FAN-TASTIC ATHLETIC START DELIGHTS JOE Chalmers eyes bounce back
In-form Kelty ready for Pars after keeping Bairns quiet
PARS midfielder Joe Chalmers says he’s “loving every minute” of the team’s start to the season and has credited the supporters for playing their part.
The 28-year-old, who was brought to the club in January on an 18-month deal by previous manager, John Hughes, has been an ever-present as James McPake’s charges lead League One.
Their 11-match unbeaten run to kick off the league campaign came to an end at the weekend, with Montrose inflicting a 2-0 defeat, but they remain one point clear at the summit ahead of Kelty Hearts’ visit on Saturday.
It will be a first clash between the clubs at KDM Group East End Park, following a scoreless draw at New Central Park in August, and Chalmers is likely to be a key part of Dunfermline’s midfield.
In an interview with Press Sport ahead of the game, the ex-Motherwell, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County player spoke of bouncing back from relegation – and how the club’s fans have helped him and his team-mates to do so.
“Obviously last season, for me personally, it was the most disappointing moment of my career, the relegation,” he said.
“Over the summer, it’s all that you’re thinking about and you just want to make it right.
“If you’d said before (the season began) you’re going to bounce back with seven wins and four draws, I would definitely have taken it.
“There was a new manager coming in, there was some new players and a lot of the players that were there last season left.
“Usually, when that kind of stuff happens, it can take a bit of time but everybody’s been in it together. We’ve all worked hard and made it a very good start to the season.
“Although we lost, I don’t think we can lose sight of that it has been a good start overall.
“For me personally, I’m absolutely loving every minute of it and that comes from all the boys being together, the manager being together and the fans playing a big part.
“There’s just a really good feeling about the place.
“Once you lose a game you need to keep that good feeling by, the next week, showing a reaction. It’s a big game for us on Saturday.
“The feeling about the place is brilliant. I just love coming in evelinger too long ahead of what he believes will be a tough encounter with Kelty.
“It was a case of being disappointed but learning from it and not letting it linger all week, and the gaffer’s done a good job,” he continued.
“We spoke about it, it’s been put to bed, and we’ve moved on and focused on Kelty all week.
“It’s one game. We weren’t quite at our best, although we could have still won the game, but then the main thing is not letting it continue and affect us.
“If you go and then win against Kelty, the Montrose game gets forgotten about, but if you go and drop points again, then it turns into a thing. But, if it’s a one off, which we’re hoping, then I don’t think it’s too big a deal.
“With it being at home, we want to put on a good show for the fans,but I think Kelty are starting to show the form that I was expecting of them when they came up.
“I thought they would’ve carried on that form from last season and started, but they’ve just taken a wee bit of time to find their feet.
“They’ve got a lot of good players so it’s going to be a difficult game, but we’re confident as well.
“Everybody will be watching like, they’ve not lost a game, now they’ve lost one, how are they going to react?
“I don’t doubt the character and the mentality of the squad that we’ll be ready to bounce back, and hopefully we’ll put on a good display.”