JUST NOT UP TO PAR
Fifers take drop but Yogi out to lead revival
John Hughes insists he wants the chance to bring Dunfermline back to the Championship after they were relegated by Simon Murray’s last-gasp winner for Queen’s Park.
After six years in the second tier, the Pars were left stunned when Murray pounced just a minute from time to consign them to League One next season.
A calamitous campaign went from bad to worse when Efe Ambrose was red carded 12 minutes into the second half. The decision – which Hughes reckons was the right call from ref Craig Napier – swung momentum in the Spiders’ favour.
And after almost three hours of goalless football, Murray’s 89thminute strike left the visitors dreaming of promotion – and the Fifers on their knees in despair.
Hughes took over in November following a disastrous start to the season with Peter Grant at the helm – but failed to turn things around enough and has now suf fered relegation with both Dunfermline and rivals Raith Rovers.
But after being targeted by angry supporters at full- time, Yogi is determined to prove himself the right man to ensure the club bounces back at the first time of asking.
He said: “It’s not all down to today, it has been right throughout the season and we all need to stand up and look at it.
“We’re all hurting in there. I didn’t say too much to the players.
“I feel for the fans, the club. We need to take our medicine but it’s our job to try and get this club back where it belongs.”
Asked if he wants to head up next season’s promotion push,Yogi (right) added: “The first thing I’ll look at is myself. I definitely want the chance to really take this club where it wants too go.
“This is a reallyy good club with really passionate onate supporters and we’ve let them down, wn , that’s for sure. Not
just today but this season.”
On- loan Celtic ltic youngster Luca ca Connel l could ld have given
Queen’s the lead after just two minutes but the first half belonged to Dunfermline.
They battered the visitors’ goal before half-time but could not find a way through. The game turned on its head with Ambrose’s sending off in the 58th minute.
Murray tried to scamper clear at the edge of the box and was tripped by the ex- Celtic defender (below).
Ref Napier deemed it a goalscoring opportunity and flashed red at the on-loan St Johnstone defender.
Suddenly, the League One side were on the front foot with a man advantage. And with just a minute left, they found the winner.
Bob McHugh bundled his way to the byebye-line and his low cross was thumped thu in by Murray to
send sen his side into the final against aga Airdrie.
Interim I Queen’s Park manager ma John Potter was born bor in Dunfermline and went wen on to play, coach and manage man the club. He said: “MMy fami ly were in the Dunfermline Du end today including in my sons. I’ve no
doubt d they’ll be back up to the Championship trying try to push on again.”