Painful day for Wallace

"You can't take it away from East Fife, they were hungry, they wanted on the ball, they worked hard and harder than us.

Ryan Wallace returned to first team action on Saturday for the first time since 15th February. It was not a particularly happy return however since not only did his injury cause him to retire early in the second half, he watched his side slump to their third defeat in the last four games:-

"It was nice to be back on the pitch but I am still struggling and a bit sore at the moment. The gaffer said that I looked a bit off it today and I felt a wee bit off it myself. The result was the main thing and it wasn't a good result for ourselves.

"We didn't play well, we didn't turn up on the day. There was no fight, no desire, none of that showed and we were deservedly beaten."

Even taking the lead in 21st minute was against the run of play, Ryan who was making his 71st appearance for the Pars, agreed:-

"East Fife dominated the first 20 minutes but we went up the park and sneaked a goal in much the same way that teams have been doing against us. We went and did it against them. Overall East Fife were hungry and fought for every ball whereas we were a bit lethargic and off our game a bit."

The Manager had foreseen problems ahead when he got his team re-grouped at half time, Ryan continued:-

"I don't really want to repeat what the Manager said but he reminded us about the last time they came here and beat us 2-1. He told us that he had seen this happen many times with teams getting beat despite going ahead against the run of play. He was 100 per cent correct, the second goal killed us off.

"I'm not very sure that it was a penalty if I am being honest with you but the referee has given it. You have to take our medicine, we've got to pick ourselves up and get a result next week to get back on track.

"You can't take it away from East Fife, they were hungry, they wanted on the ball, they worked hard and harder than us. On the day they deserved to win. We maybe only had one or two shots on goal but we were pretty sloppy. It was just one of those days and it is very unlike us because if you look at our last three performances, they were well at it but very unlucky to get beat.

"Saturday was just one of those days where nobody turned up and everything went against us. Where East Fife are in the league at the moment they need to start picking up wins. They have to come to places like this and take big scalps like Dunfermline. They want to stay in the league and are trying to get out of that play off spot."

The 23 year old is disappointed that his injury that affects the pubic bone, flared up again causing him to leave the field after just 52 minutes:-

"It is such a hindrance and stops you doing anything. After twenty minutes or so it started to get sore but I kept playing because I had spoken to the physio who had warned that it would get sore. It got to the point where it is stopping me doing things. There is nothing you can do but you have to hope that rest lets it settle down.

"You need to test these things to try them. It is frustrating when it comes back again but it is just one of those things that you need to get on with and push through with it."