Six-goal romp, but Pars boss sends out warning

brechin citY 1 Dunfermline 6

Free-scoring Dunfermline took their tally to 15 goals in three cup and league games so far this season with a 6-1 trouncing of Brechin, but manager Alan Johnston says they can still do better.

All the damage was done in the first half as Dunfermline powered their way to a 4-0 lead at the break, with prolific striker Faissal El-Bakhtaoui scoring his third double in the three games.

Dunfermline took the lead in seven minutes when El-Bakhtaoui beat Graeme Smith at the second attempt.

The Pars added a second in 22 minutes. Smith made a super save to prevent a Ross Perry own-goal, but the ball fell kindly for Michael Moffat to nod home from close range.

There was no holding the visitors and on the half-hour mark, Joe Cardle collected an El-Bakhtaoui lay-off and drove the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

Two minutes from half-time, Michael Paton crossed for El-Bakhtaoui to head home at the back post.

Brechin began the second half playing for their pride, but they almost fell further behind in 55 minutes when Smith did well to keep out an ElBakhtaoui chip.

Andy Geggan and Moffat both went close with headers and in between, ElBakhtaoui was again denied his hattrick by a Smith save.

Brechin rallied and in 72 minutes, an overhead kick from Andy Jackson was kept out by Dunfermline keeper Sean Murdoch, then a minute later, Murdoch dived to superbly tip away a Craig Molloy shot that was destined for the top corner.

Dunfermline notched a fifth goal in 80 minutes when Cardle played in substitute Ryan Wallace and he found the bottom corner.

The visitors poured forward and, twice within a minute, home defender Kevin Buchan headed efforts from Cardle and Moffat off the line.

Brechin notched a consolation in the 90thminutewhenThomsonheadedthe ball down for David Weatherston to score.

Dunfermline had the

final word,

however, and just a minute later, substitute Josh Falkingham raced through the middle to score.

Dunfermline boss Johnston said: “I am delighted with the result but we didn’t hit the heights of last week. We didn’t pass the ball well enough but we scored goals that were a wee bit special and had too much quality for them.

“I have some fantastic players giving me options for places. I am just sorry we lost a goal at the end as we want clean sheets as well. I am pleased with the performance but we can do better.

“I want to improve week on week and I have the players that can do that.”

Brechin boss Darren Dods said: “To be 4-0 down at half-time in the first league game of the season was disappointing. We got caught out for the first couple of goals and were like rabbits caught in the headlights.

“We were better in the second half and didn’t give in but when we got a goal back, we got caught out with the last kick of the game.

“I saw a side to my players that I have not seen before and we need to be more mentally strong defensively.”

Allan Johnston: ‘pleased with the performance but we can do better.’