Derbies make it tough for Gall & Co.

"If we can get a result then we can put the disappointment of Tuesday night behind us."

Paul Gallacher didn't think disappointed was a strong enough word to describe the devastation the team felt on Tuesday night as they left Central Park on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline.

"We let a lot of people down. It was a great opportunity for us to get right back in the title race. It would have been second pace and six points off the leaders Morton. That would have been fantastic but it wasn't to be.

"It was the manner in which we lost the game was very disappointing. We lost sloppy goals; things we spoke about before the game we just didn't switch on. With great respect to them, they played well on the night but with the greatest respect to Cowdenbeath I think it was more about how poor we were."

The 33 year old keeper contested the suggestion that Cowdenbeath were more up for the game than Dunfermline. He felt that they had been positive in the build up but no matter what Dunfermline did it just did not work out for them:-

"When we got to 2-1 up we thought that we could maybe nick something but then we just switched off. It was sloppy things, not picking up properly, not defending properly, we were not creating. It was a sore one, not only for ourselves but for the fans.

"The gaffer tore into us afterwards and rightly so. A few home truths were said and hopefully we can react and bounce back on Saturday."

The opposition is Falkirk and Paul reckons with so many local derbies it makes the league campaign that bit tougher for the Pars:-

"Most teams just have the one derby but we have three. Tough though it is we need to pick ourselves up from a really disappointing performance. It is a massive match against Falkirk, a derby match with a lot at stake - we need to keep ourselves in the hunt. Hopefully results go for us and we can stay in the mix.

"We fought back from 2-0 down last time but we'd like to start the game better this time, push on and play well. If we can get a result then we can put the disappointment of Tuesday night behind us."

The Boxing Day defeat to Falkirk at East End Park when Blair Alston scored the only goal of the game in the final minute of the regulation ninety was a bitter blow and enough to spoil every Pars fan's Christmas.

"It was a hard one to take after putting so much into the game that day. We had someone sent off - Jordan McMillan - so for a long period of the game we were down to ten men. We were holding our own and creating chances as well. On the day big Michael (McGovern) had a few good saves to keep them in it. The last gasp winner from them gave us no time to come back.

"We are going to their patch and it would be nice to turn them over. Our aim to to try and get the three points."

Paul made mention of the off field issues at Dunfermline:-

"There is a lot going on at the Club, it has been well publicised and it is hard to get the boys going some days, it is all you think about every day when you are in training but when we cross that white line you are fully focussed on the game, there is no doubt about that. I have never experienced anything like this and the players don't know what is going on. It is a really tough time for everybody at the Club, not just the players. People need their money to pay bills

"We prepare as well as we can, training has a buzz, the boys are working hard for each other. After the disappointment of Tuesday night it is good that we have another game so quickly."

The major task for Gall will be keeping out the First Division's top goalscorer, Lyle Taylor who has scored 18 so far this season.

"He has done alright against us. He is a talented player and knows where the back of the net is. He is someone we need to look out for but they have a few good players in their side. It is about us, what we do and if we play to our strengths and play the way we can play like the way we did at the start of the season, then no team could come close to us. We will have to be at our best because it will be a tough game but it is one we are looking forward to bouncing back in."