Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 29th Oct 201529/10/15: AJ - "It is a derby and I am sure that they will want to make amends to their fans and get them on side."
Allan Johnston is confident that his team can continue to get results despite four of the next five matches being away from home. He emphasised:-
"We have a good record away from home and if you are going to win the league you need to go away from home and win games anyway. It is a really hard game at the weekend, with the surroundings and no doubt the size of the pitch as well. It is a tight pitch so we know how difficult a game that it is going to be as well.
"When you look at Cowdenbeath's team it has totally changed from the start of the season. It will be a totally different game. You can see that their results have changed; they are a lot harder to beat and they are a threat from setpieces going by the number of goals that they have scored from corners recently.
"It is a derby and I am sure that they will want to make amends to their fans and get them on side. I think we will take a big support to the game and we don't want to let our fans down either."
Apart from Josh Falkingham and the long termed injured Williamson and Fordyce the manager had a full squad to choose from for the visit to Central Park on Saturday. He acknowledged that the players on the bench in recent games have been staking their claims for a starting place.
"You can see the competition we have with the subs coming on and making a bit impact. We have a really strong bench, really good squad that keeps everybody on their toes and make sure that they produce performances and get results."
Despite the Pars having the best scoring record in British football the manager places just as much importance on his defence keeping the goals out:-
"We can still improve; Sean (Murdoch) made a couple of important saves last week at important times as well but that is part of the defence. We defend as a team and attack as a team so everybody takes the plaudits there.
"We need clean sheets as well, we cannot afford to lose two and three goals every game. Getting clean sheets is pleasing and it gives the defenders focus. They are on a good run with five clean sheets in the last seven games. That is what you need if you are going to try and win as many games as possible.
"We are always creating chances with guys we have got so if we manage to get clean sheets then we have a greater chance of winning games."
Josh Falkingham has been out since coming off early into the second half during the home match against Airdrieonians on 26th September. The manager is hoping to have him back in training soon:-
"He has been doing a lot of running this week. When he can get a full week of training under his belt we can take it from there."
Certainly the manager is hoping that the 25 year old Yorkshireman will be back by the time the William Hill Scottish Cup Third Round comes around on Saturday 28th November against Ayr United. He commented on the draw made earlier in the day at Hampden.
"It is a good draw, I am sure that there will be a lot of fans at that one. It is not going to be an easy game because they are flying as well. It is probably one of the ties of the round.
"It is always good when you play someone outside your league just to get a freshness rather than playing the same teams. Playing Ayr will be a game with a good tempo and a good atmosphere. It is one to look forward to."
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