WING king Dom Thomas insists he would have traded his derby wonder goal for three points – but is convinced victories are coming.

The 25-year-old scored for the second successive home match to put Athletic ahead against Raith Rovers on Tuesday evening, with a spectacular long-range strike that flew into the top corner.

His third goal of the season looked like being enough to secure an elusive first Championship win under the reign of manager Peter Grant, only for Brad Spencer to fire home an equaliser late on to secure a point for the Kirkcaldy club.

It was Dunfermline’s sixth draw in seven matches, a result which keeps them bottom of the table and a point behind ninth-placed Greenock Morton, three adrift of Queen of the South in eighth, and 12 off Raith in fourth.

Thomas’ goal, which followed a more fortuitous strike in the previous East End outing with former club Kilmarnock, would have been fitting to win any match and admitted not getting the three points was hard to take.

But, having returned to the starting line-up in the last three weeks following a well-documented spell out of the side, he believes things will start to turn for the Pars.

“It was a good goal but I would trade it in for the three points,” he told Press Sport after Tuesday night’s match.

“I thought we worked so hard, and played really well, so to not get three points it hurts that bit more, especially losing it that late on and in that manner.

“But, I said to the boys in there, we’ve got to just take this hurt into Saturday’s game at Arbroath and go and get those three points.

“We’ve been that close the past three games. We’ve played really well and been the better team in the three of them, but if you’re not getting three points, it’s pointless, isn’t it?

“For us, getting the three points was the most important thing, and falling short that late on, it’s a sickener. But we see the positives.

“It’s hard for the fans just now obviously, not going away with the three points that every fan wants, but if you look past that, you can see the positives.

“The boys know that. I really do feel we’ve turned a corner and, soon enough, you get the rub of that green, the (single) points turn into three points, and you go on a wee run. We’ve just got to look forward to Saturday now.

“We’ve got to brush up on a few things, keep working hard, and keep doing the stuff that’s been going for us.

“I do feel we’ll go on a run, get the three points, and will look back and learn from this time.”

Thomas, who found himself left out of the starting line-up until Kilmarnock’s visit following the home loss to Partick Thistle in August, believes hard work in training has paid off on a personal level – and is hopeful that will be the case collectively too.

“You need to work hard, especially us, every day in training,” he continued.

“On match day, I’m sure that no matter how the results have been, I don’t think anyone can question how hard the boys are working to get the three points. We’re as hurt as anybody.

“Every football player wants to play football so, when you’re out the team, it’s hard, but you just keep going. Getting back in – I’ve got a couple of goals now as well – you get the rewards.

“I think one of the biggest things in football is being mentally solid. If you’re out the team, you’ve just got to keep plugging away, train hard and the manager says it – he picks the team on training. When you’re in training, you know every day is a chance to impress, and I feel it’s something I’ve done. I’ve always worked hard in training and you can see that on the pitch now.”