The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pars urged to end campaign in style
James McPake is determined to see Dunfermline finish a difficult season on a high as they attempt to finally stave off any relegation fears.
With just two games remaining, the Pars are six points ahead of Queen’s Park, who currently occupy second-bottom spot.
Despite enjoying a better goal difference than the Spiders, there is a sequence of results that could see the Pars drop into the dreaded play-off place.
Just one point from their remaining games, against Inverness Caley Thistle tomorrow and Ayr United next Friday, would ensure that they cannot be relegated from the Championship for the second time in two years.
However, McPake has set higher goals as he seeks to entertain the Fifers’ supporters in the club’s final home game of the campaign with fifth place a possible prize.
He said: “It is the last league home game and we need to give the crowd some reason to get involved in the game and to go away from the game pleased with the effort of the players.
“Strip it all back, the result is the important thing. But I want them to perform well and get the result off the back of a good performance.
“It will be important to give the supporters something to go away with.
“It would be good to get them off their seats to get them excited, to get them walking away from Saturday’s last home league game happy with what they have seen on the pitch from a Dunfermline team.”
At the same time, McPake acknowledged his side is not yet safe from the spectre of relegation.
Two wins for both Inverness and Queen’s Park and two defeats for Dunfermline would see the
Pars finish in ninth spot – if there is an eight-goal swing in goal difference with the latter.
He added: “As long as it is not over, you are going into the game the same way you would.
“We had given ourselves a chance of looking to get into the promotion playoffs but we were always very aware of what was going on below us.
“The players are aware of that, we’re aware of it, the supporters are certainly aware of it.
“We need to turn up, we need to perform and, whether we were out of any fears or in limbo, all we can do is win the next two games and be wherever we are in the league.”
Meanwhile, Dunfermline are set to find out next week how long Ewan Otoo is likely to be on the sidelines.
The former Celtic youngster suffered a knee injury in the recent defeat to Airdrie and will miss the final two games of the current campaign.
McPake is optimistic the 21-year-old will be back during pre-season training.
But he has revealed the versatile midfielder could need an operation to resolve a problem with the posterolateral corner in his left knee.
Asked about player availability for this weekend, McPake said: “It will probably be too quick for Craig Wighton and Aaron Comrie.
“It will be potentially next week for them.
“Paul Allan is back involved and will be in the squad and Malachi FaganWalcott is OK.
“Ewan has got a consultation on Monday in Glasgow. The scans have been sent to London as well, so we’ve got two surgeons looking at that at the minute.
“We’ll have a clear indication whether it’s surgery or not surgery for him on Monday.”