The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pybus believes derby win could be vital to Pars’ survival hopes
Dan Pybus is convinced a Fife derby triumph could go a long way towards Dunfermline beating the drop – and give something back to their long-suffering fans for a woeful season.
The Pars host rivals Raith Rovers this evening with their Championship status firmly on the line just five games from the end of a terrible campaign.
A victory would give the Fifers a six-point advantage over bottom side Queen of the South and lift them to within just two points of Ayr United in eighth spot.
For a team that was expected last summer to be pushing for promotion, Pybus accepts a relegation battle is simply not good enough.
But the midfielder is determined to ensure the East End Park men now finish a miserable year with something to celebrate.
With three draws against Raith so far this term, he said: “I feel that we owe the fans one, so it would be a great way (to do that).
“I know that we haven’t done the best as a team collectively this season, but it would be great to take the bragging rights in the last derby of the season.
“Hopefully that can kick us on into Saturday (against Kilmarnock) because there is a quick turnaround.
“The full focus is on making sure that we win the game of football.
“It is a big derby and I’m sure that they will be looking for a win as well, with them still able to get into the top four.
“We just need to look after ourselves and play the way we have been playing in the last couple of games.”
Dunfermline have had an 11-day lay-off because of Raith’s involvement in Sunday’s SPFL Trust Trophy and have had to stew on their 2-0 defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle in their last outing.
That result abruptly halted what seemed to be growing momentum after draws against Hamilton Accies and Morton and the stunning 4-1 hammering of Partick Thistle.
But Pybus is hopeful of showing the Pars have put their hiatus to good use as they prepare for five massive games in the shortterm future of the club.
The 24-year-old added: “Especially when you finish on a loss, and probably the way we played against Inverness wasn’t great, it is frustrating not playing for another 10 days.
“But I suppose you flip it and on the other side we have had the chance to freshen up and work on a few things. It can work two ways.
“We have only lost four games (in 13) since the turn of the year and we can take a lot of positives from our form. We will definitely be looking to go and win the game on Wednesday and stop these draws happening.
“The three games against Raith have all been different. The first time we played them we got a bit fortunate.
“We weren’t at our best in that away game.
“When we played them at home they scored late on to draw so we were unlucky.
“The last game on the 2nd of January I felt we should have won.”