Crawford hails veteran pair for leading from front at Dunfermline

Stevie Crawford has heaped praise on veterans Steven Whittaker and Paul Watson for bringing a “calmness” to Dunfermline.

The Pars are recovering from a Covid-19 outbreak that saw their games with Raith Rovers and Dundee postponed, and it remains to be seen just who will be available for the visit of Morton tomorrow.

Watson wore the armband for the defeat against Queen of the South a fortnight ago after skipper Euan Murray was ruled out through injury.

But Crawford insists the former Dundee United and Livingston defender always plays a key role anyway.

Only Whittaker is older than Watson among the Fifers’ youthful outfield players and Crawford has hailed the pair’s influence.

He said: “Since I signed Paul, he has behaved and acted like a captain.

“When I listen to interviews or listen to experienced managers in the Premier League in England talking, they talk about a calmness and I think Steven Whittaker and Paul Watson have brought that as well.

“They don’t wear the armband but on and off the pitch they behave in that manner There was disappointment that we didn’t get the result down at Queen of the South with Paul wearing the armband, but we can dwell on that, we can feel sorry for ourselves, or we can look forward.

“Paul has been looking to lead the team in the last couple of weeks to get us back to winning ways.”

Dunfermline tomorrow host a Morton side who have just appointed exPar Gus MacPherson as their new manager.

The last time the Ton visited East End Park, they were reeling from David Hopkin’s exit – but rallied to inflict on the Fifers their only home defeat of the campaign.

Crawford admits that disappointment can spur on his team this weekend.

He added: “Looking back, there was a slight release from a change in management the last time when Morton came..

“I know talking to my players they felt it was a bit unjust that we lost the game, but it did happen.

“We can’t change that, the result is what it is. What we have to do is use that as our motivation.

“We must make sure we go into it with a winning mentality, to try and take ourselves into a stronger position in the league. It will be competitive and they will look to cause us problems that we have to be ready for as well.

“Looking at our home form, and the points we have put on the board, it has been very good. But you are always trying to get better.

“We want to try and score more. Our record defensively is very good, it is the best in the league, so we have to consolidate on that while looking at being more creative in the final third.”

Steven Whittaker: The Pars man shows his experience.