ATHLETIC boss James McPake joked that a more convincing win would have been better for his emotions – but admitted Saturday’s derby win was “special”.

The League One leaders trailed to Alfredo Agyeman’s opener on the hour for Kelty Hearts at New Central Park but once more displayed their resolve to fight back and win three vital points.

Tam O’Ware’s own goal was followed by super-sub Lewis McCann’s winner four minutes from time, which maintained Dunfermline’s advantage at the top of the table.

Falkirk – whose manager, John McGlynn, was at the match ahead of his team’s trip to KDM Group East End Park on Monday – remain seven points behind the Pars, and a further three adrift of second-top Edinburgh, who McPake’s men play following the clash with their bitter rivals.

With the North West Stand already sold out, a large crowd is set to attend and see if Dunfermline can move 10 points ahead of the Bairns on January 2 and, when asked if their Kelty comeback felt like a psychological boost, the Pars boss replied: “4-0 or 5-1, like at Arbroath (in the SPFL Trust Trophy), would have been better for my psychological state!

“I think it is. It’s great when you win and score a late goal, or win a dramatic game in any sense, or you hang on and win a game. It gives you that wee buzz afterwards.

“When we look back on it, it’s another three points, it’s another win. This one is special because it is a tough place to come. I’ve been here before, and it was tough at East End Park against them as well, so we know what they bring and they’ll take a lot of points off other teams in the league.

“As I say, the quality they’ve got at the top end of the pitch is up there with other teams in this league, in my opinion.”

Having suffered just one defeat in 18 games, McPake’s side have shown character and determination to find different ways of picking up results, which was evident again on Christmas Eve.

As well as his squad’s mentality, he also praised the return of McCann, who hadn’t featured since October, when he was forced off with a hamstring injury in a match with Clyde.

“You don’t go on the run that we are on without character,” McPake continued.

“They showed that. They have been down in games, they have been up in games and pegged back and still managed to react in them. There is plenty of character, spirit, commitment, whatever, in abundance in that dressing room. You need it in any dressing room and in our position at the minute we need that, it shone through.

“The subs made a huge impact and I’m delighted for Lewis (McCann). He has been great and he was excellent through the week (in a bounce game with Dundee United). You hear the subs on the bench willing their team-mates on before they came on – that’s team spirit, that’s teamwork that’s whatever you want to call it, but it is working.

“They are now a group of players in there that whoever plays, we know can win a game.”