Brothers there for each other

“I’m not saying that I don’t work hard for others but he gets that extra wee bit because he is my brother.”

“It has been a disappointing season with its ups and downs” says Jackson Longridge. “We went on a five game run, everything was looking positive but then it slipped again. It is just a case of rebuilding for next season and hopefully going for it next season.

The 24 year old full back’s contract is until the end of next season but his older brother Louis only signed for one season when they both joined Dunfermline on 1st June 2018. Jackson is hoping that there will still be two Longridges at the club again next season:-

“He is good player and a good character to have around the changing room because he is lively. It is just a shame that he has picked up injuries. When he is playing he helps the team a lot. It would be good for the club if we were able to sign him up for next season as well.

“I enjoy playing with him so his injuries have been frustrating for me as well. He is a creative player, we are on the same wavelength and it is gutting that he has had these injuries. Hopefully if he does sign for next season we can get a consistent season playing together.”

Jackson has scored five goals for the Pars, Louis has scored six and everyone at Dunfermline is hoping that the siblings own contest to score the most goals this season will work out to the club’s benefit. Jackson claims that his older brother is more concerned about winning the goalscoring stakes.

“I think he is concentrating more on that than me. We are very competitive but because we are brothers I want him to do the best for him and me wants the same for me.

He hurt his shoulder in the Ross County game but he is back in training and looking good. I’m sure that’s him coming back for the next three games.

“He likes playing centrally just behind the striker. I think he asks to play on my side, he tells me just to run and he gets the ball. It is enjoyable when he is playing beside me, we bounce off each other and work hard for each other. I’m not saying that I don’t work hard for others but he gets that extra wee bit because he is my brother.”

Louis missed out of last Saturday’s game against Falkirk, his former club but for Jackson it was his 31st appearance for Dunfermline but it was not the result that they were looking for.

“I thought that we got off to a flying start against Falkirk. We had a number of chances to win the game but it just wasn’t to be. It is disappointing but there is nothing we can do now about it, we just need to go into Saturday’s game and hopefully make things right.”

Dunfermline take on Queen of the South at Palmerston Park, an away fixture that has thrown up 0-0 draws in each of the last three meetings and where the Pars have only won twice in their last eight trips there. Jackson commented:-

“Stephen Dobbie is their main player but they still have other good players in there who will give us a tough game. If we can play like we did on Saturday but take our chances then I am hopeful that we can get a result.”

There is a real fight on for survival in this season’s Championship. Queens on 35 points one ahead of Partick in tenth and three behind Alloa Athletic in fifth.

“They are fighting for points as well to try and catch us so we will need to make sure that we are on our game. Nothing less than a win for us and for the next three games trying to finish the season on a high. We would like to give the fans something to cheer about.

“While it is still mathematically possible for us to get into the play offs, we need the results to go for us and us to win the three games. We need to make sure that we don’t get dragged into the relegation zone.”

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