Husband being positive

"A lot of the bigger teams were meeting each other and everyone wanted to progress and have our name in the hat for the Quarter Final but it just wasn't to be."

Stephen Husband spoke of the huge disappointment that he and his team mates felt after being knocked out of the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup by Hamilton Accies:-

"It is sore one to take, we played well in spells but obviously we had no penetration and couldn't find the final pass. We were about shy in front of goal.

"It was a massive game for us with a chance to get into a Quarter Final. A lot of the bigger teams were meeting each other and everyone wanted to progress and have our name in the hat for the Quarter Final but it just wasn't to be."

The twenty two year old who made his 21st start for the Pars in the cup tie wouldn't blame the frosty pitch which had been pretty hard in the middle during the first half.

"Conditions weren't great but both sides had to play on it, so I don't think we can use that as an excuse. Because of the way they play, it maybe suited them a bit more. The way we were playing at the start of the season to the way that we are playing now is not the same. We just have to look at ourselves on that account."

The loss of form is being attributed by some to the uncertainty over payment of players wages over the last three pay days. Jim Jefferies said it his post match comments that he had not been convinced by the assures given by his squad that this was not affecting the performances on the park, Stephen responded:-

"There is a lot of negativity off the park but all credit to the boys the training has been good and we have just kept our heads down, kept working away and try and be positive on the park. Maybe it has just coincided with the off field drama that is going on just now and not picking up enough results. I don't think that is the case."

It would appear that the team have experienced a dip in confidence, not helped by losing four of the five home games played since Christmas. Stephen gave his view:-

"It is easy when you are flying but when a couple of results go against you everything changes. Maybe we just need to win ugly and get back to winning ways. I would prefer to go back to the way it was but we will have to work to get there."

Dunfermline are nine points behind leaders Morton with a game in hand against Cowdenbeath. Partick Thistle are four points ahead of the Pars in second but they have a game in hand on the Fifers. Moreover fourth placed Livingston closed the gap between them in third and the Pars to just three points as a result of their 4-3 win at Dumbarton on Saturday. The West Lothian side could draw level on points should they win their game in hand. Stephen was not ready to be disturbed by the league position:-

"We still have to play Partick and Morton twice; it is not over by a long shot. It is a long season and it is only half way through so I don't think we should be looking at the top of the table just now and getting too worried."