PARS boss Jim Jefferies insists that he is not concerned by his team’s indifferent form as they gear up for the play-offs.

Although a top-four finish was secured with victory in their last home match with Brechin City, Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Airdrie was their fourth reverse in six matches as they stutter towards claiming second place in League One.

Dunfermline hold a nine-point cushion over nearest challengers Stranraer with four matches to go and a win over Forfar Athletic at East End this Saturday could see them mathematically finish ‘best of the rest’.

But the manager said that he was confident his players would turn results around before the crunch promotion matches next month.

He said, “With one win and one draw in the last six games we are having a bad spell now but we can get it sorted out and be ready for the play-offs.

“The players will look after themselves and will be well up for them when the play-offs come around as they are going to be major cup finals and everybody will be giving their all. We are maybe not there at the moment but we have too many good players in there. One or two have gone off the boil a bit but that will come back and I am sure that the spur of the prize at the end of it will be enough.

“These players have been fantastic but they have never been in this position before and they are learning all the time from it.” Despite firing home 64 goals – the second-highest in League One – the goals have dried up for Athletic in recent matches with only four scored in six matches, with two of those coming from the penalty spot.

Jefferies continued, “Earlier on we were very clinical in that department. We have created a lot of chances but now they are not coming as much as they were earlier in the season. We have to work on that.

“We have four games left and one win will do us from those but we want to get that as quickly as possible. It is probably better to happen now than when the play-offs come around but we want to get back to winning ways.” Jefferies is likely to be without the services of Ryan Wallace for the Forfar clash as he continues his recovery from an inflamed pubic bone, while Ryan Thomson is doubtful after missing the Diamonds defeat with the ankle problem he sustained against Brechin.