Cardle breezes past Brechin

"Considering the way that it had been raining for the last few days, every credit to the groundsmen because the pitch was perfect for us.

Joe Cardle felt that the conditions on Saturday were much better than the rainstorm they played through at Ayr the previous week:-

"We knew that we had to win to go top of the league. We are a game in front of Ayr but obviously we had to be professional.

"We had to start the game well, I am just happy that we got a goal so early on and especially for Faissal to get the goal as he has not scored in a few games. We died out a bit in the second half but the quality of the first half was very pleasing."

Joe switched on a pass from Jason Talbot on for Faissal El Bakhtaoui to score that opener. He attributed his greater involvement in games to encouragement from the coaching staff:-

"We have been working on that a lot. In my career I have always stayed wide but the manager has been working on me coming inside and receiving balls. I have to look for the strikers getting into positions and on Saturday it paid off. I laid it on for Faiss and I was just happy for him to get another goal."

After setting up both the Pars first two goals, the 28 year old who is on his second spell at Dunfermline, was considered unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, he continued:-

"I know I was unlucky with a few. There was one in the first half that I should have done better with. I think the defender came in last minute. The one in the second half I got a good strike but the keeper made a great save. As long as we are winning I will be happy, obviously goals are a bonus but as long as boys in front of me are scoring and we are coming away with three points I am a happy man.

"It is going to be a massive game next week and hopefully the conditions are nothing like last week. We are all looking forward to it, it is a great three points going into a game that is so big. Hopefully we will have another good week's training and get our heads down and do the business again next week,

"We knew that there was a chance to go top. Playing Brechin at home we were expected to win these games but on the day anything can happen. We started the game with a good temp and played that way throughout the whole game so we were happy all round."

Storm Desmond had made sure that the weather conditions were wet and windy at East End Park on Saturday. Joe compared that with the weather at Ayr the previous week:-

"Last week was probably the worst I have ever been involved in. Saturday wasn't as bad. Considering the way that it had been raining for the last few days, every credit to the groundsmen because the pitch was perfect for us. Especially in the first half we were zipping it about and we could play the ball on the deck. We are happy with that."