Dunfermline will try to get their ailing promotion bid back on track this afternoon, although boss John Potter admits the fact Airdrieonians stand in their way is not ideal.
To say the Diamonds are the Pars’ bogey team of recent seasons is perhaps an understatement, with the Fifers only winning three of the last nine meetings between the teams.
The 3-1 loss at the Excelsior in their last encounter signalled the end of Jim Jefferies’ reign as manager, and indeed that match marked the start of a run of four games for the Pars without a win which has seen them slip to fifth in the table.
Despite that though, Potter is convinced his team can get back into the promotion picture and is eyeing his first victory as manager at East End Park.
“You can try not to look at the league but I’m not daft, everybody does,” he said.
“I look at the league, the players look at the league, and it’s not been good enough, simple as that.
“For me we’ve got to try as much as we can to get a win and get started on a little run.
“We’ve just got to take every game as it comes at the moment.
“I think once this quarter is over you will start looking at the table a little bit more and probably start looking elsewhere at who’s doing what.
“It’s hard but I think we’ve got to look at ourselves, try to get ourselves on a run and hopefully the rest will take care of itself.
“Our performance at Airdrie was probably our worst 90 minutes of the season so far.
“It wasn’t good enough and the players know that.
“We think we know how they’ll play, but they’ve been on a good run apart from last weekend.
“They’ve definitely picked up and we know it will be a difficult game, but we’ve got to start worrying about ourselves because our form has not been good enough.
“If we worry about our own jobs then I’m confident we can take care of them on Saturday.”
The Pars have been boosted this week with the signings of former club favourite Andy Barrowman from Morton, and ex-Rangers defender Kyle McAusland.
McAusland, most recently on loan at promotion rivals Brechin, is expected to be handed a defensive midfielder role after signing until the end of the season, while striker Barrowman could well slot back into the Pars’ front line today just days after leaving Cappielow.
Potter added: “The new faces will give everyone a lift but it will keep the boys who were here on their toes as well.
“There’s no guaranteed starters and I’ve told the players that they have to work for their place even the ones who have come in.
“If you get your place in the team and do well, you’ll keep that place it’s as simple as that.
“That’s what I go by and it’s a fresh start for everyone.
“With the new guys coming in, it will give the place a wee lift and some of them might make their debut on Saturday.”
Ryan Wallace, Alex Whittle and Stuart Urquhart are all fit and available to face the Diamonds today, although Ryan Williamson remains injured and Andy Geggan is suspended.
Defender Gregor Buchanan is due to serve a suspension after reaching the disciplinary points threshold, although that will kick in next weekend making him available this afternoon.