Manager on Thursday

Albion Rovers - "They have started the season well, we know what to expect and we are not treating them lightly."

Having been held to a draw by Airdrieonians, Allan Johnston is keen to do better against their Lanarkshire neighbours Albion Rovers on Saturday. Looking back on the 1-1 draw he stressed a well worn belief:-

"It just shows you how important the first goal is in this league. When teams get a goal here they just sit in and make it really really difficult for you. Overall you cannot complain too much; the boys have the best defensive record in the league and the best attacking record in the league. The only frustrating thing is that we are not top of the league yet. We have to go on a run off results and hopefully get there in the end.

"The boys have had a lot of plaudits for the way they have played, probably the most frustrating part is getting beat in a couple of games. Even in the games that they have lost they have merited at least a draw.

"It is up to us to break down teams that come here and sit in. That is all part of football and I think we have the quality to do that. We do score goals, we just have to make sure when teams are sitting in and making it difficult for us that we take our chances and we are comfortable."

The manager is pleased to have options upfront and it does not seem to matter how he matches up his striking partnerships.

"Curier has just come in and he needs to get match fit. Michael Moffat came off the bench to score, that shows you the options we have got."

AJ is leaning on his Assistant Manager Sandy Clark for intelligence on Albion Rovers:-

"He knows them well because he was there last year. He says that there are a lot of good players there so we know that it is going to be a tough test. They are playing with a bit of confidence just now after their last few results. I had a few of their younger lads at Killie as well so I am sure that they will have a point to prove.

"I know Ross Davidson and Gary Fisher from Kilmarnock and Sandy knows a few more really well. They have started the season well, we know what to expect and we are not treating them lightly."

There is also four ex Dunfermline players (including Paul Willis above) who we all know well and AJ claimed that they will be out to show how good they are.

"We are looking forward to the game and hopefully we can get the result that we are all looking for."

Creating a gap between Dunfermline and the rest of the league is the objective but Allan Johnston admits that it is not easy to do that. The injury situation has improved;-

"Last week we had a right few boys playing out of position and Marc McAusland who has not played any games this season, playing his first game and he did really well. The boys we have brought in have been good players and it will take them a bit of time to get up to match speed."

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