STEVIE CRAWFORD admits that Athletic’s first home league win of the season has lifted a weight from his team’s shoulders.

And the head coach praised the contributions of three of his most experienced campaigners for their efforts as they came from behind to defeat second-top Ayr United.

Andy Ryan’s late strike sealed a first East End Championship success since March 2, which extended their unbeaten run to four games ahead of this weekend’s trip to leaders Dundee United, and Crawford admitted that it “was sort of hanging over” his side.

While pleased with his team’s collective effort, Crawford was keen to acknowledge the part played by skipper Paul Paton (pictured), Ryan Dow, and goalscorer Lee Ashcroft in securing a crucial three points.

“Paul Paton’s probably come back (from injury) earlier than he should but he’s an experienced pro and knows his body,” Crawford said.

“He wanted to put his neck on the line. Ryan Dow, it’s unfortunate but his knee’s just going to take a little bit of time still but because they’re a wee bit older, they can man-manage their body.

“They’ve come back in, stabilised us and allowed us to put this wee run together, so they’re massively important. When the game gets to that ugly side of it, they know what it takes to try and dig a result out.

“Big Ashy on Saturday as well – he’s not going to score a goal like that again I don’t think – but the response I’ve had from the big man in terms of taking the captaincy off him, I think it’s great that he’s taken that in a positive light.

“He can lead. For as much as Pates is the captain, big Ashy’s his vice-skipper, and he’s still got a responsibility to the group.”

Crawford, who received a major boost on Tuesday as Joe Thomson completed 45 minutes for the reserves against Celtic, continued: “It would have been easy on Saturday to have gone in and possibly lost the game 2-1, or manage to get back in at 2-2 and say we’ll accept a point, but they had a belief in themselves to keep driving forward.

“There’s a progression and development in the team but no way have we reached the heights we’re hoping to reach yet.

“It brings a feel-good factor. It’s the feeling I want people to have going away from East End, and credit has to go to Ayr United.

“They played the game in a manner where they were very attack-minded. Obviously, it’s pleasing that we got the three points, but it was a good advert for the Scottish Championship.”

The Pars have no fresh injury concerns for this weekend’s clash at Tannadice, but on Thomson’s successful comeback, Crawford added: “It’ll be good for his own mindset.

“Joe being Joe will tell you he’s fit to go and play in the first first-team game after that but, in terms of getting him to the levels we’re hoping to, and making sure he’s fully recovered, he’s still a bit away yet.”

Dunfermline return to the scene of Crawford's first game in charge after taking over from Allan Johnston - a 1-0 defeat in January - to face a United side smarting from a 4-0 thumping at Queen of the South on Saturday.

It was a second successive defeat for Robbie Neilson's league leaders, having gone down by a single goal at Alloa before the international break, but they boast a perfect record on their own turf.

The Pars have a poor recent record on the Tangerine side of Tayside, having won just once in 10 visits in all competitions since Paul Burns' winner in an SPL encounter way back in 2011.

That solitary success came in the shape of a 3-2 victory on the opening day of last season, but United have already registered victory over Athletic this term.

A comfortable 2-0 win, courtesy of former Dunfermline loanee, and now Scotland international, Lawrence Shankland, did the damage in August and Crawford is eager for his team to be more competitive this time around.

"We were hurting after the Dundee United performance," he reflected.

"I felt it from the boys on the Monday, and we never did ourselves justice.

"I didn't think we started the game well the last time against them, so that's something we can try and address. We have to go about or gameplan fully focused, and every man's got to pull their weight in terms of channelling their direction to try and win this game of football.

"Dundee United will be well organised. I know what Robbie's like; they'll be hurting and be looking to kick-start their season again, so we've got to be wary of that and make sure we're up for that.

"In their last home game, they won 6-0 against Morton, so they will be confident when they play at Tannadice, but it's making sure we go up there, give them respect but also let them know they're in for a game."

Crawford, who won 25 international caps during his own playing career, is aware of the threat posed by Shankland, who scored his first Scotland goal against San Marino earlier this month to take his tally to 16 for the campaign.

The Pars boss added: "Lawrence Shankland will be brimming with confidence having been away with the Scotland squad, but do we make this game about Lawrence Shankland, or do we focus on what we've been bringing to the table in the last four games?

"We can't guarantee we'll go up there and win a game, but we have to make sure we're competing with them and going head-to-head with them better than we did here at East End in the first game.

"That's all we can ask."