Dargo hopeful of revenge
Monday, 6th May 2013"We just need to do the job over the next two weeks but we are not counting our chickens because Forfar are going to be right up for it ...
Craig Dargo felt that Dunfermline had plenty chances in the game against Airdrie United on Saturday to have comfortably won the match. As a consequence of failing to take these chances, losing 2-1 and Cowdenbeath winning at Hamilton then Craig finds himself in the First Division Play Offs for the second consecutive season.
Last year Craig came through victorious in a Dumbarton side and we considers that after what they have gone through this season, Dunfermline's young squad will be able to cope with play offs:-
"I am sure that they will take it in their strides. They are young and fearless. They will just het on with it and I think that will work in their favour. They have been fantastic so far. Saturday was a wee blip because we wanted to avoid the play offs. I have come through the play offs with a Second Division side taking on the First Division teams as well. We would be the big scalp to take so we will apply ourselves right over the two legs"
There is comfort in the fact that Jim Jefferies survivors have been playing to their potential if they can keep that going they should be good enough to take account of Forfar Athletic and then the winners of Alloa Athletic or Brechin City. There will be pressure and that is intensified with the doubt over how successful the administrators can be in saving the Club.
"It is our livelihoods, what happens if we go into the Second Division? Does the Club still survive? At the moment that is not a problem, we need to keep the Club in the First Division. That is our prime concern, We will be back in on Monday with a good training session on Monday and Tuesday to get geared up for the game against Forfar on Wednesday.
"The crowd on Saturday were brilliant, these fans deserve to be in the First Division next season pushing for a Premier League place."
Airdrie have done well against Dunfermline this season but Craig felt Cowdenbeath and Airdrie doubles looked a tall order that not many would have predicted:-
"It was just one of those sagas and it wasn't to be our day today."
The best chances fell to Ryan Wallace and the 35 year old striker felt that could not have been better:-
"We created enough chances to win three games today but if you don't take your chances, that is what happens - you are punished."
To be hypercritical of the youth that packed Jim Jefferies team after the administrator's cuts, would be unfair claimed Dargs:-
"The task in front of us was massive. We went and played the top three teams in our league away from home and ended up unbeaten. We beat Morton and drew with the other two. To get ourselves into the position we did for Saturday was fantastic and great for them. We failed to get over the final hurdle.
"Hamilton could have done us a favour but it was in our hands. We created a million chances as we did the previous Saturday against Partick Thistle, we did it again against Airdrie - we are creating chances, the goalscoring opportunities are there. We are not exactly playing badly, we just made a couple of mistakes defensively. A bit naive but you have to expect that with young players."
The responsibility of keeping Dunfermline has been thrust on young players over the course of just a few weeks but they have adapted well. Now they face a Forfar Athletic team that Dick Campbell will have well and truly up for the play offs:-
""We will be up against it that but the pitch up there should suit us as well. We went up there at the start of the season and got beat but revenge is hopefully on the cards. We just need to do the job over the next two weeks but we are not counting our chickens because Forfar are going to be right up for it and it will be a tough two legs."
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