ASSISTANT boss Dave Mackay praised Athletic's movement off the ball following their "professional" win over Peterhead on Saturday.

First half goals from Craig Wighton and Matty Todd, which were added to by Josh Edwards and Kevin O'Hara, gave James McPake's side a comfortable 4-0 victory over League One's bottom side.

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The win, Dunfermline's fourth in a row in all competitions, and their sixth from their lasy eight league games, put them seven points clear at the summit.

Falkirk, who were winners by the same scoreline over Clyde, jumped into second place on goal difference ahead of FC Edinburgh, who were beaten at Alloa Athletic.

"I said during the week there that we've struggled at times in these sort of games at home," Mackay said.

"We've moved the ball too slowly, we've allowed teams to settle too easily, and today we were much better at that. I thought the first 5-10 minutes we weren't great, but we slowly found ourselves on top.

"We had loads of the ball, so it was important we moved it well, and we tried to move their two banks, a five and a four, get them shifted to try and create space in the middle.
At times we played some really good stuff and got chances from it. The first couple of goals were excellent.

"We had a few good goals, but the first two in particular I thought were excellent, the way we moved the ball. Again, the second, with Joe (Chalmers) playing the longer pass into Kyle MacDonald, it's played across and, obviously, Matty Todd finishes it really well.
It's a pleasing performance and result today in difficult conditions.

"The pitch is still in very good condition for this time of the year. It'll be one of the better grass pitches around, so it gives us an opportunity to get the ball down and play, but I thought the boys handled the conditions, the sort of match that it was as well, where we had a lot of the ball.

"It was a really good, professional performance from us with glimpses of some really nice play as well."

Todd, who took his tally for the season to seven, commented: "It was a good performance all round I think.

"First half we started well, we got on the front foot and couldn’t say they really had a chance after that. I thought we dominated all over the pitch.

"We got four goals but we could have scored plenty more as well. I am just delighted with the three points."

Visiting boss, David Robertson, added: "I thought we did well in patches in the game.

"I think, because of where we are, every we mistake we make, we get punished for. In the second half, we created chances, or they made mistakes to give us chances, but they got away with it. That's what happens; you get punished when you're down there.

"I thought the performance was good in patches in the game but, like I say, at times we're losing easy goals. Again, we're trying to get a consistent team, but you have to remember who we're playing against. You're playing against a team that's probably a Premier League, Championship kind of team.

"The performance was good, the result wasn't the best. I think, going in at half-time, I thought we were a little bit unlucky to be two goals down. The boy had a wonder strike for the second one, the first one, we probably could have defended the cross a little bit.

"It just shows you, not so much your luck, just how things are when you're at the bottom."

Meanwhile, a pitch inspection has been called for tomorrow afternoon ahead of the rescheduled SPFL Trust Trophy quarter-final at Dundee.

The game, which was called off last Tuesday just 45 minutes before kick-off, is subjection to an inspection at 1.30pm after Dundee contacted league officials.

The Dark Blues saw their home game with Partick Thistle on Saturday also postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The winners of the game will be at home to Raith Rovers in the last four.