SECURING Championship survival is the “bare minimum” that Athletic’s players can do for their supporters after a season that “hasn’t been good enough”.

Dan Pybus insists that he and his team-mates know exactly what is at stake for the club as they prepare to host Queen’s Park in Saturday’s second leg of their play-off semi-final.

Dunfermline were condemned to second-bottom spot in the league last Friday night after Ayr United, who finished directly above them, defeated Partick Thistle to secure their Championship status.

The Pars themselves needed a positive result against already-relegated Queen of the South but, despite taking an early lead, they conceded two goals in the second period – which the midfielder described as “embarrassing” and “a bit of a disgrace” – to lose the match.

That prompted frustration from the home crowd, of more than 5,000, and the 24-year-old, who was named as the Gary Riddell Players’ Player of the Year, and Management Team Player of the Year, in the club’s Centenary Club Lifeline Player of the Year awards, said he understood it.

Speaking exclusively to Press Sport ahead of the first leg against the Spiders on Wednesday - a 0-0 draw, which he missed - Pybus said: “I think the first 25 minutes (against Queen of the South) was as good as we’ve played all season to be honest with you.

“We get 1-0 up and then we missed a couple of chances to really wrap the game up and put a few goals past them. Then, second half, was obviously embarrassing to be honest with you to say the least, the way we played, the way we conducted ourselves.

“Yeah, we needed a result to go our way but, regardless, we need to go and win for the fact we’re in the play-offs; it’s good momentum going in. If we’re not in the play-offs, then we still want to win the game.

“It’s in front of 5-6,000 home fans. You’re there to put on a performance, you’re there to play well, you’re there to score goals and I just feel, second half, we were, in simple words, not good enough, and a bit of a disgrace to be honest with you.

“That’s for us to put right now, and the bare minimum we can do is stay in this league.”

When asked if the criticism that followed the game last week had added extra motivation going in to the play-offs, Pybus continued: “100 per cent. Dunfermline shouldn’t be sat second-bottom of the Championship. I think everyone knows that.

“For whatever reasons, this season hasn’t been good enough, so we are where we are, and we are where, at the end of the day, we deserve to be.

“The boys know they’ve got to do it for themselves for self-pride, but also for the club and the fans, because they’ve had a terrible year watching some poor games, to say the least.

“Obviously, there’s been some good games in there, but the boys know what’s on the line and I’m more than confident that we’ll get through, do the business and stay in this league.”

Although not involved, Pybus was with Bradford City when they lost the EFL League One play-off final to Millwall in 2017, so is fully aware of the consequences of such matches.

But he says there’s a positive vibe within the squad, and says his own personal awards this season will mean little if that positivity isn’t matched with results on the pitch.

“Obviously, it’s different ends of the table, but I’ve seen the emotions of getting through to the final, and then losing the final,” he explained.

“But, listen, there’s plenty of experience in that dressing room to know what’s on the line. Everyone knows, and the manager’s reiterated that, so everyone knows what’s at stake.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a vibe of ‘we’re going to get relegated’, which is a good thing, but the boys know obviously what’s at stake at the same time. They know how serious it is.

“It’s brilliant obviously to win individual awards but I’m a team player at the end of the day and I want to make sure this club stays in the league. If the club doesn’t stay in the league, then the awards mean very little.

“I’m delighted to win them – it’s a proud thing for me and my family – but I don’t want to be relegated as well as winning two awards.

“It’s not down to anyone else apart from the players on the pitch doing their job, and working hard.

“That’s the most important thing.”