The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Striker says Pars believe they can win every game
ALLOA ATHLETIC 0 DUNFERMLINE 1
Bruce Anderson insists new manager Stevie Crawford has Dunfermline convinced they can win every single game they play.
Crawford’s reign kicked off in shaky fashion, without a victory in his first four games in charge, but the former Pars and Scotland striker has overseen an incredible turnaround in fortunes in recent weeks.
Saturday’s success away to Alloa was a fifth consecutive win for the Fifers, built on a resolute defensive effort that has earned as many clean sheets.
In each game, it has been goalless at half-time and in four of those only one second-half goal has been enough to take all three points.
Anderson was again the matchwinner, netting his fourth goal in six games since his arrival on loan from Aberdeen, neatly controlling and then coolly sweeping in Joe Thomson’s cross following a move Crawford later pointed out had consisted of 17 passes.
And, with Dundee United the visitors this weekend, Anderson claims belief is currently burgeoning at East End Park after they recently moved into fourth spot and stayed there at the weekend.
He said: “We’re building confidence every week and we’re looking forward to next weekend now. The game can’t come quickly enough, really.
“There’s such a good atmosphere in the dressing room just now and hopefully we can just kick on.
“I’m confident we can win every game, to be honest with you. When I came in, I couldn’t believe where we were in the league.
“Ever since day one the training has been a high standard and every week we’re going out to win.
“I think that’s down to the manager, he’s put a belief into the players. Since I’ve been here, we believe we’re going to win every game.”
Anderson emerged on top from his individual battle with Aberdeen teammate Sam Roscoe.
Finding themselves in opposition, the flatmates will have spent an awkward drive back to the north-east after the match given the “banter” was flowing even before Saturday’s encounter.
Dunfermline did not create too much for Anderson in attack but, given their recent defensive fortitude, it took just one clear-cut opportunity for the 20-year-old to prove his danger in the box.
He added: “I’m just trying to be as deadly as I can. Hopefully I can keep scoring goals until the end of the season and see where it takes me.
“We’ve been working hard on the training ground and I think the defence keeping clean sheets adds a bit of pressure on the strikers.
“But that’s something I can hopefully thrive on. It’s nice knowing that if you score it’s possibly going to be the one that’s going to win us the match.
“I came here to be a better player. I was desperate to play and maybe my time was limited at Aberdeen.
“I feel like I should be playing now, I’m ready to play week-in, week-out. So, I think this is just the ideal move for me and I’m enjoying every minute.”
For Alloa, a fifth defeat from their last six matches, coupled with wins for Falkirk and Partick Thistle, plunged them back to the foot of the table on a day when a strong wind and the Indodrill Stadium’s sticky, narrow pitch did nothing for the match as a spectacle.
Wasps manager Jim Goodwin said: “It’s games like that where you just need to grind out a result and take a point, and move on. But, unfortunately, we got done by a really poor goal.”