Survival gets tougher

Tossing the towel in now is not in the boys make up, we just need to keep plugging away and working hard.

Goalkeeper Chris Smith says that Dunfermline can only take one game at a time. No points from the Hearts game on Saturday, coupled with Hibs picking up a point against Motherwell on Sunday means that SPL survival is slowly becoming more difficult.

There are five games left, fifteen points to play for and seven behind Hibs.

"We just need to put in the same application and effort and you never know what could happen. We still have to play Hibs and there will be five hard games post split. Tossing the towel in now is not in the boys make up, we just need to keep plugging away and working hard.

"Our aim is to get as many points as we can on the board. We need to look at our own game, we had an opportunity in the game against Hearts but did not take it and lost 2-1. Hearts are a good side, they got a couple of chances and punished us.

"We did well in the first half but we knew that they would get a rocket at half time. They came out and got their two goals in quick succession."

Chris talked through those two Hearts goals.

"At the first the cross came in, we dealt with the cross but another one came in and the boy finished it with a great finish - I don't know how much he knew about it. It was a hard one to take after doing so well in the first half. It was Alex Keddie who put in the second one but he felt that he was fouled. It was two v one against him, he felt that there was a wee nudge in the back that knocked him into the ball and into the back of the net.

"Every game is a cup final, if a few breaks go our way you never know what can happen. We love it in the SPL and will not give it up without a fight."

Jim Jefferies had told Chris that with no recognised experience back up for him, he would have to sign another keeper and Spaniard Bernardo Fernandez arrived on Thursday. Chris commented:-

"I look forward to working with him, it will be good to have a new challenge and he will be pushing me all the way. I have been working with him for a few days and he will do very well."