challenge Cup.

"When we played Arbroath last Saturday we should have had more that just one goal. We had a lot of chances, two penalty claims but we got the win and are through to the next round."

The draw for the Second Round of the Alba Cup was made on Tuesday and Paul's reaction to Queen of the South?

"That's been three years in a row that we have drawn them, hopefully there will be a change of fortune. I played in both games so far so I am hoping for third time lucky."