The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pars striker will learn from costly red card
Higginbotham full of remorse afterwards, says boss Johnston
Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston is confident Kallum Higginbotham will learn from last weekend’s costly red card that rules him out of tomorrow’s clash with Morton.
The former Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock attacker was sent off in only the 15th minute in Dingwall to leave the Pars right up against it in their 2-1 defeat away to Ross County.
The 29-year-old was caught throwing an elbow into County defender Stelios Demetriou and misses the visit of Morton and the trip to face Partick Thistle as a result.
Johnston had been impressed with the discipline shown this season by Higginbotham, who was red-carded against Falkirk last term and booked 13 times in the previous campaign.
However, the Fifers boss insists the Englishman was full of remorse afterwards and is convinced he will realise the error of his ways.
He said: “He knows himself that he let himself down and obviously his teammates. I’m sure he’ll learn from it.
“He’s actually behaved himself for the majority of games, if you can put it that way.
“But we can’t afford to get people sent off. It puts you under pressure right away and it doesn’t get much harder ALLAN JOHNSTON than an away game against Ross County, never mind being down to 10 men.
“Having said that, I thought the boys battled away really well and with a wee bit of luck we could probably have got something from the game.”
Dunfermline will again be missing Aidan Connolly, Andy Ryan and a handful of other first-team regulars as they bid to arrest a dismal home record that has seen them win only once in the Championship all season and score just twice in seven league games at East End Park.
However, they will be boosted by the return of former Sunderland midfielder Tom Beadling, who has recovered from a thigh complaint to put himself in contention for a comeback.
Johnston has confessed his side’s home form is a major concern but he is hopeful of finally digging out a positive result and wants to make the most of Morton’s long journey north for Tuesday’s Scottish Cup replay against Peterhead.
He added: “Obviously, the results haven’t been good enough and we know we need to quickly pick up.
“When you look at the fixtures coming up, it’s all teams round about us for the next month. So, it’s important we start it off by getting a win, especially at home.
“We need to start improving our home form because it’s been a cause for concern. We know we’ve got to be a threat and we’ve got to score goals.
“They had a midweek game against Peterhead as well, so we’ve got to make sure we start the game really fast and get the tempo of the game up.
“Hopefully we can go and create chances... and get that win we’re looking for.”
He knows himself that he let himself down and obviously his teammates. I’m sure he’ll learn from it.