Johnston hoping Pars can cool on-fire Dobbie

Allan Johnston has urged Dunfermline not to let Stephen Dobbie “run riot” like they did when the Queen of the South star put them to the sword last season.

The Pars were sunk 5-2 at home by a Dobbie-inspired Queens side in December, with the veteran striker bagging a hat-trick in a virtuoso performance.

The 35-year-old has already netted an incredible 24 times this term, including three trebles and a four in just 16 appearances.

Johnston is full of praise for the former Rangers, Hibs, St Johnstone, Swansea and Blackpool marksman but wants none of the Fifers players sharing his admiration when the rivals take to the pitch tomorrow.

He said: “Stephen Dobbie is a great role model for all the young boys coming through their first team, because look at what he’s achieving at his age.

“It’s about the goals he’s scoring, the different types of goals, the quality he’s showing, the way he looks after himself.

“He’s a good example and that’s why he’s played so long, and he’s still producing top performances.

“We’ve just got to make sure we’re organised. There was a game here last year when Dobbie ran riot, but I think we learned after that you can’t afford to give him space.

“He’s started this season really well, so we’ve got to make sure we’ve always got somebody close to him. We can’t afford to let him get on the ball and run at us and cause problems.”

East Fife found a way of keeping out Dobbie last weekend as Queens crashed to a surprise Irn-Bru Cup defeat. Johnston added: “We’ve just got to make sure we’re aware of him, because you can’t allow him time and space on the ball, with the qualities he’s got.”