Kallum Higginbotham is spot on

"The boys played well but St Mirren came, frustrated us and rightly got a point."

"No disrespect to St Mirren, if we want to be in the play offs we have to be beating the bottom of the league at home. They are fighting for their lives and the gaffer said that before the game. We knew that it was going to be a tough game and that is how it panned out.

"We did have opportunities to win the game, the only frustrating thing was the goal that we conceded. We spoke about it at half time, in the first half that was probably the only threat they had. For them to score 45 seconds after the restart is frustrating.

"That is nine unbeaten now so we can`t be too down on ourselves, we just go again next week in the cup and hopefully we can start a run again."

The result took the Pars above Raith Rovers and into fifth place. Falkirk`s 1-1 draw at home to Ayr United meant that the gap between the Pars and the Bairns remains at six points after 21 matches of the 36 match league schedule. Kallum continued:-

"For most of the season we have been looking at what is below us. The run that we are on has given us confidence, it is only six points and still a long way to go in the league.

"We have to play them twice as well so if we keep playing like we have been playing over the last couple of months then I feel that we will be in the play offs come the end of the season."

The memory of two missed penalties back in the home match against Ayr United has haunted Kallum`s mind in the five matches since that December afternoon. He was suspended for the Boxing Day match against Falkirk when Rhys McCabe converted from the spot to make it 1-1. Kallum said that it was too long as far as he was concerned:-

"We got a penalty against Falkirk when I was in the stand. I have said all along since missing the penalties that if we get another one and I am playing, I would like to take it. I didn`t think I would have got the chance, fair play to John Herron and Nicky Clark for giving me the confidence and giving me the ball straight away. It is always good to get that off my back.

"Those were the first two penalties that I have missed in my career and I am not going to lie, I was a bit nervous stepping up. I am glad that it went in and now I can just concentrate on my game again."

The penalty put Dunfermline into a 37th minute lead and thankfully Higgy took it well, he claimed that he was a confident player:-

"From 12 yards out if you are a professional footballer you should be hitting the target and scoring most of your penalties. It is just unfortunate that I missed two in two minutes. That is in the past and I am just glad that I got the chance to step up and score."

After referee Willie Collum awarded the penalty, John Herron ran for the ball and gave it to Kallum.

"Nicky was saying ` let me take it` but I said `no I am having it` so he said `fair enough, if you are confident then make sure.

"That`s the squad that we have got, we are all rooting for each other and I have said a massive thank you to the pair of them. I told them at half time that I really appreciate that they did not argue with me when I wanted to take the penalty. It gave me a massive boost throughout the game."

The penalty hit the net but Kallum came desperately close to adding others in the second half. There was a free kick that just went narrowly wide just eight minutes from the end:-

"I am going to say that it was inches wide but it really was inches. If it was on target I do not think Langfield had moved. That`s just the way the game went. There was another shot that I thought was in all the way but just went out at the last minute and onto the sidenetting.

"Michael Moffat had a chance as well. The pitch was not in the best condition but fair play to the groundsmen for getting the game on. The ball bobbled up and hit him on the knee so you can`t really give him any stick for that.

"The boys played well but St Mirren came, frustrated us and rightly got a point."

Premier league standard could be an accurate description when you look around the Pars dressing room and Higgy stressed that it is not just the starting eleven.

"Look at the bench - Joe Cardle, Farid El Alagui, Gavin Reilly and Callum Morris has just come in. Hopefully come the end of the season if we are in the play off spots, it is a lottery on the day who can win, it will give us a fantastic chance. If not this season then next season we could have a real push at it."

Hibs with 45 points are now six points ahead of Dundee United who in turn have a five point cushion between them and Morton in third. After a nine match unbeaten run the Pars have caught up quietly on the likes of Falkirk and Raith. Kallum feels that is an advantage:-

"Hibs need to go up this season I believe. They have been down in this league now for three seasons and it is a massive club, a club that should be in the Premier League.

"If we are doing our business and going about it on the blindside then come the end of the season, we will be where we want to be."

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