Neil McCann on Thursday

11/04/14: NMcC - "I don't think it has been lack of work rate, it has just been lack of quality that has let us down." It was Neil McCann who gave the management's thoughts to the media at the weekly Thursday lunchtime briefing.

It was Neil McCann who gave the management's thoughts to the media at the weekly Thursday lunchtime briefing. He acknowledged that results of late have not been great in the last four or five games but claimed that you do not become a poorer side just because you are not picking up points.

"You want to go into the play offs in a good frame of mind and a confident mood. We talked today about where we are in the league and how we got there.

"A lot of the football has been good but we just haven't produced the same amount of chances. The group don't know anything other than giving one hundred per cent and sometimes you have to put the reins on them.

"It is quite important for the club to finish second. It is not just about where you play your first and second game in the play offs. It is a financial reward for the club to finish second. We need to push them on."

Neil could not really pinpoint what it was that has made it so hard crossing the line that would secure second place in League One behind champions, Rangers:-

"The East Fife game was probably the poorest that I have seen them play - I think we were all in agreement about that. It is almost as if we have just stopped doing the things that got us to the position that we are in.

"The way it's looking just now is almost waiting to see if someone else is making it happen. You have to complement the teams that we have been playing against because I think they have upped their game, they know in the predicament that they are in they have to fight tooth and nail.

"I don't think it has been lack of work rate, it has just been lack of quality that has let us down."

With four games remaining before going into the play offs, Neil would like to see confidence boosting results that would create a positive frame of mind:-

"The one thing that we have just now is a luxury that we have already secured a play off position. When you look at the situation going through administration and coming out, losing guys and having to rebuild again."

It is a young squad to have already clinched a play off place with so many games to go and Neil considers that everyone should think that is a wonderful achievement,

"We want to finish second and if we do then we can introduce more of the under 20s. They played Aberdeen the other night and I thought we were head and shoulders above them.

"There are a few guys knocking on the door now and it might just be on Saturday that those guys will get a chance."

Had Rangers not been in League One then promotion might have already been won. Neil claimed that despite Rangers power throughout the campaign, he felt that Dunfermline had played the better football at times:-

"They have a winning mentality, a strength of character and of course the quality to go and grind results out. Effectively looking at the goals for and against it looks like they have won very comfortably. In terms of all round play I think we have done very well in those games.



"That was always the benchmark. We were always confident about getting to the play offs and maybe, though they might not know it, the backing of the fans has been crucial. Getting the backing that we do from the stands is so important.

"As a youngster coming into a side if you make a bad pass and suddenly you get a bit of groaning or ill feeling from the fans that makes you feel like maybe not making that pass the next time around can creep into your game.

"I think if you had a straw poll of the fans I think they have been enjoying the football that we have been playing this season. It should never be underestimated where we are at this point in the season."

The management team's homework on potential play off opponents has already started but Neil claimed that has not taken away from the job of securing second place.

"It is not about going easy and giving guys rests, it is giving the guys who have been knocking on the door for so many weeks now, an opportunity to get in. That freshens the whole thing up, that creates more competition for places going into the play offs."



Rangers have made it to League One and Hearts presence there was confirmed last week as well. Neil accepts that the Championship next season will be very competitive;-

"There are no guarantees that Rangers will win that Championship. The style of football that Rangers play at the minute - as we all saw at the weekend against Raith Rovers - they didn't have enough to cut down Raith Rovers when they weren't playing at their best.

"That shows you how strong and competitive that league is. If you take into consideration Hearts are improving at a real good speed that they are going to be really strong next season.

"Look at Falkirk and depending upon whether Hamilton or Dundee take a scalp in a play off, whatever one of them goes up automatically. Dumbarton are improving, so I think it is going to be such a special league next year and we want to be in there.

"Rangers have been magnificent in their league campaign this year, you have to complement them on that but next year it is up to them to go again, but there is absolutely no guarantee that they are going to win it.

"Championship teams will consider their league strong that Raith have managed to win the Ramsden Cup. If they are in it and Hearts are in it, if Hibs get dragged into it, if St Mirren make it another strong team coming down it will make for a very very competitive league."

As far as availability for Saturday, Ryan Thomson is back but Ryan Wallace is still missing. Lawrence Shankland took a knock in training on Thursday but it is hoped he will recover for the match against Forfar Athletic.