There will be no rousing Churchillian speeches from Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre before Saturday’s crunch game against Aberdeen.
That’s because he believes the only motivation his players will need is a painful trip down memory lane to the last time they faced the Dons.
A frightful Friday night display at Pittodrie in September saw the Pars ship four goals without reply and if it hadn’t been for keeper Paul Gallacher, a dismal defeat could have ended up as a humiliating one.
Dunfermline lost again at Parkhead on Wednesday night against Celtic after going two goals down in the first quarter of an hour after errors by Paul Willis and Alex Keddie.
Despite those early blows, Dunfermline battled back to 2-1 and, while they could not salvage an equaliser, McIntyre saw enough to be confident his players can gain revenge for their Pittodrie pasting.
He said: ”It’s funny watching the video back of the Celtic game as we played exceptionally well in the first half. We got into some really good areas but just didn’t have the cutting edge.
”Obviously, the two mistakes gave us a mountain to climb. Player make errors though. All you can do is show them on the video and hope they can correct them.”
He added: ”At the first goal you are talking about a young kid who has made the mistake who then showed great belief and courage to go on and play well.
”That for me is a major positive that I have a 20-year-old who has made a mistake in his first game at Parkhead yet has continued to get on the ball, putting crosses into their box. It showed tremendous courage and I was really proud of Paul.
”When you go to Parkhead it is easy to crumble when you lose two goals in the first 12 minutes. We never did that though.”
McIntyre added: ”The performance should give us great heart for Saturday.
”The only motivation the players should have for the Aberdeen game is the last time we played them. I shouldn’t have to say a word to them.
”That night at Pittodrie was our worst performance of the season and we will be out to make amends for it.”
For most of the season, Dunfermline’s physio room has been busier than a city A&E on a Saturday night. However McIntyre has midfielders Martin Hardie and Nick Phinn back in the squad.
Phinn hasn’t featured this season after picking up a hamstring injury on the pre-season tour to Austria and McIntyre said he is delighted to have him and Hardie available again.
He said: ”The boys that have been available have been doing great recently but we’ve had to chop and change systems because of a lack of personnel.
”That’s just the way it is sometimes but we could do with getting even more bodies back just to help out the ones who are playing.”
Photo Lynne Cameron/PA Wire