Blair buoyed by strike and Dunfermline’s resurgence

DUNFERMLINE midfielder Ryan Blair insists the Pars are hitting their stride at the perfect time after a fourth straight win propelled them into a Ladbrokes Championship play-off position. The on loan Swansea player’s 74th minute strike – only his second senior goal – was the difference in Saturday’s hard-fought encounter with Queen of the South. And after being worried about being dragged into a relegation scrap just over two weeks ago, the Fife outfit now have their sights firmly set on finishing in the top four after climbing to their highest position of the campaign. The winning sequence has been built on a solid defensive showing, with Stevie Crawford’s side now going 373 minutes without conceding a goal, and Blair insists Dunfermline are going from strength to strength under their new manager. He said: “It’s the perfect time to be building momentum, coming into this part of the season there is a lot of pressure on teams to get into the top four so it’s a great time to get it and long may it continue. “The boys are buzzing, when I came in I didn’t think the boys were downbeat at all but now after four wins on the bounce we’re all flying and ready to go again – we want game after game. “That’s four on the bounce we’ve won and hopefully we can kick on from here and claim a play-off place.” Blair was denied a stunning goal from a free-kick in the first half when Alan Martin expertly palmed his rising drive over the bar. But the 23-year-old found the net after the break with a low left-footed effort from outside the box that flew beyond the Queens shot-stopper. Blair broke his duck on loan at Falkirk with the winning strike against St Mirren last April and is keen to becoming a bigger threat in the final third. He added: “I’m delighted, I loved it. It was a scrappy game but I’m just delighted to get the goal – my first one for Dunfermline.” While the Pars have the wind in their sails, Queens are in free fall, with Gary Naysmith’s side now only four points above the relegation zone having played a game more. He said: “It’s very fine margins just now. We’ve lost our last four games by one goal and we could easily have drawn them or taken all three points. “We’re in a little bit of a sticky situation just now but as long as the players keep performing like that then I’m sure we’ll be fine.”