Pars ‘desperate’ for victory to get promotion bid back on track

Allan Johnston admits Dunfermline’s recent form has been ‘unacceptable’ and accepts he goes into tomorrow’s meeting with bottom side Brechin City under mounting pressure.

The Pars have failed to win any of their last seven league games and have slipped from the top-of-the-table position they enjoyed earlier in the season to fifth spot, outside the play-off zone, and 12 points adrift of leaders St Mirren.

Supporters voiced their displeasure at the end of the 5-2 thrashing at home to Queen of the South a fortnight ago, and Johnston is aware he and the team need a sharp upturn in fortunes as they bid to get their promotion hopes back on track.

The Fifers manager said: “We’re desperate for a win. There’s a lot of games coming up over the festive period, against teams round about us, and it’s a great opportunity to start climbing the table again.

“It’s not acceptable, where we are. It’s been a poor second quarter of the season and we’ve got to improve.

“I think every manager, and not just in Scotland, is under pressure at every game.

“That’s the nature of football, especially when you go through a run like the one we’ve been through ourselves.

“You’ve just got to use that and come back even stronger and get the results you need.”

Johnston witnessed an improved display from his team in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat away to St Mirren as they responded to their hammering from Queen of the South.

However, the Pars boss confessed that positive results are what matters most in their current predicament.

Despite their visitors still being without a league win, he is prepared for a tough match against Brechin tomorrow.

And he has acknowledged that both his players and the supporters may need to show composure in breaking down their stuffy opponents.

He added: “We’ve watched Brechin play and they deserved something out of their game against St Mirren and they drew against Dundee United, so it’s not going to be an easy game.

“We’ll have to be patient but we have to make sure we expect to go and win the game as well.

“We just hope the fans will be patient.”