JOHN Hughes is hoping that a packed East End Park can help Athletic “rise to the occasion” in another vital match in their bid to secure Championship safety.

Tomorrow (Friday) evening, they host Greenock Morton in a televised clash knowing that a win would – at least temporarily – lift them off the foot of the table.

The price of all seats has been slashed to just £5 by the club to encourage a large turnout to roar on the team, who had to settle for a point at third bottom Hamilton Academical on Saturday, despite twice leading the match.

Going into the weekend’s fixtures, Dunfermline are one point behind Queen of the South, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, and seven behind both Hamilton and Ayr.

The Pars have a game in hand on those clubs, at home to Partick Thistle on Tuesday evening, and the significance of the upcoming fixtures is not lost on Hughes.

“It was a fantastic incentive from the club in terms of every supporter for a fiver. It’s the start of the weekend, and hopefully this place can be rocking and we can get back to winning ways,” he said this week.

“I have to say, right from the chairman through to Mo (Hutton) the kitman, everybody at the club is so supportive in what we’re trying to do. Everybody’s playing their part. We’re all trying to stay positive and we’re in a no excuse environment.

“Hopefully this place can be absolutely rocking and, when it is like that, we rise to the occasion.

“We need to find a way to go and win football matches. As I’ve said in a number of interviews, I like the game to be played in a certain style, but if we nicked it 1-0 with a bit of luck, then we’ll take it, and if it’s like that from now to the end of the season.

“We all know where we are. We all know what’s required, and it’s winning football matches at this time of the year. If that could happen, that win could give us a bit of a lift and momentum.

“We’re not too far away; they’ve never been too far away since I’ve come into the club, but we’re not shying away from the fact that we’re under no illusions.

“It is what it is; to get out of it, you need to win games.”

Hughes, who said that it’s “not quite as easy” as playing an extra man up front to try and secure victories whilst ensuring the midfield is not overrun, was frustrated that goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk wasn’t awarded a foul at Hamilton’s first equaliser at the weekend.

But he praised his team’s character to respond by going in front with Steven Lawless’ penalty after half-time, even if he feels they need to manage games better from winning positions.

“There’s nothing to fear. We know if we’re on our day and we’re at it, we’re more than capable of going on a winning run,” he continued.

“It’s a case of bringing it all together and looking forward to it and embracing it. You know the challenge; it’s a wee bit of ‘I’m up for this’, and I think I’ve got the characters at this club that fancy that.

“The players that we’ve brought in have certainly helped us, there’s been a real competition for places, and we’ll keep doing that. I’ve not got that big enough ego that we think we know it all.

“I talk to my staff constantly. What do you think? Do you think we got that one right? We go back, we analyse it, what about this, would you have done that?

“We’ll keep making these decisions as long as they’re the best for the club from now until the end of the season.”

Tickets for the Morton game, which kicks off at 7.45pm, can be bought online at www.dafc.co.uk/matchtickets, and at the ground.

The Partick Thistle clash, also live on the BBC Scotland channel, will start at 7.05pm on Tuesday.