The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pars back on track after ditching the blame game
DUNFERMLINE: Stevie Crawford praises his players’ new belief and togetherness
Stevie Crawford believes Dunfermline are thriving because they have ditched the blame game in favour of a togetherness that could lead them back into the top four this weekend.
The Pars can climb above Inverness Caley Thistle and into a play-off spot with a fourth consecutive league win tomorrow against Queen of the South.
It took Crawford five games to taste victory as manager but the Fifers have now racked up nine points from a possible nine against Inverness, Ayr United and Partick Thistle.
The former Scotland striker believes there is a growing sense of harmony at East End Park as success brings back the feel-good factor.
He said: “There’s now a belief and there is a togetherness. They don’t know consciously they’re doing it, but you look over your shoulder and look to blame somebody.
“Now, they’re looking over their shoulders and they know a team-mate has got their backs.
“It just brings that little extra percentage, and that’s all as a coaching staff we’ll continue trying to get out of the players.
“If that happens, it doesn’t guarantee you’re going to win three points but it creates an atmosphere at your workplace, whether that’s on a Saturday or through the week at training, where people want to be a part of it.
“And it gets that connection with the supporters as well.
“If we go out and give that same commitment on Saturday, the fans will get behind us. They’re there for us but it’s our responsibility to actually bring in the supporters as well.
“It works two ways, because the supporters get behind the players and the players then kick on again.”
Since crashing out of the Scottish Cup to Fife rivals Raith Rovers in January, Dunfermline have lost just one of five games and enjoyed four shut-outs, including in the last three wins.
And, now working from a solid base, Crawford was thrilled to see his side find their form at the other end of the pitch in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Partick. He added: “The pleasing thing is we’re not leaking goals and defensively we’re looking solid, and getting three goals on Tuesday night was pleasing as well.
“We’ll take confidence from finding the net. “It’s trying to get that balance, looking strong out of possession and not giving away chances cheaply, but equally we want to be a threat going forward. Confidence is a big issue in that attacking side of things as well, and you could see the confidence bleeding through the team after the first goal on Tuesday.”