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We round off our Premier Sports Cup campaign with a weekend trip to Dunfermline.

The sides met at the start of the month in a pre-season friendly arranged before the draw, the game finishing 1-1, but this will be the first competitive meeting since a Scottish Cup tie back in January 1995 which was won comfortably by the visitors at Allan Park.

The Fifers picked up a victory in their opening match of the competition away to Spartans, but have since lost to both Forfar and Livingston, while our only point so far came last weekend at Station Park.

Paul Hartley was encouraged by the performance that day, and in our midweek defeat to Livingston, and he is hoping the side can maintain the momentum at East End Park:

“We didn’t start as well as I would have liked against Livi, but it was good after that, we really got into the game, and second half in particular there was a lot to enjoy. We were sound defensively, put together some nice moves, and I was pleased.

“The obvious problem was finding the cutting edge at the top of the pitch, we are short in that area, and that’s something we are working hard to resolve.”

While he consciously decided not to rush into the transfer market this summer, the manager had hoped he would have more options in the squad by now:

“We have played ten games so far, and I would have given some of the players more of a rest if I had been able to, but with young kids on the bench, it is too much to ask to throw them in at this stage of their development.”

“Their time will come, but for now they need help, and I would hope to have at least a couple more in by the Annan game. We are not alone in the frustration we have suffered; speaking to other managers, they’re finding it the same this year, but we need to stay calm. The loan market will be important to us and I’m having to wait for the managers at the bigger clubs to make decisions on who they want to put out.

“Those who we are targeting will be players who can come in and make a real impact in the team, there’s no point in me bringing in numbers for the squad, and I know we’ll get there, we just have to be patient for now.”

Despite that, Paul says he is happy with the work the boys have done over the past month or so, and he does believe that will pay dividends when League One gets underway:

“That’s what you always gear up to, that’s the bread and butter, and where you’re judged. Some treat this competition as pre-season, and I certainly see it as a couple of weeks where we get the boys up to speed. I think we’re in a good place fitness-wise, and the build-up generally has been positive.”

“Once we get a few more in, particularly in the top third of the pitch, I think we will be able to approach the season with confidence.”

Mitch Megginson returns to the squad for the first time since the summer and there will be a late decision on Josh Kerr, who suffered a head knock at Forfar last weekend. Fraser Fyvie will be missing, the midfielder suspended after picking up yellow cards in the last couple of matches.

Supporters planning on traveling south to back the team can purchase their tickets in advance at THIS LINK

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