The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Williamson hopes to ease Pars’ troubles
Ryan Williamson got into a spot of bother with his team-mates and opponents last weekend, but is desperate to ensure Dunfermline ease their troubles with a win against Brechin City this afternoon.
The full-back won a penalty for the Pars and the chance to equalise against St Mirren last Saturday, only for referee Craig Charleston to reverse his decision after being surrounded by Buddies players.
Adam Eckersley, who was adjudged to have brought down Williamson, claimed the Scotland under-21 cap told the whistler he had got it wrong and that led to the U-turn.
But the Pars defender, who admits he was not touched by Eckersley, insists he did not speak to the referee and he had to put up with his teammates’ ribbing this week as they tried to make sense of a key moment in their seventh league game without a win.
That run has plunged the East End Park men down to fifth in the table, and Williamson knows, after their defeat by St Mirren, that they desperately need a victory against bottom side Brechin today.
He said: “The boy Eckersley went to shut me down and when I went to get to the ball I anticipated contact and went to ground. It wasn’t a dive but, to be fair, he’s not made any contact and I didn’t expect the referee to give the penalty.
“I never said anything to the ref but a couple of St Mirren players came over raging and I told them I didn’t intend to dive. I would never try to cheat to pick up points.
“We think that when the decision has been made there’s no changing it, but the St Mirren players have changed the referee’s mind.
“I’ve had a bit of stick – the boys have told me I cost us the game. I missed a good chance and then the penalty.
“They wound me up but it’s done now and all week we’ve just been trying to look ahead to this weekend.
“I understand the penalty could have been crucial but we’re raring to go for Saturday and hopefully we’ll get back to winning ways.”
Brechin may not have tasted victory in the league this season but have proved stuffy opponents for Dundee United and St Mirren in recent weeks and Williamson is desperate for a turnaround in the Pars’ fortunes.
He added: “It’s a big one and, as we’ve been saying for a while now, you could say it’s a ‘must-win’ game for us to get ourselves back up there.”