PARS boss James McPake has said that his team will continue to try to use the "really strong weapon" of long throws into their opponents box.

In their last home match, a draw with Airdrieonians, Josh Edwards channelled his inner Ivo Den Bieman by causing no end of problems with his deliveries into the penalty area, one of which resulted in a goal, while another saw the ball end up in the net for what appeared to be a winner before it was chalked off controversially.

The long throws of iconic Dutchman Den Bieman, who was part of the legendary 1995/96 First Division title-winning squad, and made 184 appearances in black and white during five years with the club, were something that supporters became accustomed to, and McPake says utilising those of Edwards can bring success to the class of 2022.

"It's a really strong weapon," he said.

"If it's there then, of course, at times we'll use it. You don't become predictable and just do it all the time, but I think if you've got that in your team, then you have to use it. That's something we do work on.

"I played with someone like Aron Gunnarsson (at Coventry City) who had a throw like that, and Rory Delap is one everyone knows as well. If you've got that in your team, and it's something you want to do and the players are willing to go, be brave and put their head on it, then it's certainly something we'll use.

"The pleasing bit for me is we're doing the job in our box. Yeah, it's good at being effective in the other box; the biggest games in the world are sometimes decided from a set play. Anybody that doesn't work on them, or doesn't do a lot of work on them, that's up to them, but we see it as a really big weapon.

"We've got the long throw, we've got great delivery from whoever's taking them (free kicks and corners) and we're a threat at going and attacking it.

"Again, you're asking players to be brave, to go and get their head on it, to go and do what you're asking them through the week, and, again, all credit has to go to the players."

One of those who is proving effective in both boxes is central defender Rhys Breen, who has played every minute of Dunfermline's 10 League One and Premier Sports Cup matches so far this season.

The 22-year-old, who joined the club last summer after leaving Rangers, has helped the Pars to seven clean sheets – five of which have been in the league – and scored twice, against Buckie Thistle, and Queen of the South, in their last outing.

"Obviously, I knew him," McPake acknowledged. "He was in the Rangers development squad and played when I had the under-18s or reserves at Dundee," McPake continued.

"He's been excellent. Again, he's another one that's come in and been willing to work, willing to take on board what we're asking him to do, and I think having (Kyle) Benedictus beside him is helping. Aaron Comrie's been excellent as well, another experienced one, so it has been good.

"Everything goes back to the players. We're asking them to do stuff, we're asking them to work hard day-in, day-out, and they're doing it."