PARS head coach Stevie Crawford has been named as the Ladbrokes Championship manager of the month for February.

The 42-year-old, who was appointed as Allan Johnston's successor in January, has guided his team to four successive victories and into the promotion play-off places after a fine upturn in form.

After beginning his reign with defeats at Dundee United and Raith Rovers, the latter in the Scottish Cup, and a draw at Greenock Morton, Dunfermline lost their opening game of the month to Ross County but defeated their Highland rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle to earn Crawford a maiden victory.

That was followed by a crucial 1-0 away triumph at third-top Ayr United, and a 3-0 home success over Partick Thistle, before they opened their March fixtures with a single-goal victory over Queen of the South.

The Pars, who travel to Alloa Athletic this weekend, have now gone more than six hours of football without conceding a goal.

Speaking to Press Sport earlier this week, Crawford said: "The pleasing thing for us at the weekend was winning and getting into the play-off positions.

"It brought a different pressure to the game, with the way the fixtures were, with Falkirk playing against Morton on the Friday night, and then ourselves being the only fixture in the league on Saturday.

"The boys were fully aware that a victory would see us sitting in fourth place over the weekend, so it's been really productive.

"We've now given ourselves a platform, and from the hard work that they've done from leading up to the Dundee United game (Crawford's first in charge), we're getting to see some rewards from it.

"It's about being hungry and wanting more of that, and we have to stay close-knit, tight and together, and that brings a feel-good factor about East End again."