Lee Ashcroft insists Dunfermline must showcase their character in a bid to end their East End Park woes.
The Pars have not won a Championship fixture on their own patch since seeing off Queen of the South on March 2 – a drought of seven months, spanning nine league fixtures.
Ashcroft admits Dunfermline’s inability to turn their home into a fortress was also a source of frustration throughout last season, conceding that East End Park can be a tough place to perform when the chips are down.
However, the club’s vice-captain is determined to halt that pattern, starting with the visit of Ayr United today.
Ashcroft said: “It’s about showing character and remaining positive.
“When things are going well, this is a great place to come and play.
“It can be hard, too, when things aren’t going right but it’s just about sticking together.
“It’s never easy when results aren’t going your way and there is a lot of pressure at this club.
“We know ourselves that we should be doing better and, given the fanbase we have, there is an expectation on us to win. It can be tough when there’s a sense of frustration around the place.
“Our away form has been better so far, and that was the case last season as well. You don’t want that. We want to make East End Park a really tough place to come for opponents.”
Dunfermline went into the international hiatus on a three-match unbeaten run follow a win over Partick Thistle and successive draws against Alloa and Morton.
However, with the Pars languishing second from bottom of the Championship, Ashcroft admits it is hard to look on the bright side.
And the former Kilmarnock defender is in no mood to downplay the importance of their upcoming two matches against Ayr and title-chasing Dundee United.
Ashcroft continued: “Once we get on a run I believe we have a team that can push right up the table.
“But that needs to happen sooner rather than later. We need to get wins on the board.
“When you are up at the top of the table, a draw can be a good result but, at the bottom, getting that win can be the difference between sitting fifth instead of ninth.
“We need to turn draws into wins and have two tough games to do that.
“There’s a bit of pressure on us to go out and get results in these two games but we are positive.”
Ashcroft, meanwhile, is relishing his usual welcome from the travelling Ayr supporters who remember his Killie allegiances.
The towering stopper played 71 times for the Rugby Park outfit and was part of the squad that claimed a 1-0 Ayrshire derby triumph in the 2014-15 League Cup.
Ashcroft is hopeful he has the last laugh when the full-time whistle sounds.
He smiled: “I remember when I first joined Dunfermline and Ayr were in the league too, I got pelters when I went to Somerset Park!
“It can be pretty enclosed and you hear everything the fans are saying. I got it tight down there. That’s to be expected.
“It’s not been as bad at home but, regardless, I’ll go out there and do my best and, if you walk off as the winner, you can give them a bit back. That’s how it goes.”
