JOHN HUGHES insists his team must keep believing in their battle to avoid the drop after what he felt was a harsh defeat at league leaders Arbroath on Saturday.

David Gold's early strike, which came minutes after Ryan Dow and Graham Dorrans had good opportunities to score, condemned the Pars to a fourth defeat from four against the Lichties this season.

Despite striking the woodwork three times throughout the 90 minutes - Steven Lawless and Kevin O'Hara in the first half, and the former's header in second half stoppage time - Athletic couldn't find the vital breakthrough.

A 3-0 win for Queen of the South at home to Morton saw them leapfrog Dunfermline into ninth place, while a thumping 4-0 success for Ayr United at Raith Rovers pulled them further away from the drop zone.

With nine games left, Hughes' side are two points behind the Doonhamers, and seven adrift of Hamilton, in eighth, and Morton, in seventh, who have both played one match more.

Dunfermline's next two matches are at Hamilton, this Saturday, then at home to Morton on Friday March 18, which will have massive significance for their survival prospects.

Hughes, though, said he saw enough from his players at Gayfield to suggest they can get the points they need to escape the drop, commenting post-match: "We definitely deserved something out the match.

"I think we deserved to win it, I think we deserved to score two or three goals. If we keep playing like that from now until the end of the season, because we done it for 90 minutes, then we'll win football matches.

"We need to keep doing that and believing it. That's the way we're going about it. We flung everything at it, created enough chances, and on another day, the three points are coming back to East End. But, you're playing against a team that's going for the title, you have to respect that, and when they get that goal - albeit, a real soft goal - for us to put so much into it and lose that kind of goal, it's a little bit galling.

"But when you're playing against a team that's going for the title, you give them something to hang on to, and you can see the spirit. That's why they are where they are, and it was very difficult to break down.

"You have to respect that, and take your hat off to them, and I wish them all the best from now until the end of the season.

"My team? I can't ask any more of the boys. We dominated the game, we passed the ball really well, we created chances - on another day, the points are going back to East End."

When asked about luck not being on their side in relation to striking the frame of the goal, Hughes replied: "It's been like that for a couple of weeks; we're just not getting the rub of the green.

Dunfermline Press:

Steven Lawless struck the post in the first half. Photo: Craig Brown.

"I got asked a great question there in terms of you've got a lot of experience in the side - it goes for absolutely nothing. I'm just delighted that I'm working with these boys. I think we've got talented players, but anything you get in football, you have to earn.

"If you don't want to put the shift in, then you'll get your backside felt. It's never been like that since I've come here. That's one thing I'll say about these boys - they've given me everything they've got week in, week out."

On results elsewhere, he added: "That's something I can't control; I can only look after my own team.

"If we keep playing like that for 90 minutes, from now until the end of the season, and take our chances, I'm hoping we can win more games than we lose. And the challenge ahead? Bring it on.

"I've never been a shrinking violet. Bring it on, rise up to the challenge. That's the kind of challenge that has to inspire you, motivate you and go and prove one or two people wrong that no no no, we are a good team, and we're going to show you from now until the end of the season."

For Hughes' opposite number, Dick Campbell, victory keep his side one point clear of pre-season favourites Kilmarnock as the race for the title hots up.

"We've three points more than we had at three o'clock. I'm absolutely delighted," he beamed.

"What battling qualities they've got and they may well stand us in good stead. But, listen, we were at the top of the league at three o'clock, and we're at the top of the league at quarter-to-five, so let's see what's in front of us.

"We go to Inverness next week, we'll take a crowd with us again, and I'm just glad we gave them something to shout about.

"That's four times we've beat Dunfermline, and they're not an easy club to beat at any time. To beat them four times tells you how good Arbroath have been this year.

"I couldn't care less about the performance. I couldn't care less about the next eight performances. What I can do is I can count, and I'll be looking for points next Saturday."