It is not often a defender is unhappy after helping his team record a fifth clean sheet in a row, but Dunfermline’s Marc McAusland was battling to stay positive after Saturday’s goalless home draw.
The Pars threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors in the closing stages with striker Mickael Antoine-Curier and top scorer Faissal El-Bakhtaoui both missing chances before Peterhead keeper Graeme Smith pulled off a sen-sational save to push away substitute Ryan Wallace’s late free-kick.
Having drawn the previous weekend’s derby at Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline were reluctantly forced to accept another stalemate.
The high-scoring early season form has temporarily dried up, and there was further frustration when news came through that League One leaders Ayr United had also drawn with Brechin.
“We haven’t managed to capitalise on Ayr dropping points today, but then again we haven’t lost any ground on them either,” said McAusland. “We’re still just a single point behind, so that’s a positive.
“The boys shouldn’t be too downhearted because we’re having a pretty good season so far.
“Hopefully we can kick on next week and get back to winning ways.
“It was great to keep another clean sheet. The back four has been really consistent for us in recent weeks and that’s five clean sheets in a row now, so we just need to keep that run going.”
While Dunfermline were frustrated not to take all three points, McAusland and his colleagues rode their luck at times, the woodwork denying Leighton McIntosh and substitute Jordan Brown snatching at two gilt-edged opportunities.
Peterhead had already beaten Dunfermline in August and again played far better than their league position of seventh (now sixth), yet Airdrie remain the last League One side to score against Dunfermline, back in September.
“I don’t know how it finished 0-0. Both teams had chances and both teams had calls for a penalty, so a draw was probably a fair result overall,” said Pars boss Allan Johnston.
“We’re still creating chances, but we know we need to be more clinical in front of goal, just as we were at the start of the season.
“We’re getting brilliant support from the crowd. They’re just desperate to see us do well and go up next May.”