JAMES McPake has challenged his team to show some pride by winning the last two games of the season and secure their Championship status in style.

Athletic's slender promotion hopes were officially ended by the dull stalemate with Queen's Park and full focus is now on making sure they steer clear of the relegation play-off spot.

Inverness visit East End Park this Saturday before a Friday night match at Somerset Park against Ayr and the manager has called on his Pars players to round off a tough campaign with a flourish.

Midfielder Matty Todd said: "The manager has just said to the boys in the changing room, he wants us to go and win the last two, give performances we can be proud of and end the season on a high.

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"It's been difficult for everyone in the building just with injuries and results haven't gone our way at times but over the last couple of months we've really picked up.

"We're not resting on our laurels as to where we are in the league, not at all, and we have to kick on again next week."

Dunfermline are six points clear of Queen's Park, who are in the relegation play-off spot, and have a better goal difference but McPake said they can't rest until they make sure they're safe.

Todd agreed: "He's spot on. The manager has been saying that for weeks.

"We'll work hard throughout the week and prepare for the Inverness game."

Dunfermline Press: Matty Todd had a good chance in the first half but blasted his shot over the bar. Matty Todd had a good chance in the first half but blasted his shot over the bar. (Image: Craig Brown)

Both teams were desperate for three points for different reasons but neither Pars nor the Spiders could find the net.

The midfielder looked back: "In the first half we played well, we had chances to score and get ourselves ahead in the game.

"At those points we have to take our opportunities. I had one myself and should hit the target at least, but it was a frustrating afternoon.

"We had plenty of chances to win the game but overall we're just frustrated."

Todd smashed that one over the bar at the end of the first half and, after the break, looked like he was going to net the opener as Dunfermline launched a lightning counter attack.

Josh Edwards' pass sent him racing clear from the halfway line but he was eventually caught in the box by Zach Mauchin and the chance was gone.

He recalled: "It was a great ball from Josh, his vision is unbelievable at times, he put it right in my path but I just ran out of steam at the end.

"If I could have got my shot away a wee bit quicker it would have been better and tried to test the keeper."

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On the match as a whole Todd said: "I think at times Queen's Park kept the ball but they weren't really causing too many problems to Deniz.

"He pulled off a great save at the start of the second half, I think that's the only chance they really created.

"They moved the ball side to side but I thought our shape was brilliant.

"Today it's a good point but it's a frustrating one."

The Pars man admitted it was a strange feeling to take to the pitch, with three games to play, knowing that they were fighting to get promoted at the same time as trying not to get relegated.

He said: "Exactly. Last week we were thoroughly disappointed with the result (at Airdrie).

"If we'd picked up something there we'd have had a right good opportunity to look forward to this weekend and, potentially, the (promotion) play-offs.

"Obviously that's out of our reach now so we've just got to focus on the next game."