KEVIN SENT
Nisbet fits the bill for Pars and leaves Shankland in the shadows but insists there’s still room for personal improvement
Dundee united tried to lure him away in January as a longterm replacement for Lawrence Shankland and his skipper turned up the heat by claiming he is the better of the two on-form strikers.
However, Kevin nisbet is adamant he has bigger goals fixed in his sights as he chases a promotion play-off place and last season’s tally of 34 goals.
Pars captain Paul Paton ensured there would be an intriguing sideshow to united’s trip to east end Park when he insisted nisbet’s all-round game is better than that of Shankland, the man who has shot his way into the Scotland squad and the tannadice side within reach of the Championship title and promotion back to the top flight.
nisbet’s pace, power and aerial ability, coupled with a willingness to track back and run off the ball, were all on show, but it was his opener in the 26th minute — his 23rd of the campaign — that stole the limelight away from his tannadice rival, whose off-colour display was firmly in keeping with the rest of his team-mates.
With on-loan Celtic youngster Jonathan Afolabi knocking in his first goal since joining last month to clinch a first home success against united in 13 years, the victory had greater significance than lifting the Fifers up one solitary place into sixth in the table, where they are still two points adrift of a play-off berth.
‘i just concentrate on the game in hand,’ said nisbet when asked if he had felt any more pressure after Paton’s pre-match billing. ‘it’s a team game, we need to work hard up front, like me and Jon did, and keep our shape and i thought the lads were outstanding.
‘Something i’ve worked on in the last, maybe, 18 months is my work rate off the ball, and i think it’s getting better. i can probably get better at it as well, so i just need to keep working hard and, hopefully, we can get into the play-offs.
‘the goals help as well. that’s me on 23 now this season, 18 in the league. that’s great. now we can kick on and try to fire us into the play-offs.
‘i got 34 goals last season, so i’ve got another 11 to go. My target is to beat last year, and i think it’s going well now. there are 11 games left, so i’m definitely on track and hopefully i can do it.’
Whilst Shankland failed to make the most of the three half-chances that came his way on a frustrating afternoon for united, nisbet clinically accepted his best opportunity. Kyle turner was the creator with a delicious diagonal that sliced open the visiting defence and, still with plenty to do, nisbet looped a luscious header over Benjamin Siegrist in the united goal.
He then hit the post from a tight angle early in the second half before Afolabi converted from close range after a penetrating run and piercing cross from on-loan Kilmarnock winger dom thomas.
Backed by a massive 2,500-strong travelling support, united were well short of their best and did not look like a team currently 18 points clear at the top of the table. Passes went astray repeatedly, defenders looked nervous, midfielders were outmuscled and rarely did anything click in the final third.
now, with only one win in their last seven matches, and a tough away trip to face Ayr united tomorrow, they are in danger of falling over the finishing line in their title quest.
‘We’ve spoken and the performance level was nowhere near the level we want to be at and the level we have demanded all season,’ said manager Robbie neilson, whose frustration with dunfermline’s time-wasting boiled over in injurytime when he was yellow-carded by referee Graham Beaton.
‘Although the players have done really well, they have got to understand that, and they do understand that.
‘it’s important we get back to winning ways (against Ayr). they’ve got a lot to play for and you see that with dunfermline as well.
‘us coming to town is a cup final for them. they were celebrating at the end and it’s whether you can do that week in, week out. it can be difficult to do that. We just didn’t hit the levels we should be hitting and we know that.’