ATHLETIC star Sam Fisher believes that they have improved from last season and are competing in a division in which "the quality's went up again".

The central defender joined Dunfermline in the summer on a permanent basis from Dundee, having spent the first half of last term on loan at KDM Group East End Park.

He played his part in helping the Pars on their way to the League One title, and a return to the Championship at the first time of asking following relegation, before being recalled by his then parent club in January.

After returning to Dens Park, Fisher in six league games for the Dark Blues, who went on to clinch the second tier title on the final day of the campaign.

When asked if he thought the quality of this season's Championship was up on last, he told Press Sport: "I think so.

"Obviously you've got Dundee United coming down. They're a Premiership team, they've got Premiership players in their squad, so you're looking at them, you're looking at Raith, who have heavily invested this season, Ayr, they've invested, Partick - I would say the ability's definitely went up. Not like it was bad last season, but I still think it's going to go up even next season. It probably will go up because there will be more investment throughout the clubs.

"It has definitely went up and I think you see that from our performances as well. We have improved from last season but, again, it's getting used to that up in quality, and I'm sure we'll get used to it.

"We're more than capable of competing in this league. The performances have been there more or less every single week, so I think we're definitely more than holding our own."

Prior to their match at Greenock Morton on Friday night, Dunfermline had lost three games on the spin, failing to find the net in any of them.

They were aggrieved to come away from the last of those, the second league Fife derby of the season with Raith Rovers, with nothing to show for their efforts despite producing a better display than in their previous two outings, which saw them lose to Partick Thistle and Ayr United.

READ MORE: Pars and Rovers set for cup TV date

A lack of a clinical touch proved their undoing against the Rovers, and Fisher added: "Last season you probably get away with a few of the chances but, this season, the quality's went up again. Even from the Championship last year, I still think the quality's went up, so you'll get punished."