Dow insists Pars will beat the drop

Ryan Dow has backed the Pars to take a big step to Championship survival against Queen’s Park this afternoon.

The Pars know it is all or nothing in their play-off semi-final after Wednesday night’s goalless draw at Firhill.

The Fifers were booed from the pitch following that drab stalemate, with manager John Hughes the target of some angry supporters.

But Dow insists that in the circumstances, and particularly Partick Thistle’s rutted pitch, the draw against their on-form League One opponents was passable ahead of their return to Fife.

Dunfermline were unbeaten at East End Park this calendar year until their final-day collapse against Queen of the South and Dow is optimistic they can rediscover their home form to reach the final against either Airdrie or Montrose.

The former Dundee United and Ross County midfielder said: “I’m sure Queen’s Park would have probably said the same of being at home at Firhill, but you always fancy yourself at home.

“Without the Queen of the South result we have had a good record there this year. We will fancy our chances – but I’m sure Queen’s will too.

“It was a difficult, hardfought match from both teams on Wednesday, so it will be difficult.

“But hopefully will suit us a lot better back on our home surface. Hopefully the crowd will get behind us and we can get a positive result.

“We are disappointed that we never won in midweek but it is not the worst result in the world.

“You get a clean sheet and you go to a home match to try and get into the final. That is what we will be looking to do.

“We maybe need to up our performance a wee bit, get on the front foot and get the first goal because I think that will be massive.”

Dow was forced to sit out Dunfermline’s play-off bid last year, when the Pars lost out to rivals Raith Rovers in their bid to be promoted to the Premiership.

But, while he accepts there was bitter disappointment at that outcome, he accepts there is a distinct feeling to this season’s end-of-term shootout as they try to stave off the disaster of relegation to League One.

He added: “I was injured at the time but I remember watching it. With Covid and no fans there, it was a bit flat.

“That was a different pressure of the play-offs to go up. This is the pressure of a play-off where we don’t want to go down.

“Queen’s Park are a good team, they have some good players who are Championship-level players as well so it is going to be a hard game.

“We know that we can up things and play our game at East End Park, and it should be a good game.”