Goal would crown match against Queens
Friday, 16th Dec 201616/12/16: Lee Ashcroft - "I have scored three goals in cups but I am still waiting for that league one
Lee Ashcroft has every respect for Saturday`s opponents Queen of the South who put in an impressive performance to defeat the Pars 1-0 at East End Park back in August. He commented:-
"At that time they were on a good run of form and after they beat us they went top of the league. Recently they have struggled but I still feel it will be a hard game.
"Every game is important but it will be that bit harder because they are fighting for a first win in eleven games. We have not lost in our last four games so it is good to go there on a good run of form. If we can beat them we can go above them so it is a great incentive to have."
Since the August match, Gavin Skelton has left Queen of the South and Gary Naysmith has taken over. Lee felt that the new manager will bring different ideas but stresses that Dunfermline just need to concentrate on themselves.
"If we can defend the way that we have been defending then we are more than capable of taking the three points."
Three points collected for the win over Morton was very welcome and Lee said it was nice to see other teams missing penalties.
"It was a bit of a mad start for us but a great win and we need to keep that going. When you get momentum going, the confidence builds. When you start winning you keep winning and getting good results. It is the same when you are losing, a lot of things seem to go against you.
"I think we have that run of luck just now and hopefully that continues and we pick up a win at the weekend."
The 23-year-old played his part in helping to keep the Ayrshire men in the top-flight but it was an annual struggle, finishing ninth in 2013-14 – just four points above second-bottom Hibs – and 10th two seasons ago before being sucked into a relegation play-off with Falkirk season.
All of Lee`s four seasons at Kilmarnock were a constantbattlie against relegation and successful though that was, Lee was hoping that his Dunfermline career would be focused on promotion. He continued:-
"At Killie it was always a horrible experience so hopefully we can win the next two and by New Year be mid table. Then we could start looking up rather than looking behind us.
"When I first came in and the boys that the gaffer had signed all expected us to go for that play off position at the least. That is still in our sights. It is such a tight league and I think it is our turn to keep this run going."
Due to a one match suspension for being sent off in the opening league match of the season, Lee has only missed one of the Pars 23 matches this season - at Easter Road on 13th August. While Lee has been near ever present however, seven other players have joined him in the back four - Ben Richards-Everton, Callum Fordyce, Lewis Martin, Jason Talbot, Ryan Williamson, Andy Geggan and most recently Conner Duthie. Lee commented:-
"When you sign you play with different players but I think I settled in pretty quick. You learn the boys strengths and where they are better at different things. It takes a wee while to get used to but once you play with boys for a while you get used to the way they play."
Lee scored four goals in his 70 plus appearances for Kilmarnock but has almost matched that after 22 games at Dunfermline, he added:-
"I have scored three goals in cups but I am still waiting for that league one. I am overdue it so hopefully it comes this weekend and helps us get the win. I am happy if we get the clean sheet but a goal is a wee bonus."
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