Former Rhino belts up for trip to Galloway
Friday, 16th Oct 2015Sean Murdoch - "most of the time we used to fly to games"
Pars goalkeeper Sean Murdoch is the only team member who is likely to think nothing of the distance down the A77 to Stranraer for Saturday's away game. The former Rochester Rhinos stopper encountered far greater travels in the United Soccer League where opponents could be in Portland Oregon, Austin Texas or Colorado Arizona and a local derby could be in Canada.
"Nothing in Scotland's a long journey for me now - I would say even Ross County's a short journey for me now. The shortest journey when I was in the States was about five hours and that was to play New York Red Bulls.
"But most of the time we used to fly to games, or you were about an 11 or 12-hour bus journey, which isn't ideal. Travelling's never really bothered me, to be honest, although you would rather be at home and have short journeys. Last weekend, it was nice to have a short journey to Paisley, because I stay in Glasgow. You just have to put the journey out of your head and focus on the game."
While most opponents were a mystery tour in the USL Stranraer is just the same for Sean who confessed to have never played down there before.
"I don't really know much about them. I know a couple of the players in the team but that's the case most Saturdays and I think most of the players in the dressing room are like that. That's not being disrespectful at all, but I've just never played at most of the grounds in this division and I only know a few of the players."
The Pars players go through a lot of footage of the opposition with the manager before the games, and strengths and their weaknesses are identified in the familiarisation process. Unfortunately none of that worked to the team's advantage last Saturday against St Mirren:-
"Looking back on the game, there were just too many players who didn't perform to their capabilities, and I would include myself in that as well. And when you get a team with too many players having an off-day then you're bound to lose, which we did.
"Losing the goals we did obviously didn't help, because if we can not concede, even if we're not playing well, and the game goes further and further on, then you've always got a chance. But the goals killed us, especially how early they were, and the game was effectively finished at half-time."
Maybe it was a good break that the poor performance came in a cup rather than the league although Sean confirmed that winning is always the priority:-
"A few of the guys have said, and I said it myself, that no-one ever wants to get beat, we want to win every game possible, which every team wants to do. But if we are going to have an off-day and get beat, you would probably want it in the cup, because the league games are so important this season."
League or cup performances are important to the management team and Sean admitted that he saw the other side of a normally pretty calm manager at St Mirren:-
"At half-time he obviously had a go at us and at full-time as well. He just basically said it wasn't good enough. And if it's not good enough you are going to be told. He is a kind of calming influence but, if it's not going right, then for sure he'll let you know about it. It's the same with Sandy (Clark). He's quite calming as well but he can shout as well when he wants to."
The 29 year old keeper has started 15 matches for Dunfermline this season, equalling his spell playing with Accrington Stanley in English League Two before he picked up an injury, he continued:-
"It's good to be playing regularly. With Hibs and Hamilton I was more back-up and I played a handful of games now and again, which isn't great. But goalkeeper is an unusual position because only one can play. I'm enjoying this season so far, it's been really good on the whole.
"It's nice to be playing every week and I'm playing in a good team as well, with a good manager and good coaching staff. I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying playing in front of a great fan-base, at home and away, and hopefully we can maintain our performances throughout the season and achieve the main aim, which is promotion.
"We need to win and get out of this division. A club like Dunfermline should be, minimum, in the Championship and, really, in the Premiership - with the fan-base, the ground, the whole infrastructure."
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