Johnston hails side’s character as Elliott howler gifts Pars victory
ALLAN Johnston saluted the character of his Dunfermline players as they ended a six-game winless streak with a 1-0 triumph over Partick Thistle last night.
But it was another miserable away day for Thistle who have lost all four games on the road this season.
It was a blunder by Christie Elliott that gifted Aidan Connolly the winner and Pars boss Johnston felt his side was worth the victory.
He said: “It’s a result that has been coming. We should have won last weekend, we are defending better and created chances again. We will score goals because we have good players and you can see the creativity we have.
“I’m just delighted for the boys because they showed a bit of character. Sometimes it can be frustrating when the results don’t go your way, so the boys showed the character to keep getting on the ball and doing the right things.”
The Pars had starred the match in a reasonably spritely fashion and forced four corners against a Thistle side who seemed content to sit deep and try to counter.
But a mistake by Lee Ashcroft in 38 minutes nearly allowed Thistle to get their noses in front.
Ashcroft carelessly gave the ball away to Spittal just outside the box and the attacker, who scored twice last Saturday against Queen of the South, nearly made him pay. Spittal burst into the penalty area and tried to beat Lee Robinson with a left-foot strike but his effort flew wide. Ashcroft knew he had ridden his luck and he nearly had the perfect response three minutes later. Louis Longridge drove a freekick into the box and Ashcroft tried to loop a header into the left corner but Cammy Bell pushed the ball over the bar.
Thistle nearly caught the Fifers out on the breakaway two minutes later.
It wasn’t an easy chance as Spittal burst forward and released Kris Doolan on the left side of the box but the striker did well to get a powerful left-foot shot away that forced Robinson to save.
Doolan was replaced by Jai Quitongo as Partick looked for fresh legs up front, but he had barely got into his stride when Dunfermline scored in 69 minutes.
It was a disaster for Elliott. James Craigen played the ball into the box from the right and the ball bounced off Elliot straight into the path of Connolly.
He couldn’t believe his luck as he swept the ball into the net from six yards.
Connolly should have scored again in 83 minutes but blew a huge chance. Louis Longridge set him up with a low cross from the right – but from four yards out he hit the left post.