The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Higginbotham anticipating a fired-up Falkirk
Dunfermline winger Kallum Higginbotham reckons Falkirk “let their fans down massively” in the last derby but expects his old side to be fired up for today’s clash.
Higginbotham knows plenty about the combustible fixture, having experienced it from both sides of the Forth rivalry, and is desperate to end up on the winning team again this afternoon.
The 29-year-old had to watch the last encounter from the stand following a hernia operation but was left stunned by the Bairns’ tame performance in Dunfermline’s 2-0 victory.
However, the former Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock attacker, who spent two seasons with Falkirk, is fully anticipating more of a battle in today’s rematch at East End Park.
He said: “I would say it was probably our best performance of the season when we played them through there.
“Albeit, I thought Falkirk were very poor – not in terms of quality but in terms of lacking fight and that bit of grit that you need in a derby.
“I just didn’t see it from the Falkirk side that day.
“They brought a lot of boys up from down south and they probably didn’t understand how important this game is, not only to the players but also to everyone connected with both clubs.
“For me watching on, as I wasn’t involved in that game, I thought Falkirk let their fans down, massively.
“So, they would have got a rude awakening in that game and I’m sure they’ll be coming here all guns blazing.
“But I believe we’ve got enough quality in our squad to go out there and win the game, especially as it’s at home.
“This should be our fortress, people shouldn’t be coming here and picking up three points, so if I’ve got anything to do with it that won’t be happening.”
To earn the derby bragging rights, Dunfermline will have to overcome not only their opponents, who sit bottom of the Championship, but also a dismal home record that has seen them won only once in their last eight outings at East End Park.
Higginbotham is at a loss to explain just why things have gone so badly wrong on home soil, where the Pars have been strong since his arrival in 2016.
However, he hopes the supporters can play their part in spurring the Fifers on this afternoon, and in return he has promised total commitment on the pitch.
He added: “We know how much the fans can influence the game in a positive way if they stick with the team.
“They’ve done that over the last couple of games.
“Fans travelled all the way up to support the team in Inverness and then in the Alloa game.
“The longer they stick with us the better – but I know that if we go behind then it’s harder to stick with the team.
“But we’ll have a gameplan to attack from the first minute and that’s what the fans want to see.”