LOONS BOSS MCKINNON SAYS PARS A LEVEL ABOVE

Ray Mckinnon said Dunfermline were “a level above” his Forfar Athletic side after losing 4-0 in the Scottish Cup.

The former Raith Rovers, Dundee United and Brechin manager took over League Two’s bottom side earlier this month.

He guided his new side to two draws before their trip to East End Park.

Forfar put up a good fight in the early stages, but were beaten by a side 19 places above them in the SPFL.

Goals from Kane Ritchie-hosler, Josh Edwards and a brace from Craig Wighton inflicted a heavy defeat on the Loons.

“I was disappointed, but I thought for the first 25 minutes until they scored we were doing what we needed to do in the game,” said Mckinnon.

“Then our full-back wins the ball but he slips and we gift them a chance. After that the two goals were poor from us.

“It just highlights where we are just now as a team and where we need to be as a club.

“It was a fair result and we just need to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves down.”

That 3-0 lead at half-time gave a team “full of confidence” an extra spring in their step, added the Forfar manager.

While he was disappointed with the defeat, he was encouraged by the two points picked up on league duty so far.

The Loons took a point each from Bonnyrigg Rose and second-place Dumbarton, a match in which they led.

Mckinnon added: “It’s back to bread and butter next week. We need to start climbing the league over the next couple of months.

“Hopefully we can get to January and strengthen the squad.

“That will be a big focus for me, but we need to get there first and be competitive, which we have done in the last two games in our league.

“There are positives, but that was just a level too much for us.”