VYTAS GAŠPUITIS’ performance and Dunfermline’s “fighting spirit” have been praised by their head coach at the end of a trying week for the club.

But Stevie Crawford has also told his players that the “togetherness” they showed in Saturday’s battling draw with leaders Hearts is something they must take forward into their final five games if they are to reach the Championship play-offs.

After losses at fellow challengers Dundee – where they had been 2-0 ahead – and Raith Rovers, a 5-1 reverse, the Pars players rallied against the Jam Tarts.

Despite the 0-0 scoreline, Crawford’s team had the afternoon’s best opportunities, with Scott Banks, Gašpuitis and Euan Murray in particular coming close to breaking the deadlock.

The result temporarily lifted Dunfermline back into fourth spot but, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle winning at Greenock Morton on Tuesday, they are now two points behind the Highlanders, having played a game fewer.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ayr United, which is followed by a home game with Dundee – who, like Raith, are five points clear – next Tuesday, the Pars boss was keen to praise his players for their response at the weekend.

In particular, he highlighted the display of Gašpuitis who, after returning from international duty with Lithuania, playing against Kosovo, Switzerland and Italy, made his first start for the club.

“It’s that fighting spirit and togetherness that we’re going to need for the next five games,” Crawford said.

“Sometimes you can go under in situations like that, and Vytas coming in for his starting debut, it was a massive positive that we get a clean sheet with the big man coming in, because it wouldn’t have been easy for him.

“He started in the first two (international) games and he was introduced as a substitute in the Italy game. I don’t think it’s ever easy coming back from international duty, in modern day football when you’re away for two or three games at a time, but credit to the big man.

“He’s worked ever so hard since coming into the building. We spoke about it earlier in the season, that he wasn’t quite up to the levels because it was their close season, and I think having spoken to him after the game, he was running on empty for a fair part of that second half.

“It was there I think for everyone to see that it was also throughout the team on Saturday, and he wasn’t alone in that respect, so it’s that we’re going to have to pull upon.

It was a good, solid performance where we had opportunities to score goals, and I felt we could’ve taken all three points.”