Manager on Monday

22/03/21: SC - “It is a competitive place to go to Cappielow and we have got to make sure that we match them in terms of our determination and effort.

Having watched Inverness Caley Thistle win at Stark’s Park in midweek Stevie Crawford felt Saturday’s opponents arrived at East End Park with their tails up. That was confirmed by the 81st minute winner, the first senior goal for Englishman David Carson. The Pars gaffer said:-

“We were disappointed because our home record has been good, it has been something that we have been able to build on. I spent Saturday night watching the game back and we can only work hard in training and look forward to the Morton game.

“It is a Scottish Cup tie and is obviously a competition that the club takes seriously. We have a number of games coming up and we have got to see where we are at with the squad in terms of injuries. We have a few with knocks and bruises after the game against Inverness.”

Stevie is keen to progress, with the prize for progressing a Third Round tie against East Fife, the club that gave him the first taste of football management. He hopes to resurrect the Betfred Cup form that saw Dunfermline coming so close to beating the team that eventually won it.

“If there is any consolation it just shows you the fine margins, we took St Johnstone right to the wire in extra time and penalties. There is no way you can write off a competition. I know the league is our main focus but the carrot at the end of the Morton tie is East Fife waiting in the next round.

“That doesn’t give us a divine right to go down to Morton and think that you are going to progress. It is going to be a roll your sleeves up job. I don’t think the pitch is in great condition with what Morton stuff I have watched recently.”

The Scottish Cup tie will be the fourth match this season against Morton, do Dunfermline have the formula to beat them?

“After a defeat a number of things go through your head, it is not to have a knee jerk reaction. It is a competitive place to go to Cappielow and we have got to make sure that we match them in terms of our determination and effort. I think over the course of the season we have shown that side to us.

“We were maybe lacking a little bit at the weekend on that side of things but opportunities may arises that other players are given the opportunities. It brings a freshness to what we are looking to do to try and win a game of football.

“They will be in a better place having won at the weekend, they beat Queen of the South and it is a challenge that I am looking forward to and see what we are all about after Saturday’s defeat to Inverness.”

The manager stressed that he has to be mindful that there are a lot of games coming up and there are a number of players who maybe haven’t had as much game time as they would like.

“I think the depth that we have got in the squad if there are boys going to get an opportunity against Morton, they are more than capable of making us progress in this tournament. It is just having to wait another 24 hours to see where we are at injury wise and pick the right team to give us the best chance to progress in this tournament.”

One player who will be travelling further than Greenock is recent signing Vytas Gašpuitis who has been called up by Lithuania for international duty.

“The big man has been called up for a friendly and two qualifiers. When you sign international players that is something that I discussed with the chairman. These things happen, you cannot stop your players going to play for their country. It is frustrating because he is just getting to a level of fitness that we want him to be.

“I know what is like to play for your country and we are not going to stand in anybody’s way. That is another one that we going to have to overcome.”

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