Competition in defence

McGregor:- "When another centre half arrives it adds competition for places, that is healthy. Hopefully the Manager can see you are doing well and picks you."

Neil McGregor was one of four centre backs that Dunfermline fielded in the second half against Hearts. Neil has not played too much in pre season. 51 minutes against East Fife and just under half an hour when he came on as a sub against Aberdeen has been all his match practice so he was delighted to be given the full 90 minutes against the Jambos.

Jim McIntyre explained post match that all four were played together merely to give them all match practice but now he has the choice to make between the former Clyde duo, Chris Higgins and McGregor and the former Ross County players Andy Dowie and Alex Keddie.  Furthermore both full backs Calum Woods and Austin McCann can fill in in the centre.

Neil passed his opinion on the bizarre back four against Hearts:-

"Obviously it is down to the Manager who plays but if we are going to play four centre halves we are going to be hell of a solid! It is the start of last season since Chris and I started in the centre of defence, it has been a while."

At the end of last season Higgins was told that he was free to leave Dunfermline and Alex Keddie was brought in as one of only two outfield signings. Neil commented:-

"When another centre half arrives it adds competition for places, that is healthy. Hopefully the Manager can see you are doing well and picks you."

Keddie is suspended for the first two league games so the opportunity will be there for Dowie who made 37 starts for the Pars last season and McGregor who made 30:-

"I just need to keep playing well" added Neil, "if I can get a chance hopefully that takes me through."

Certainly Neil was impressive against Hearts on Tuesday night and it looked for a long time that the defence with Kyle Allison behind them were going to see it through for a shut out. Calum Elliot scored a consolation for the Jambos near the end but before that the back four had gelled really well to keep the SPL team out.

Nine minutes from the end the Hearts radio commentator shouted "Hearts must score" as Suso Santanta escaped an offside flag down on the right. Allison stopped the shot but the loose ball was an open invitation to two Hearts men following up until McGregor miraculously slid in to clear.

"He gave me a wee chance to get back in although the first ball through looked a good couple of yards offside but you just have to play the whistle."

The result was a great fillip ahead of the Co-operative Insurance Cup tie on Saturday

"Results against SPL teams are always going to be a confidence booster so that helped us no end."