Clark wants Pars to stop looking over shoulder

Dunfermline beat promotionchasing Morton last weekend to maintain their four-point lead over second bottom Ayr United and assistant manager Sandy Clark wants to secure their Championship status a quickly as possible.

He said: “The story of our season has probably been drawing too many games and that’s why we are where we are.

“We had ambitions of challenging for the top four but we’ve always had to look behind us and make sure we’re OK there.

“We have to be very wary of what is happening over our shoulder but you also have to be very confident of where we are.

“But we should have beaten Hibs last time and we’re good enough to beat anyone in the league.

“The form we’ve showed in the majority of games stands us in good stead going into Saturday’s match.

“Hibs are top of the league and are going to win it and to have the right to beat them, we’re going to have to play well and we’re going to have to capitalise on any chances we create.”

Meanwhile, Clark insists all that Neil Lennon and Jim Duffy are guilty of showing is that they care passionately about football.

Clark and Pars manager Allan Johnston attended Wednesday’s controversial goalless draw between Hibs and Morton ahead of the Leith’s side trip to Fife tomorrow.

And although they had already left by the time the game descended into mayhem when Kudus Oyenuga, Darren McGregor and both Hibs boss Lennon and Ton counterpart Duffy were all sent off, former Rangers and Hearts striker Clark watched footage off the flashpoint.

Clark said: “I know Neil well and I’ve got to say that I get on well with him.

“I’ve also known Jim a long, long time and they both showed incredible passion, and that’s what it is for me.

“In the media, the TV especially, it won’t look too good and they’ll probably both be a bit embarrassed when they look back on it.

“But if you don’t care and don’t have passion then you shouldn’t be in this game.

“We’ve watched the clips on Sky Sports News of the stramash, and everybody laughs at it now don’t they? If they’re not involved in it then you’re laughing.

“I think Jim Duffy said it was handbags and it probably was.

“I’ve been involved in one or two myself over the years but I’m not bringing them back up.

“As you get older you become a bit wiser and you don’t get involved with anyone else unless there is an absolute reason. We try to look after our own team.”

Sandy Clark: put Easter Road bust-up down to passion.