DUNFERMLINE HAVE a track record of demonstrating “bouncebackability” as it is known, writes Graeme Dey.

Twice last season heavy defeats at the hands of Celtic—5-0 and 4-1—were followed by victories (both at the expense of Dundee) in the next game.

Last night full-back Greg Shields acknowledged the need to once again display that quality as, in the wake of last weekend’s Parkhead thumping, the Pars host Hibs today.

“It’s not an attitude that a lot of folk will like to hear but away games against Celtic have just about become a write off for the bulk of the SPL,” confessed Shields.

“I’m not saying that you’re beat before you go there but it is a hard, hard task going to Parkhead to get a result.

“It’s maybe easier winning at Ibrox nowadays—although that’s not something I’ve ever done myself!

“It is the games against the non Old Firm teams which the rest of us have to base our seasons on.

“It is beating the likes of Hibs, Hearts, Dundee and Dundee United which lifts you in the league. Taking something out of Old Firm matches is a bonus.”

And despite their sticky start to the campaign Shields still believes Dunfermline stand comparison with the rest of the pack, albeit he admits the next three fixtures—Hibs (h), Livingston (a) and Dundee (a)—must yield a decent points haul if they are, ultimately, to hit the heights expected of them.

“These three upcoming games are a right good chance for us to close up.

“But we keep saying these things and so far it hasn’t happened.

“Nine points out of nine would take us to 14 and suddenly the season would look a whole lot brighter.

“But we have to do better than we’ve done in the past against some of these teams.

“Seemingly we also always draw with Livingston away—we’ve got to change that.’’

Prior to the defeat by Celtic the Pars had beaten Hearts and Partick Thistle at East End Park.

And Shields admitted those successes had become a must for the club.

“Those wins have given us a lift—and we needed them. The pressure was building. The fans were jumping out of their seats for the slightest little thing.

“They were within their rights to do so and I can understand why they did— but it was no good playing in that environment.”

Pars boss Davie Hay has three players missing for today’s game.

Gary Mason is struggling with a back problem, while Noel Hunt is sidelined for a month with ligament damage.

Richie Byrne has returned to training but will not be fit enough to feature.

Hibs manager Tony Mowbray, meanwhile, insists he is not jealous of the UEFA Cup success being enjoyed by Edinburgh rivals Hearts this week.

The Tynecastle side drew 2-2 with Braga on Thursday to reach the lucrative group stages of the competition on a 5-3 aggregate.

The Jam Tarts could now find themselves in glamour ties against Lazio, Newcastle or Feyenoord after the draw on Tuesday.

But the Easter Road boss believes the success of his city rivals should applauded as an example for his young team to follow rather than object of envy.

Mowbray said, “It’s good for Scottish football to have teams in Europe, but I’m not envious of anybody. I enjoy working with the group of players I’ve got here at Easter Road.

“Regardless of what the team on the other side of the city are doing, we’ll be trying to achieve European football for ourselves.

“Whether you compare us with Hearts or the Old Firm, we know we need to be in Europe at some time down the line and, hopefully, we’ll do that.”

Hibs travel to Dunfermline today looking for their third successive away win in the SPL.

But defender Gary Caldwell is refusing to get carried away with the Edinburgh side’s early promise.

“Things are going OK at the moment, but I think people are getting ahead of themselves,” he said.

“We can still get better, so we have to keep our feet on the ground.”

Hibs will also be without long-term casualties Gary Smith, Steven Notman, Sam Morrow, Kevin Nicol, Kevin Thomson and Jonathan Baillie.