Manager on Thursday

25/08/16: AJ - "There is not much between all the teams in the Championship, everybody is at a decent level.

Allan Johnston has been hammering home to his players that it`s all very well putting in good performances, but winning is the most important thing.

"I know Raith Rovers finished fourth but that is what we are targeting this year and we need to turn performances like that into results."

The manager confirmed determination to put it right this Saturday but acknowledged that opponents Queen of the South are in a rich vein of form. Allan Johnston who was both player and manager demonstrated a deep knowledge of Gavin Skelton`s Queens squad:-

"Stephen Dobbie is flying, he is a top player and has been a really good signing. He has managed to score a couple of goals but they have a lot of good players - guys like Derek Lyle upfront who was even there when I was there. He has a lot of experience and always manages to score. He is a real handful on his day so I am sure that it is going to be a tough test."

Keeper Lee Robinson was at Palmerston when AJ was there. He has been away and returned but he had crucial saves last week.

"He has an amazing spring and some of the saves he pulls off are really outstanding. Chris Higgins is another. A few have moved on but they have had great success over the last four or five years, it just continues."

The manager was a Queen of the South player last time the teams met in April 2011 and it turned out to be a comfortable 6-1 for the ten man Pars team. Some five years later a much changed QOS team will be a tough test for the newly promoted Pars.

"There is not much between all the teams in the Championship, everybody is at a decent level. They all have good players that can hurt you but we have good players as well." Tracking back to Saturday`s match at Starks Park he said:-

"We had good play in good areas, it just needs improvement on that final pass or final ball. We certainly need to defend better because for me we are losing too many goals.

"We have been working on that this week. Doing a bit of defending, just trying to get into good habits and trying to improve."

The manager does not expect his injured players to be ready for this weekend.

"Nat Wedderburn has just trained one or two days this week but his ankle is feeling a bit better. He should be back in contention soon and Sean Murdoch is possibly still a couple of weeks away. That is a positive because obviously we need a bit of competition for the goalie`s position. David Hutton has done well but it is always good to have somebody pushing you all the way."

French born Moroccan Farid El Alagui has been training with Dunfermline for a few days and he scored in the Development League match at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday night.

"We will take a look at him and see how it goes. He has been out a long time injured so it is a big one to take a gamble. You can see the qualities he could bring to the team when he is fully fit. He has not done a pre season and he is playing catch up all the time.

"A couple of years ago when he was at his best he was a real handful. So he will bring something to the team as well if we sign him. He is definitely somebody that we are really interested in, we will just need to see how that progresses. It gives us a better chance to take a look at him and make sure that he is 100% fit."

The manager has been impressed with the 31 year old`s attitude. He has noticed how professional the player handles himself and comes with a lot of experience.

"He is dangerous in the box and given the way we like to get crosses in it would be good to have somebody of his stature in the box. He is totally different to what we have got. I like a bit of mobility upfront but it is always good to have another option."

Allan Johnston was pleased to see seventeen year old Stuart Morrison included in Scot Gemmill`s Scotland under 19 squad. He commented:-

"He has just come in full time this season but he played a lot of reserve games last season. That probably speaks volumes for the way that he has been playing. He is a really young lad with a lot to learn but he is definitely going in the right direction.

"It always helps when you have someone like Potts who played the same position as him, offering advice and I am sure that he will come on leaps and bounds under Potts."

This season he has had Callum Fordyce playing alongside him as the former Livingston defender works on his comeback from long term injury. AJ continued:-

"It is amazing the difference of just having a bit of experience along side you. Dycey is still a young lad as well but he is a good talker and that makes a massive difference for young guys learning."

The manager revealed that he was still considering a few potential signings but confirmed that trialist Alan Kováč had left.

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