JOHN POTTER accepts that Athletic’s recent results have not been good enough – but believes harder work on the training ground will pay dividends.

The Pars boss has yet to taste victory since taking over from Jim Jefferies last month, with his team earning just three draws against Peterhead, Stirling Albion and Airdrieonians from his first four matches in charge.

That has left Dunfermline fifth in League One and nine points adrift of leaders Stranraer but, perhaps of greater concern, four points behind Brechin City who occupy the final play-off spot.

Potter was frustrated as his side toiled against the Diamonds on Saturday before the introduction of strikers Michael Moffat and Ryan Wallace to link up with Andy Barrowman sparked them into life but he said, “I sat on the Saturday night after the Stirling game and decided that I had to start doing things my way. When I got the job I didn’t want to change too much from where it was because I was maybe still finding my feet a little bit but we were all in early on the Sunday morning and the players were in every day of that week.

“We’re working a lot longer and a lot harder in training and on specific things that I think need improving. It might not be a short-term fix but long-term I think this is the way to do it and the players have been told that.

“They have loved it so far and, yes, it wasn’t our best performance but we ended the game strongly on Saturday and are getting fitter and stronger. I told the players that if they didn’t want to do it or be here then they can go because what we’re doing now isn’t good enough, it’s as simple as that.

“You can always improve on your strength, speed and fitness but it’s not just about that – there are small things during the game and individual things with the players we can work on that I think can improve us, like the strikers on their movement, the midfielders in defensive and attacking positions and the defenders with their heading and marking from crosses, so we’re going to work harder on that.

“We’re convinced it’s just the small things that’s letting us down at the moment so if we can brush up on those then we’ll see a big improvement.” Potter was pleased with the promise shown by Barrowman, Moffat and Wallace and could be tempted to unleash the trio at Cappielow against promotion rivals Morton in Saturday’s live BBC Alba clash, which kicks off at 5.30pm.

The Greenock club, who signed Ross Forbes from the Pars last week, are five points clear of Potter’s men in third place and defeat would leave Athletic with a mountain to climb in the title chase.

But the manager refuses to accept it is a must-win game and continued, “I wouldn’t say it’s must-win at the moment because you don’t want to be looking at the teams around you and what they’re doing too early. It is an important game and they’re above us so will be looking to do well but we have to concentrate on ourselves and I’m convinced that if we do our jobs properly and improve that extra five or 10 per cent then we’ll go on and start winning games.

“Maybe in the last quarter of the season it’s a bit different and games become more must-win but I’m concentrating on trying to climb the table.

“Probably the biggest positive from the Airdrie game was getting Andy, Michael and Ryan in together; they linked well and looked positive. They’re clever players and if we can keep them fit then they’ll cause teams problems but they are forward-thinking so it’s about trying to fit them into the team. But we want to start scoring goals and winning games so it’s up to me to do that.” Potter will be without the suspended Gregor Buchanan for Saturday’s match but Andy Geggan returns to the squad after serving a two-game ban. Ryan Williamson remains sidelined while Jim Paterson is a doubt following the groin injury he picked up against Airdrie.