The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Thomson says Pars must shake off curse of inconsistency
QOS V DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC
Joe Thomson admits Dunfermline have to get rid of their infuriating inconsistencies if they are to have any chance of a promotion push this season.
The Pars have suffered a rollercoaster opening to the campaign, winning their opening five games before failing to get a victory in any of their next five.
They got a monkey off their backs with just a second home league win a fortnight ago when they swept aside Morton – only to hand Gary Caldwell his first three points in charge of struggling Partick Thistle last weekend.
The ups and downs have led to anger in the stands, which chairman Ross McArthur revealed this week had “crossed the line” too many times for him to stay silent as he called for an end to the abuse.
But Thomson is adamant the players are simply focused on trying to breathe new life into their top four hopes with a win away to Queen of the South this afternoon.
The former Celtic youngster said: “Last weekend definitely wasn’t up to the standards we had set the week before. To go from the win against Morton to the performance we put in a week later was disappointing.
“We were obviously looking to continue the momentum from that game, but it wasn’t to be.
“Queens will be a hard place to go. They’re where we’re aiming to be, so we’re going down there looking for the three points.
“It seems this season like we’re taking a step forward and then maybe one or two back.
“We keep talking – other players and the management have said it – about trying to get a run together.
“At the end of the day, that’s what is going to get us to where we want to be.
“Picking up three points here or there is not.
“We’re just going to be a mid-table team and I think, with the group of players we’ve got, we’re far better than that.”
After a run of just two wins in their last nine matches, and with a minority of supporters getting on their backs, Dunfermline could be forgiven for lacking in confidence at present.
However, despite languishing in seventh place in the table, a massive 15 points adrift of league leaders Ayr United, Thomson insists he always steps on to the pitch thinking the Pars will pick up the three points.
The 21-year-old added: “I’m not sure what the inconsistency is down to, I don’t think there’s really anything in particular you could say.
“It’s frustrating, it’s annoying, nobody wants to get beaten at anything they do, never mind football.
“But before every game since I’ve been here I have believed we’ve got better players than the opposition and we can go out there and win.
“It’s not a belief thing.” Queens moved into the play-off spots last week with a 1-1 draw that denied Ross County the chance to take over at the top.
Doonhamers manager Gary Naysmith was without Stephen Dobbie and Gary Harkins through injury and will hope to have at least one of them back in contention. RAITH ROVERS V DUMBARTON