Lee Ashcroft v Locke`s Rovers
Thursday, 29th Dec 2016Pars central defender looking forward to coming up against his old boss
Lee Ashcroft is looking forward to winding up his former Kilmarnock manager when Dunfermline take on Raith Rovers in the second Derby of the Festive period.
"I was at Kilmarnock when Allan Johnston left and Gary Locke took charge, so I worked with the two of them. Gary is a great guy in my opinion and always have a bit of banter with him when I see him. I would like to get one over on him this time and get the three points."
The match at Starks Park earlier this season ended with a 2-0 home win and it was Lee`s first ever taste of a local Derby:-
"Both sets of fans were brilliant and I am looking forward to it again. I think the fans make these games much better.
"It is good for the fans at this time of year when a lot of them are off work, they meet, have a drink with their friends and come and enjoy the game."
It was as a Kilmarnock player that Lee Ashcroft played against Falkirk in the Premiership play off at the end of last season and he enjoyed meeting them again in the Boxing Day Derby. He was disappointed that he didn`t get on the scoresheet. He has been working on attacking at setpieces and that almost came off on Monday.
"I like to think that I can do well against anybody in the box, I think that is one of my strengths, it is just unfortunate that none of them came off as goals. Hopefully they come soon."
There was a netbound Lee Ashcroft header in the first half that was kicked off the line and the Pars central defender added:-
"It was one of those games where there were a lot of balls falling in the box and to be fair they put a lot of bodies on the line and they got a few great blocks in. You cannot fault them for that."
Reflecting further on the Boxing Day match Lee felt that Dunfermline had the better of the first 45 minutes without scoring.
"Obviously being a Derby match the fans would be disappointed with that but I thought we went out in the second half and went the right way about it. We scored then both teams went for the winner.
"It wasn`t to be but a point is not bad after being a goal down. You want to win the game and it would have been a great result for us. I think we deserved the three points but that is just one of those things with football."
Lee admitted he was a bit shocked when referee Euan Anderson awarded Dunfermline a penalty just 13 minutes into the second half.
"I was looking into the box but then saw the ref pointing to the spot. I was not sure what had happened. I asked Jason (Talbot) what had happened and he said that it was a hand ball.
"Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don`t and it was good that Rhys slotted one away for a change."
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