Manager on Thursday
Thursday, 12th Nov 2015"We have to be attacking teams and we have a good record away from home so I am looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Allan Johnston reflected on last Saturday's goalless draw at home to Peterhead:-
"We created chances but to be fair so did Peterhead. On another day we could probably have scored a couple, even in the first minute Faissal (El Bakhtaoui) had a great chance but they defended really well.
"We need to be make sure we are clinical when the chances come along because teams make it difficult when they come here. They sit in, get a lot of players behind the ball and we just have to find a way of breaking that down. In the majority of games we have done that but we certainly need to get back to it quickly."
The next three matches are all away from home so the opposition might not be as defensive as those visiting East End Park:-
"Probably the onus is on them to go and have a go at home. Hopefully that will suit us but it doesn't matter whether we are home or away, we have to win games and be on the front foot. We have to be attacking teams and we have a good record away from home so I am looking forward to the challenges ahead."
The Pars record at the Excelsior Stadium has not been great of late with the last win being two years ago and four defeats followed that. The Manager had heard of poor records at Forfar but felt that two wins there this season demonstrate that records are there to be broken.
"Airdrie's AstroTurf is a decent surface and a good size so hopefully it will suit us. Sometimes you go through spells where it just doesn't go your way. You don't get the goals and that is when it is important that your defence are getting clean sheets. Recently they have had a great record with not losing goals and that gives you a base to start from."
The season is at an important period claimed Allan Johnston, "We started off this quarter well, trying to see if we could improve every quarter by getting more points. That is what we have to be looking for."
The two long term injured defenders Ryan Williamson and Callum Fordyce are progressing well with Ryan working hard in the gym and developing his upper body.
"That will benefit Ryan in the long term and hopefully he will come back even bigger, stronger and quicker than he was already. Callum needs a few weeks before he can start building it up but the two of them are going in the right direction.
"Josh (Falkingham) has managed to play in the last two midweek games after being out since the last time we played Airdrie. It was important to get some time under his belt to get his match fitness up to speed.
"He has done well in the two 20s games and it is a real bonus having someone of that quality coming back."
Josh therefore is back in contention and Andy Geggan trained on Thursday after missing a couple of sessions at the start of this week as a result of a knock against Peterhead and Joe Cardle is expected to be fit to return to his old club.
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