Dunfermline Athletic 1
Dundee 0
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dunfermline dug themselves out of a "big hole" by beating Dundee at East End Park on Saturday, according to manager Jimmy Calderwood.

A 1-0 victory ended their rotten run of seven straight losses in the SPL and earned their first league points since August 4.

One man who played a pivotal role in turning things around was roving Youssef Rossi.

It was not too long ago that the Moroccan packed up his troubles and returned to Fife after going AWOL following international duty and ending up-much to the Pars' surprise-on trial at Southampton.

The time spent with Saints, however, was ruined by a foot injury and fading interest from the south coast club.

Rossi headed back north, chastened by the experience, for make-or-break talks with Calderwood. "I told him what I thought about him, about how it went," said the manager.

"He's just got to accept it and get on with it. He's been welcomed back by the players.

"They know when they're playing with good players and that good players can earn you money and they can get you up the league. I just think he handled it wrongly."

However, Calderwood added that it was all "in the past" and Rossi obviously agrees.

"This problem at Southampton, I don't want to talk about it," he said after winning the man- of-the-match award on Saturday.

"It is good living here and playing with Dunfermline and my wife is happy here, too everything is OK.

"There is a good ambience with the players and there is no problem with the manager. I am happy and I have shown in training that I will work hard and play good football.

"I am happy when I hear the supporters sing my name and I am pleased with my form since I came back. It was important for the club and the fans."

However, he has not quite given up on a move south to the Premiership.

Does he wish to head to England sometime in the future? "Yes. It is a good league with teams like Manchester United and Liverpool, who have big (name) players.

"But I have a four-year contract which I signed last season. I will see what happens."

Apart from Southampton, Charlton have been credited with an interest in Rossi and West Ham have had scouts at Dunfermline games.

If there were any club representatives sitting in the stand for the Dundee game they could not help but be impressed by Rossi, who coped well with the twin attack of Fabian Caballero and Juan Sara.

The Pars looked the hungrier of the two teams in the first half and deservedly took the lead after 26 minutes.

Dundee allowed space to open up on the left wing and Stewart Petrie filled the gap before sending over his cross.

Young Steven Hampshire got on the end of it and his header eventually found the net after crawling between keeper Jamie Langfield's legs.

The hosts, inspired by comeback captain Ian Ferguson, went on to have the better of the first period but the Dark Blues did improve after the break despite not making the breakthrough.

The strike pair of Sara, who was returning after a six-week injury lay-off, and Caballero were keen enough.

However, the former is understandably in need of match practice, while the latter looked more effective when out wide rather than through the middle.

There were promising performances from young pair Barry Forbes and David Mackay but all in all the Dark Blues underperformed.

Boss Ivano Bonetti was upbeat-some would say surprisingly so-in his summing-up, pointing to players soon to be signed and those coming back after injury.

He said, "The future is with us but at this time I am trying to be positive. "I got to see the young players and they are working well.

"Also, it was a chance to see our fans, what they do when we don't win, and I am happy to see their reaction and say thanks to them for their passion.

"They have seen us play very good football (before) so I hope they understand the situation at this time."

Midfielder Mark Robertson revealed that Bonetti's calm exterior wasn't just an act put on for the Press.

"He was happy with some of the play in the second half, although obviously the result wasn't the best," said Robertson.

"In the last couple of games we have been disap- pointing, which is not too good for the club.

"He's keeping all the lads together and we have to keep our chins up and stop what's happening.

"In this type of situation you have to keep positive, there's no point in just being negative.

"He could come in and bawl and scream but he's approached it a different way, but we know the past few games haven't been the best.

"We're all capable of playing well but you can't have us all playing average and expect to get away with it.

"We do have some good players and I don't think it's too far way from when we get it together and start to go up the league."

Match report written by The Courier