THE goals have dried up over the last two games and Nicky Clark knows the Pars need to put that right – and quickly.

But while the striker admits they need points to ease any nerves over relegation, he insists the squad will show their character and pick up positive results.

The 25-year-old’s four-goal haul against Dumbarton at the start of the month took his Dunfermline tally to 13 for the season but both Clark and his team-mates have fired blanks in their last two games.

Saturday’s damaging defeat to Ayr United, despite Athletic having the bulk of the play, leaves them just five points above the bottom but the former Rangers hitman told Press Sport that they can’t afford to hide going into the final run-in.

Preparing for this weekend’s trip to in-form Morton, he said: “Saturday was a bad one but it’s important not to let it affect us. We got into good areas but the final wee bounce of the ball never fell for us. Apart from maybe a shot from Moff (Michael Moffat) I didn’t think we worked their keeper enough; the Dumbarton game was great for me personally but the ball’s not fallen in the right areas for me in the last couple of games. I hope it starts to and I can get another few goals between now and the end of the season.

“It’s fine margins but we can’t worry about that game now. We were all frustrated after the game; we can hear the crowd and we’re hurting just as much as the fans are. We don’t go out to get beat and I think the performances have been good but we’ve been unfortunate that we’ve had some draws where we’ve deserved to win.

“But we can’t turn around and say we’re not worried (about a relegation battle). Saturday changes everything and we need to get results; it’s a crazy league but everyone realises the situation we’re in. We need to get points quickly or it could be sticky for us towards the end of the season.

“Looking back to two weeks ago, we were looking towards the top end and closing the gap on the likes of Dundee United but it’s not to be. We need to show character; we can’t go into our shells and hide because it’s an important stage of the season.”

Clark acknowledged the frustrations aired around East End at full-time against the Honest Men but continued: “We need everyone to stick together. It wasn’t our day but we’ll work hard in training and hope to turn it around. We can’t dictate what happens elsewhere so we need to concentrate on our own games.

“Reaction is a big thing and that’s what we need to show on Saturday. Morton are a good team and it’ll be a difficult game but there’s nothing to fear; when you see the performance we put in at Easter Road a couple of weeks ago, we probably deserved to win. But we can’t just turn up against the likes of Hibs and Dundee United; we need to do it in every game. If we do then I’m sure we’ll do well in the games we’ve got coming up.”

Clark opened his Pars scoring account in September’s 2-1 defeat at Cappielow and the ’Ton – who sit third in the table and just seven points behind leaders Hibs – boast the Championship’s only remaining unbeaten home record.

But he added: “They’re doing well at home but they’re due to get beat at some point, aren’t they? We know we need to perform well and to start picking up three points, and there’s no reason why we can’t do that.”