PAUL’S OUT FOR BLOOD

CHAMPIONSHIP

PAUL PATON insists he’d accept more war wounds from a battle with old team Dundee United if it meant Dunfermline picking up another three points.

The Pars skipper finished last weekend’s 3-2 victory over Ayr with blood streaming from a gash just above his eye following a nasty clash with former Fifers midfielder Andy Geggan.

After being hasilty bandaged at the time, the 32-year-old had to have stiches inserted in the cut in the dressing room after the game.

But the midfielder, who spent three happy years at United before leaving in 2016, reckons the pain was a small price to pay for a crucial win that extended Dunfermline’s unbeaten run to four matches with a first home league win in seven months.

He said: “I was aware of our home record, we hadn’t won a home game since March. For a club like this it is obviously not good enough.

“To finally get the win, we will take a lot of confidence out of that.

“Ryan Dow and I were in getting stitches at the same time after the game but it is always easier to take when you get the three points.

“I don’t think I have had many stitches in my face, maybe once before a long time ago but I have played a lot of games so I can’t remember most.

“But if I had been getting stitches after a defeat I would have been raging. We’re willing to do anything to get three points. I’d probably take three stitches every week if it meant three points.”

After a mixed start to the campaign, Dunfermline sit seventh but are only two points off a play-off spot and would move to within five points of United should they win today.

The Tangerines will be desperate to recover from back-to-back defeats but will have the comfort of knowing they have won all four home league games convincingly this term.

Whilst they will be happy to be back at Tannadice, Paton admits the trip will also rekindle happy memories for him – as well as a determination to get a positive result for the Pars.

He said: “I’ve been watching their results every week since I left. I loved being at e United, I captained the team a number of times and it was the happiest time in my career.

“So, I don’t have a bad word to say about the club. I loved being there, I am still fond of the club and I am looking forward to going back and seeing some familiar faces.”