The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
New signings helping to ‘breed good habits’
Stevie Crawford reckons on-field positivity and a one- for- all team spirit can bring success to Dunfermline this season.
The Pa r s head for Arbroath tomorrow sitting at the top of the Championship and seeking a place in the quar ter- finals of the Betfred Cup.
Last Friday’s 2-1 victory over league favourites Hearts has given the Pars a massive boost in confidence after they extended their unbeaten run to eight wins in nine games.
And Crawford reckons the calming influence of summer signings Steven Whittaker, Owain Fon Williams and Pa u l Watson through the spine of his team can only help the togetherness at East End Park.
The Fifers boss said: “Wh e n you bring in characters like Fo n Williams, Steven Whittaker and Pa u l
Watson they bring an assurance and a calmness.
“It doesn’t guarantee that you are going to win games of football but it breeds good habits in the players.
“For as much as we are not playing in front of crowds, I don’ t hear anybody really shouting at each another in a negative manner out on the pitch.
“That is not to say that they are not shouting at each other to be competitive.
“It is credit to them that wh e n they are shouting things to one another on the pitch, that it is constructive criticism.
“As a player, I liked somebody who didn’ t need to be nicey nicey. If they gave advice on the pitch, and I felt that there was football information behind it, I would take it on board because it was going to make me better and the team better.”