‘It’s been an okay start’ to the season, says McPake
ATHLETIC boss James McPake has said he’ll look to assess his team’s position in the table when they reach the festive period despite seeing them jump into the promotion play-off spots.
Three successive defeats were brought to a halt at Greenock Morton last Friday evening, courtesy of a 2-1 victory, which will see them head into their clash with Dundee United tomorrow (Friday) in fine fettle.
The Pars, who will be the subject of live BBC Scotland television coverage for the second week in a row when the league leaders arrive at KDM Group East End Park, jumped from eighth place to fourth following their success at Cappielow.
They are just five points shy of third-placed Partick Thistle, who have played two games more, but such is the nature of the Championship, McPake’s men are only six clear of bottom side ‘Ton.
“As the guys know me by now, I’ve not even looked at the league table yet. That’s me being genuine,” he said.
“Look, you get to Christmas time, and then you assess it and see what’s what. I was told down there that’s us fourth with a game in hand. It’s been an okay start. We’ve still got Arbroath to play, we’ve now played Morton twice, Raith twice, so we are through the first quarter, albeit we’ve not played one of the teams.
“With a performance, you come out and say there’s a way to lose a game. I’m now actually standing here and saying there’s a way not to win a game!
“They could’ve made it a lot easier for me, but credit to the players. They go out and they headed everything late on, they threw their bodies on the line and, let’s not forget, there was a lot of good football played as well. Some of the stuff was really good and we move on to next week.”
Dunfermline’s squad was bolstered at Cappielow by the return of Kane Ritchie-Hosler, who was an unused substitute, to the squad following knee surgery, although Matty Todd, who is recovering from an ankle injury, was not involved.
Kyle Benedictus and Rhys Breen, both of whom were substituted in the recent defeat at Raith Rovers, were also absent from the squad in Greenock.