If you can't score you don't win games! And these days the Pars strikers wouldn't be able to score in a Leith brothel with one hundred quid strapped to their waist!
After dominating the first-half, showing the kind of fight and 'resolve' - as Hay would say - that was evident against Rangers last Sunday a second-half performance of such inept incompetence highlighted just why the Pars are languishing joint bottom of the SPL with just four games remaining. Facing an Inverness Caley side with little, or nothing, to play for, the Pars - with the exception of the brilliant centre-half pairing Scott Wilson and Scott Thomson - refused to mix it up with their opponents, somehting which will simply be unnacceptable at Almondvale next week.
Despite a rally cry for supporters to turn out in force yesterday, in front of a crowd of under 5000 - what does that tell you Mr Yorkston - it was to be the Pars who were to threaten first after Giorgi Hristov presented Simon Donnelly with an opportunity but the striker could get no power in his shot and Mark Brown saved easily.
Caley responded and, when Craig Brewster out-muscled Scott Wilson, Bryan Prunty tried an ambitious lob from 30 yards which sailed over the top. Barry Wilson then cut in from the left but directed his shot straight at Derek Stillie. Brown had to look alert to push a deflected cross from Noel Hunt over his crossbar and, from the corner, Andrius Skerla squandered the best chance so far.
Brown elected to stay on his line and none of his defenders picked up the Lithuanian who stooped to send the tamest of headers wide from 12 yards. There was another let-off for Caley shortly afterwards when Hristov played in Donnelly but he dithered with his shot and Stuart Golabek got back to block.
Caley were living dangerously and it took a great save from Brown to keep them level. Ian Campbell's 25-yard free-kick was bound for the bottom left-hand corner of his net, but the goalkeeper scrambled across his line to save. Darren Young then beat the offside trap to have a clear look at goal but he hurried his effort and sent it well over the crossbar with Hristov screaming for the ball in the centre.
Hunt did have the ball in the net after 28 minutes when a Darren Young shot broke to him, but he was clearly offside and his celebrations were cut short. It was remarkable the Pars were not in front by this stage and Hunt was unfortunate with a glancing header at the near post from a Campbell corner which flew straight into Brown's waiting arms.
Caley almost scored against the run of play three minutes from the break when Wilson's well-struck shot from 25 yards was brilliantly turned over by Stillie. Derek Young had a couple of decent efforts for Dunfermline in a poor second half in which defences dominated and neither keeper was ever truly put under any kind of sustained pressure. Richie Hart had a great opportunity for Caley when Brewster put him through, but he was reluctant to shoot and the chance was lost. Substitute Andy Tod sent a volley over in injury-time, but Dunfermline never looked like snatching it.
With the game petering out to a chorus of anti-Davie Hay chants, the fianl whistle arrived to end a game of two halves - the first-half exemplifying the fact that the Pars have the necessary fight to survive, the second showing that they don't! And if one thing is potently clear after the Pars drew yet another blank in front of goal it is the fact that the Pars just cannot put the ball in the back of the net. Some would say this problem was not of Davie Hay's making, surely the loss of Crawford and Brewster would be too much for most managers to take. Aye but when you are described as a manager with great contacts capable of making excellent bargain-basement signings and you plump for donkeys such as Hristov and Christiansen instead of players like Tam McManus or Hassan Kachloul you really have to wonder!!!
It was a must-win game and we didn't win it. What does that tell you? With four games left to salvage our club it truly does fell that our time is running out...
Man of the Match - SCOTT WILSON - Another commanding performance from the big man at the heart of the Pars defence. Had Brewster in his pocket all afternoon.
PARS - Stillie 7, Skerla 6, Campbell 6, Thomson 8, Wilson 9, Derek Young 5, Darren Young 7, Mason 6, Hunt 7, (Christiansen) 3, Donnelly 6, (Tod) 5, Hristov 4, (Mehmet) 5.