STEVIE CRAWFORD has revealed that Dom Thomas and Kyle Turner will be back in contention to face Raith Rovers after missing Saturday's defeat at Hearts.

Winger Thomas and midfielder Turner were surprise omissions from the Pars squad for the game at Tynecastle, which the hosts won thanks to Jamie Walker's goal late-on to move 12 points clear at the top of the table.

Dunfermline had their chances during the match, with Craig Gordon earning high praise from both camps following a stunning save to keep Ryan Dow out just before the break, but go into Wednesday's derby having failed to score in their last three outings.

When asked about Thomas and Turner's absence, Crawford replied: "That's just something that happened yesterday (Friday) in training, so we'll keep that in-house in terms of that one.

"Nothing untoward happened there; it's just one of these things that we've got to put a squad together of 18 to come to games like this.

"It was a decent finish from Jamie Walker. He's turned Euan Murray and put it across the keeper like good strikers do. I know Jamie's not a natural striker but he's taken his opportunity well.

"The pleasing thing for us today was, apart from obviously the disappointment of losing the game, that we worked the keeper more than we have in previous weeks. I can only ask my players again to go that same way when we play Raith Rovers during the week, with the same application.

"I thought our shape was very good today and Craig Gordon I thought was magnificent on the day."

Even inside the opening minute, Gordon had saved well from Fraser Murray after Declan McManus had had a shot cleared off the line by Michael Smith, and Crawford continued: "I think in the first couple of minutes, Iain Wilson's done great. It's a great move, he's tried a shot, it falls at Declan, and we get one cleared off the line.

"The pleasing from that was we didn't feel sorry for ourselves today. Ryan Dow had a great header later in the half as well, and how Craig got it over the bar probably shows the level why he's a Scotland international.

"It's just asking for more of the same. I thought we were very good in the first half; our shape was good, we probably passed it about a bit better in the first half. Hearts changed their shape at half time again, which again, shows that we're causing them problems.

"In the end, we've come here and competed with the team that's sitting at the top of the league.

"I'm looking forward to the game on Wednesday night. Raith Rovers are in a good bit of form themselves and, as I say, I was happy with the way the boys applied the shape and the way we went about our business today.

"The disappointing thing is we've come away with nothing."

Meanwhile, Jam Tarts gaffer, Robbie Neilson, was also full of praise for his goalkeeper and felt that is side's win was a "grind" compared to the fine 4-0 win they had enjoyed at Raith Rovers midweek.

"I thought both goalkeepers produced some really good saves today," he said.

"It was a very tight game - it always is when you're playing against somebody that's up at the top of the league beside you - and I thought both goalies played very well.

"Yes, Craig had a couple of brilliant saves, but we've come to expect that from him to be honest with you. On Tuesday night, he had none at all, and today he's really helped us get the three points.

"I think we've played better, definitely. Tuesday night was a great performance, today was just more of a grind to get the result, but sometimes you need to do that to win a league."

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On Gordon's stunning save from Dow's netbound header, he continued: "I see it every day in training to be honest with you.

"The more games he gets, he seems to get sharper as well, which is beneficial to us, so I'm delighted for him.

"He said when he came here, his decision was to get first team football and try and get in the Scotland squad, and I think watching him today, there's no doubt he should be in that.

"We know in this league you're going to get beat in a game; it's how you respond to that. The three times we've been beaten this season, we've responded straight away and we've won the next couple of games. It's important we continue to do that.

"With 13, 14 games to go, there will be defeats within that as well. We'll try to win every game but it's how you respond to that."

On Walker's goal - a fine finish across Owain Fon Williams after he displayed fine skill to turn away from Euan Murray - Neilson added: "Jamie brings you that quality.

"He didn't start today - he had a wee problem with his groin the last couple of days after the Raith game - but we knew we would get maybe 20, 25 minutes out of him.

"Bringing him on when the game was a wee bit more open suited him, and his quality was top level."