Dunfermline’s Joe Cardle says his boxer brother helped inspire him to produce a knockout performance against Aberdeen on Saturday.
The Pars winger had the dismal Dons on the ropes with his well-taken opening goal. Then an Andy Kirk one-two combination put Aberdeen flat out on the canvas to leave the home fans feeling punch drunk as they celebrated their long-awaited first home win of the season.
Cardle admitted the exploits of his brother on Friday night really fired him up as he and Dunfermline fight for their SPL survival.
Commonwealth gold medallist Scott Cardle had his second professional outing on the undercard of the Tony Bellew v Danny McIntosh British light-heavyweight bout at Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Cardle eventually won on points with his footballer brother being left a ”nervous wreck” as he tuned in on TV.
He said: ”I watched the wee man on Sky on Friday night. Thankfully, he did well, I got a goal against Aberdeen and we took all three points so it has been a great weekend all round for the Cardle family.
”We speak to each other every day and I was over the moon for him. It was horrible not being there though as I normally go to all his fights. My dad was on the phone to me the whole time and I was going mental. I was a nervous wreck, throwing some great air punches in my living room.
”I spoke to him before our game and he has a few days off and is coming up to stay with me. Watching him was inspiring. Considering it was only his second fight, he did really well.
”It really spurred me on for the Aberdeen game. The fighting spirit was definitely there. As the season comes to a close, I am fighting as well to stay in the SPL.”
The first half on Saturday had lots of tempo, rhythm and precision at least from the drummer in the Norrie McCathie stand.
Unfortunately, the players on both sides struggled throughout the opening 45 with the only real moment of note coming on just four minutes when Dons keeper Jamie Langfield was adjudged to have handled a pass-back and Dunfermline were awarded a free-kick just eight yards from the opposition goal.
Paddy Boyle, in for dropped Pars skipper Austin McCann, played a short pass to Martin Hardie but the veteran dragged his shot wide.
Aberdeen went on to dominate the half but they could not turn their ascendancy into goals, a failing that was to come back to haunt them in the second stanza.
Cardle’s opener came in the 56th minute when he latched on to a long ball from Alex Keddie and outmuscled Josh Magennis before cutting inside to hit a shot which Langfield got a touch to but could not keep out.
The second goal arrived 12 minutes later when Cardle flighted a free-kick from the Dunfermline left into the Dons box and Kirk stole a march on Mark Reynolds to head past the helpless Langfield.
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The veteran Northern Ireland striker put the icing on the cake in the 77th minute thanks in no small part to a comedy of errors by Aberdeen.
Langfield was initially lucky when Kirk just missed out on pouncing on a hash of a clearance but then Fraser Fyvie inexplicably played the ball back into the danger area and the Dunfermline No10 snapped up the gift, clipping a shot over the dejected keeper.
Cardle praised his team-mates and the never-say-die spirit in the Dunfermline squad and he hopes the victory over Aberdeen will turn out to be a pivotal moment in their season.
He said: ”Hopefully that result will prove a turning point for us. It was obviously nice to get the three points but to pick up a home win was absolutely brilliant. It has come at a vital time of the season and hopefully that can push on in the last three games.
”In the first half, I thought there was nothing in it between the two teams but in the second, the opening goal changed the game for us. It gave us that little bit of confidence to push on and get the other two.
”I thought all the boys from Chris Smith and the lads at the back to Andy Kirk up front getting the two goals were superb. The spirit, especially in the second half, was outstanding.
”It is still crazy to think that this is our first home win but the team spirit every day on the training ground has been fantastic. The boys are all together and no one has let their heads go down and that’s the way it’s got to be.
”We just have to stay positive. I know there are only three games left but if we keep getting the points, then anything can happen.”
He added: ”It puts a wee bit more pressure on Hibs again. Even although we only got a point last week, I still think it put the pressure on them before their game.
”With them playing on a Sunday I think is better for us. If we can get the points on the table, then they know what we have got and they have to compete with us.”
Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies stressed the importance of his side getting their noses in front for the first time in his short tenure at the club.
He said: ”It’s the first time since I came in that Dunfermline have taken the lead and led a game. The difference that makes is phenomenal. We have finally got a win at home and we will see where it takes us.”
Dons boss Craig Brown lamented the mistakes that proved his side’s undoing.
He said: ”Three horrendous defensive errors have cost us dearly. Our goalkeeper has lost three goals but he hasn’t had a save to make.
”Dunfermline deserve credit but we deserve criticism for conceding so softly. That shouldn’t happen at this level to a team like Aberdeen. But I don’t question the players’ attitude.”