Dunfermline manager John Potter has told his players to stand up and be counted as they aim to avoid another defeat that would all but kill off their promotion hopes.
The three games to close out February against a trio of rivals at the top end of the table were hailed as massive for the East End Park outfit’s play-off bid, but three straight losses now has them staring at the very real prospect of another season in League One next term.
The Pars are now nine points adrift of fourth spot and slipped to sixth in the standings as a consequence of the 5-1 defeat leaders Stranraer inflicted on them on Saturday a result Potter described as his “worst day” in management.
A second loss to in-form Brechin in the space of eight days at Glebe Park this evening would therefore leave the Fife club facing an uphill struggle to climb back into promotion contention, but Potter will be doing everything in his power to lift the players after the weekend’s setback.
“It was a sore one to take and it hurts but we have to prepare right for the Brechin game,” he stressed.
“It hurts every player and every member of staff, like it does the fans, it is hard to take.
“It is only us who can change it and it is up to us to go out and prove against Brechin that we are better than that and we need to do that very quickly.”
Defender Gregor Buchanan will miss this evening’s trip to Angus after his straight red card on Saturday, and Potter felt his dismissal was the turning point at Stair Park.
“We had just got back in it at 1-1 – we were doing OK and there was not much in it,” he added.
“It totally changed with the sending off and I think the quick goals deflated us and picked them up.
“The sending off was the key point of the game.”
The Pars have enjoyed a decent record over City in the league, winning 29 of their encounters, drawing seven times and losing seven times, although their last victory at Glebe Park came just over 21 years ago courtesy of a 1-0 win in the old First Division.