The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Higginbotham holds on to play-off hope
DUNFERMLINE: Midfield talisman says Pars can still mount late charge
Kallum Higginbotham has piled the pressure on Morton in the race for a play-off place by insisting Dunfermline will be ready to pounce on any slip-ups.
With just three Championship fixtures still to play, Jim Duffy’s men boast an eight-point lead over the Pars and look assured of their top-four berth.
However, the Fifers’ midfield talisman Higginbotham is refusing to give up the ghost and is adamant Dunfermline, who host Falkirk tomorrow, can still mount a late promotion charge.
Allan Johnston’s side face Morton at East End Park seven days later in an encounter which could prove pivotal if the Pars can cut the gap to five points this weekend.
“The sides in the top four probably think that they have secured their playoff place,” he said.
“But you can see with Morton’s performances over the last few weeks that they have started to dip, and we still have aspirations of catching them.
“We won’t stop working towards that, and tomorrow is massive. We play Falkirk and they face Ayr, and it all rests on this weekend.
“There is less expectation on us, no pressure. The fans realise it will be a tough task and, regardless, we can build on this season, whereas Morton only need one win from their next three games.
“They won’t want it to still be alive when we play, otherwise it could be down to two or three points if we beat them going into the last game.”
Higginbotham starred for Falkirk for 18 months before earning a switch to Huddersfield in 2012.
“I loved it at Falkirk and, any time I reflect on my spell there, I always put that down to the manager, Steven Pressley,” he said.
“I think it was just the belief that he would show in me. Even if you were having an off day, as long as you gave your maximum he would stick by you in the next game. You were never afraid to try things.
“It is exactly the same here with the gaffer (Allan Johnston) and Sandy (Clark). They have stuck by me, and I believe that is how you get the best out of me.
“That’s why I have said that I have no desire to leave the club, I’m really open to staying. I’ve chased the money before at Huddersfield and it didn’t work out. I’m a lot older and wiser now.”