Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 17th Sep 2015Allan Johnston is counting the cost of serious injury to two of his key defenders.
"Callum (Fordyce) is going to be a big loss as is Ryan (Williamson) as well. They have been two big players for us since the start of the season. Obviously it is a sickener to lose two players of that quality."
After breaking his leg Callum Fordyce has been operated on and got out of hospital earlier this week. The manager continued:-
"The operation went well, hopefully it is a speedy recovery but it was a bad break and it will take a while. The most important thing is getting him back to full fitness and making sure that he has a long and active career in front of him.
"I am not putting a time scale on their return, they just have to make sure they take their time and get back without any repercussions.
"Callum broke his nose earlier in the game, then dislocated his ankle and fractured his leg as well. It was a bad one. We just have to get on with it. In all my time in football I don't think I have ever seen that and I have been involved in football for 25 years. Now that's two leg breaks we have had. You are going to get injuries over the course of the season but when you see boys going out long term it stretches the squad.
"We desperately need defenders and trying to get one in for this weekend. We are looking at loan players, permanent players - to see what is available, and the best options."
The manager admitted that he had spoken to John Fleming, Head of Refereeing, to get his thoughts about the standard of refereeing.
"Their job is to protect the players. It is boys' careers as well and nobody wants to see these types of challenges. The injury to Callum was not even a foul and it was the same with Ryan Williamson's one. It is extremely disappointing when you lose quality young players to poor challenges.
"Everybody enjoys physical games with challenges coming in, fans love that as well. As long as it is done within the laws of the game you cannot have any complaints."
Questioned on opponents setting out to deliberately knock Dunfermline off their stride AJ replied:-
"It is hard to say but I don't think so. Look at the results so far this season, okay we have had two defeats but we started the season really well. If that is what they are thinking, it is not really going too well."
Dunfermline are hoping to bounce back after Ayr United's win at East End Park last Saturday and their gaffer is predicting another tough Saturday afternoon.
"They got a good result on Saturday and I saw them against Ayr United, they did well in that game. They have a good home record but that surface seems to suit us. You could see in the Forfar game that we pass the ball really well on that. We have to make sure that we play at the tempo that we can."
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