The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dow keen to repay Pars boss’ s belief
Ryan Dow is adamant Peter Grant has remained a picture of positivity during Dunfermline’s torrid start to the Championship campaign.
The Pars boss confessed he felt the strain last week as suggestions mounted that another meek defeat against Inverness would result in his dismissal.
He noted: “I am not one of those guys who kid you on and say that I have not been feeling the pressure. Of course you do.”
As it was, the Fifers claimed a creditable 0-0 draw against the Caley Jags, who boasted a 100% league record prior to their arrival at East End Park.
Dow insists Grant has never allowed the pressure to affect his demeanour on the training pitch — and reckons that is down to his steadfast faith in the quality of the group.
However, he knows that counts for nothing if the players do not prove it on the grass.
“What you can see is the gaffer’s desperation to get that first win,” said Dow. “That echoes everyone at the football club. The longer that wait goes on, the more it eats away.
“But he’s always been positive and I think that comes from the fact he knows the group we have.
“It’s easy for me to say that – and we can’t keep saying it then not winning – but the quality is in that dressing room.
“We know the start we could have made as a team and what we’ve produced has been nowhere near those standards.
“We need to turn it around quickly otherwise the words count for nothing.”
Much the same can be said for today’s opponents Hamilton Accies.
Few would have predicted this fixture would represent a grim battle between the Championship’s bottomtwo – but that is the stark reality for Dow and his team-mates.
Accies, in ninth spot, have already seen a change of management as Stuart Taylor replaced Brian Rice in August. Grant is fighting to ensure he does not suffer the same fate.
“I don’t think either club would have imagined they would be in this position,” rued Dow. “Even five games in, you don’t want to be at the bottom of the league. The clubs will be desperate to kick-start their season, so it is a massive game for both.”
Indeed, Dow sees the next seven days as a platform to “flip” Dunfermline’s stuttering season.
The Accies match is followed by a midweek trip to Raith Rovers before a testing encounter with
Queen of the South next Saturday.
Grant meanwhile admits Rhys Breen has endured a “nightmare” start to his Dunfermline career amid illness and injury woes.
The former Rangers youngster returned from a stint in the US with Orange County to join the Pars in July – but is yet to make his debut for the Fife outfit.
The 23-year-old was on the bench for Championship outings against Morton and Partick Thistle, but has been missing from the matchday squad since Dunfermline’s 5-0 defeat against Rangers on August 13.
“Rhys (Breen) has had a bit of a nightmare,” said Grant. “He had 10 days in
isolation when he came back from America.
“Then, after the Rangers game, he felt a tweak on his hamstring while doing the post-match work. That just got progressively worse, so he was out with that.
“As sure as fate, he then caught Covid and, just when he was ready to come back, one of his family members caught it – so he was out again.
“It was nearly a month of back to back isolation for him.
“It has been really unfortunate for him because he is a top talent — he’s quick and strong and has experience of playing in this division (with Queen of the South) last year.”