STEVIE CRAWFORD insists that his Athletic side will go all out to make their fans proud and reach the Premiership play-off semi-finals on Saturday.

Following Tuesday night’s stalemate in the first leg of the quarter-final with derby rivals Raith Rovers, the tie couldn’t be poised more delicately going into the game at Stark’s Park.

Crawford, who felt the match was a “great advert” for football in the Kingdom, watched his side create a number of opportunities throughout and, even though they didn’t find the breakthrough, remains bullish over his side’s chances.

With just one away win in the regular Championship season, and on the back of a 5-1 defeat on their last visit to Kirkcaldy, it will be a tough match but the Pars head coach believes replicating Tuesday’s display will give them a great chance to go on and meet Dundee.

“I know that we can’t guarantee anything in life but the performance, and looking at performances we had towards the end of the season, gives us great hope,” he told Press Sport.

“It’s not getting carried away because it would’ve been nice to have won the game. We didn’t, and we know Raith will come out all guns blazing.

“They’re a good side, they’re a good football side, but, again, the pleasing thing from the other night was that we focused on stuff that we were good at and we caused them a lot of problems.

“That doesn’t guarantee we’re going to cause them the same problems on Saturday but there’s a belief within the group.

“The excitement for myself is the way the boys applied themselves and, probably in a game that had a lot of pressure on it – a Fife derby game in a play-off – I think they enjoyed it.

“I think they looked like they enjoyed the game, they enjoyed the occasion, it’s just sad it’s not in front of the fans because that would’ve given it a little bit of added edge and spice.

“But, again, anybody watching that online the other night, I’m sure they would’ve been very supportive and encouraged that we can go to Stark’s Park and win the game.

“We’ve just got to take encouragement from the other night to try and give these people something to be proud of, our supporters something to be proud of.

“If we can perform like the other night we’ll give ourselves the best chance to progress.”

Crawford continued: "I think if you asked the Raith players, they would have found it difficult at times, but equally, that's the challenges and it's credit I'll give our boys because Raith's rotation is very good, their movement off the ball.

"To get a clean sheet was important as well, that solid base. Yes, we'll give up chances on Saturday; if you want to be creative at the other side of the park, then I think we'll have to stand strong on that one.

"Collectively, the pleasing thing is, the boys at the back play their part to allow us to play good football going forward and create chances but, equally, the boys at the front did their job the other night to keep a clean sheet.

"I can only remember the one chance that they hit the target with. We have to focus on ourselves. Raith have proved over the season that they are a handful, they've got good creation in their play, but the excitement for myself is the way the boys applied themselves."

The one thing missing from the derby will be a full house at Stark's Park, while East End would also have been packed on Tuesday under normal circumstances.

That is not lost on the Pars gaffer, who commented: "I think I said after the game I just hope sometime soon we get through this and people can get back to some sort of normality and get back out watching games of football.

"I've heard it numerous times now, when listening to telly interviews or people presenting the sports programmes, that sport needs supporters. The boys are missing it, as a coaching staff we're missing it, and the club are missing it.

"I think what happens now is the games take care of themselves and you've just got to be mindful of boys that haven't had much game time over the course of the season that you keep them ticking over in terms of their conditioning.

"As I say, I think with the games themselves, we've got a young squad that have got a lot of game time ahead of them in their careers, and they'll have benefitted from that the other night.

"They want more of it; I certainly want more of it. You're hungry; our objective was to get to the play-offs but it's not just being happy being in the play-offs, and that was pleasing the other night.

"As I say, other than winning the game, I thought we created the better chances and we're hungry to play more games of that stature.

"It's not accepting that we're in the play-offs; it's wanting to progress through the stages of the play-offs. I think based on the performance the other night, we've given ourselves an opportunity if we apply ourselves in the same manner.

"I didn't want to say before the game that we need to do this and we need to do that going through to Stark's Park, but we now know we need to win the game.

"It may go beyond the 90 minutes - nobody knows that at this moment in time - so we'll prepare properly, make sure we don't leave any stone unturned. It's going to be a very very tough game, but one we're looking forward to."

Raith Rovers v Pars - What you need to know

Here's the key information you need to know ahead of tomorrow's game.

What time is kick-off and how can I watch?

The game starts at 3pm and is live on Raith TV.

Press Sport will also be at Stark's Park to bring you live updates on our website.

How does the tie stand?

After Tuesday's first leg at East End finished 0-0, it's all to play for tomorrow.
The winner will progress to play Dundee in the semi-finals, with extra-time and penalties a possibility if the scores are level after 90 and 120 minutes.

You mention Dundee - what does the rest of the Premiership play-off schedule look like?

Whoever progresses tomorrow will host Dundee, who finished second in the Championship, on Wednesday evening in the first leg of the semi-final.

The return will be held at Dens Park next Saturday afternoon, and both of those games will be live on BBC Scotland.

The winner of that match-up will then progress to play the Premiership side that finishes second bottom, which will be one of Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock or Ross County.

Those ties, which will be beamed live on Sky Sports, will be played on Thursday May 20 and Monday May 24, with the Championship club at home for the first leg.

Meetings this season?

The teams are only separated by one goal in their four clashes so far.
Back in December - it seems so long ago - Rovers raced into a two-goal lead at Stark's Park before Fraser Murray and Declan McManus rescued a point.

In February, the teams convened at East End, where the Pars romped to a 4-1 win, thanks to Declan McManus, Aaron Comrie and a Fraser Murray double.

However, in March, Rovers turned the tables with a 5-1 rout, Dunfermline's worst derby defeat since 1983.

Although Kevin O'Hara had cancelled out Regan Hendry's opener, doubles from Lewis Vaughan and Jamie Gullan completed a dreadful evening for the Pars.

Team news?

Rovers were without defender Frankie Musonda for the first leg, while midfielder Ross Matthews came off through injury on Tuesday.

Iain Davidson did play after Raith appealed his red card against Hearts last Friday, and that decision has been overturned, meaning he is free to play.

Stevie Crawford has said his only confirmed absentees are long-term injury casualties Ryan Dow and Lewis Martin.