Paton points to team spirit
Friday, 11th Dec 2015"It doesn't matter how it goes in, a goal is a goal but it was good to get off the mark in the league and hopefully I can get another on Saturday."
Michael Paton has started both matches against Ayr United this season and feels that Dunfermline can approach this weekend's league meeting with confidence given the Scottish Cup win over Ian McCall's side just a week past Saturday. He told the media:-
"I thought that in the cup game we were a lot better than the first time we played them. We played a different shape and exploited their weaknesses really well. I think that will raise confidence. We continued that form into the Brechin game and that kept the spirits up."
The 2-0 defeat in the first league game back in September at East End Park underlined just how different a side Ayr United are this season. Ian McCall's team's win was the Pars only home defeat so far this league season. Michael is conscious of Ayr's unbeaten league record stretching back to the opening day of the league campaign but the Pars unbeaten run at Somerset Park now extends to five matches:-
"We will go down there full of confidence, ready to go and hopefully get the three goals that we need. Hopefully we can start well like the last time we were down there. If we have a good record hopefully that comes with us as well."
With third placed Albion Rovers ten points behind Dunfermline and Ayr who are only separated on goal difference, there is potential for the championship title becoming a two horse race, Michael continued:-
"Ayr seem to be picking up points no matter how they are playing. They are scoring and keeping themselves in games. These are the kind of things that happen to teams that get promoted and end up winning leagues; they carry that wee bit of luck within themselves.
"Since the blip we had against them we have turned it around really well and are looking stronger now. Hopefully we keep this going because the more games we get the better confidence we feel."
Michael scored last week against Brechin City through being in the right place at the right time. He confessed that he did not know much about his finish:-
"I was still screaming at Joe (Cardle) to cut it back and when I turned around the ball was at my feet and I have played it in. It was kind of funny but it doesn't matter how it goes in, a goal is a goal but it was good to get off the mark in the league and hopefully I can get another on Saturday."
The 26 year old who signed for Dunfermline for season 2015-16 worked under Allan Johnston and Sandy Clark at Queen of the South. Michael scored two goals on his Queens starting debut against Brechin City on 27th March 2013 as Allan Johnston's side moved even closer to clinching the Scottish Second Division title.
An ankle injury had kept him out of the team until March of that season but Michael feels that the way the management team had their players organised led to the success on the park. He praised the togetherness that their management style created:-
"They built a big team spirit and the boys all worked really hard to get where they were. By working really hard a lot of luck came with it too. You can see that from them in this team as well. They are a good group of boys, obviously a lot of quality on the bench sniffing to get in the team. That just shows you how strong we really are."
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