Source: FOOTYMAD
Pars In Positive Mood
Dunfermline's confidence is high that they can work the same magic as Falkirk in midweek Dunfermline will welcome Rangers to East End Park today with no new injury worries to concern them, although they are still without three key senior players. Martin Hardie will be posted absent after he failed to recover from an ankle knock, Kevin Rutkiewicz looks to be out for at least another two weeks as he recovers from a thigh muscle tear while Craig Easton will miss out once more. It is expected that Ryan Thomson will carry on in central midfield after scoring two goals in his last two outings. Rangers lost three goals to Falkirk in Wednesdays League Cup defeat and Pars winger Joe Cardle believes attack will be the best form of defence to be employed today. Cardle, who has been in great form in his debut season in the SPL, thinks that defeat showed weaknesses in the Rangers rearguard which the Pars can exploit. He said: "A First Division side scored three against them, so there's no reason why we can't do the same. We need to go out there and be positive, that's the only way to be. We're at home, and Falkirk showed in midweek what can be done. I know it was only a cup game, but it shows you that anything can happen if you are on form - especially if you are playing on your own patch. We know it will be a hard game, but they all are in this league and we're treating this match like any other and going out to win.'' Of course Rangers will be looking to put on a better performance and pick up all three points after Wednesday's disappointment. Nikica Jelavic will be fit for action after coming off the bench on Wednesday after being a slight injury doubt beforehand. David Weir and Lee Wallace (both hamstring) are nearing a return to action but the trip comes too soon, while Kyle Bartley is still a couple of weeks away from a comeback after a hernia operation. Manager Ally McCoist has urged his players to learn lessons from Wednesday evening's game. He said: "We can't really dwell on things for too long. It goes without saying that the result was a massive disappointment but the one thing about being involved at a club like this is that you don't get too long to stay high or stay low, whichever one it is. After the game in midweek, it was a big, big low. Our league form has been fairly good so Saturday gives us an opportunity to continue that good form. There is no point looking back. As big a disappointment as it was, you look to the future, as you do with all the games. I won't kid you on, it was a massive blow and a big disappointment but we move on. The most important thing is that you learn from the good results and the bad results and hopefully we have learned. We can't change Wednesday night, we can't do anything about the game, but the big thing is that we have to learn from it. I'm looking for a really positive reaction and I think the fans deserve that.''
