A CLASH of heads in the latter stages of Saturday’s derby typified Rhys Breen’s assertion that Athletic’s stars will put their bodies on the line for each other.

The centre back needed treatment following a challenge with Kelty Hearts’ Jamie Barjonas – who had to be substituted – as the first-ever competitive meeting between the clubs ended in a goalless draw.

The result, which gave the hosts their first point of the season, extended Dunfermline’s unbeaten start in League One, as well as keeping their goals against column firmly at zero.

Breen, who has struck up a promising central defensive partnership with summer signing Kyle Benedictus, had two of his team’s best chances to net at New Central Park - and says they are looking to brush up in the final third to add to their record of four successive clean sheets.

“We are pleased with that, 100 per cent,” he said.

“It goes back to the relationship and willingness to win the ball back by putting your body on the line. That’s something that we need to continue, and hopefully the goals at the other end start to come for us.

“I feel that we have a good connection between the back four but it’s not even just the back four. I feel like, throughout the full group, the demand for getting the ball back is really, really strong, and that’s something I feel like we need to continue throughout the season.

“I felt the full game things just weren’t working out for us. I didn’t think that we were composed enough on the ball.

“Again, it is really, really disappointing, because we had some opportunities to go in front. I am disappointed that I didn’t put mine away but we just have to look forward to next week.”

Airdrieonians, who are level with the Pars on 10 points, come visiting on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash, with the Diamonds having jumped to the summit on goal difference.

Breen added: “It was another clean sheet for us but we can’t look at it like that.

“We have come here and gone away only with a point.

“They (Kelty) hadn’t won a (league) game so there was a demand on them to get their first win. I think everybody was expecting us to come in and probably think it was an easy game. It was never going to be an easy game against Kelty.

“Obviously, it wasn’t our best performance. Everybody in the team knows that, we need to fully focus on the next game now.”