Dunfermline v Raith Rovers: Euan Murray wants Pars victory

The Pars skipper was disappointed that their efforts in Saturday's match at Tynecastle didn't yield points, having lost out to Jamie Walker's late goal for Hearts.

READ MORE: Hearts score late to beat Pars

That put Athletic 12 points behind the table-topping Jam Tarts and, courtesy of Raith Rovers' win over Dundee, they dropped to third on goal difference.

The Kirkcaldy club visit East End this evening in a rearranged New Year clash and centre back Murray, speaking after the loss in Gorgie, said: "I thought on the day we were excellent to a man, the shape of the team was different class - probably the best we have been for a while, even though we have had clean sheets.

"We had probably the better of the chances over the piece. At the minute things are not going our way in front of goal but that is a collective thing.

"I think we are due the rub of the green at some point but if we keep putting in performances like that we will start picking up wins again.

"Throughout the 90 minutes I felt that we were fairly comfortable. It's probably not the right word coming to a stadium like Tynecastle but, to a man, we defended well as a team from the strikers all the way through to Fônners in goals.

"Sometimes teams come up with a wee moment of magic and there is not too much you can do.

"Since the start of the season it has not really been a case of us trying to put ourselves against Hearts.

"They have got unbelievable resources and international football players. For us it has been a case of taking it game by game.

"We started the season like a house on fire and we have tailed off with a couple of draws.

"Our goals internally haven’t changed and that is promotion. It is important now to get back to the basics and win games."

The game could've have been different had Declan McManus' goal-bound effort inside 60 seconds not been cleared off the line by Michael Smith, or if Craig Gordon hadn't produced a stunning save to keep out Ryan Dow's header just before the break.

"I think he is different class; you would struggle to find a goalie in the Premier League who could make a save like that from Ryan Dow in the first half," Murray said of Scotland star Gordon.

READ MORE: Bosses praise Hearts keeper Craig Gordon

"You just have to take your hat off and say it was unbelievable and, when you look at it, he has maybe kept them in the game at certain stages. That is the thing, Hearts have a brilliant squad and he is certainly a big part of that."

Craig Gordon saves from Ryan Dow.

Having signed from Raith, Murray is as aware as anyone of the threat posed by John McGlynn's side, and he added: " I had a good period of time at the club but I am a Dunfermline player now, captain of the club and my sole focus is trying to produce as best a performance as I can for my team.

"We know what Raith Rovers are all about, me more than anybody. It is one that we will look forward to because it is another chance.

"You want the games coming thick and fast at you and it is an opportunity to put the disappointment of Saturday behind us.

"It is a home game where we can go and try and win."

Meanwhile Owain Fon Williams, who himself produced a couple of fine stops at Tynecastle, insists Dunfermline can only focus on themselves rather than worry about what is happening around them in the table.

"It's just another game," he said of tonight's clash.

"What we've got ahead of us now is another game, another opportunity for us to get three points on the board, regardless of who you're playing against.

"Personally, I couldn't care less because it's just three points that we are trying to get, and that's what we need to get.

Owain Fon Williams in action at Tynecastle.

"It's great we've got the game on Wednesday; there was a lot of positives from the game on Saturday - our shape, our discipline within our shape, our distances and stuff like that.

"When we went forward and won the ball back, on the counter attack, we looked really strong, we created a number of chances, great chances as well, against the best team in the league, as it stands, because they are top of the league.

"If we're creating these chances against these teams, we're doing something right. It'll be a decent one on Wednesday against Raith, one that we are looking forward to obviously.

"They're all big (games). I couldn't care less about anyone else.

"That's not being arrogant or anything like that - it's about looking after our own here. It's about looking after this football club and that's all I'm worried and concerned about.

"That's the only thing we can control and, whether we are second or third or whatever we are, there is still a long, long way to go in this season."

He added: "They (Raith) are a decent side, there's no two ways about that.

"When we played them at their place, they commit players forward, they try and get into your face, they press. On the flip side, when they have the ball, they're not shy in taking the ball, they try and play, so we know what we're up against.

"Naturally, it's going to be a tough game, regardless of where we both are in the league.

"It's going to be a tough game anyway because it's a derby, but we'll concentrate on us, and hopefully we'll get the win on Wednesday."