Dunfermline: John Hughes reacts to Ayr United win

Dunfermline were trailing Ayr United with 11 minutes to go, thanks to Aaron Muirhead's first half penalty, and looked set to fall six points behind their opponents in the battle to avoid second bottom in the Championship and the play-offs.

READ MORE: Pars secure crucial Ayr comeback win

But Reece Cole's fine free-kick pulled them level before another player that was summoned from the bench, Nikolay Todorov, lashed in just his third league goal for the Pars - two of which have come against the Honest Men - to seal a remarkable comeback success.

With two games to go, the teams are neck-and-neck on 35 points; a goal difference of -15; and having scored 35 goals, and conceded 50.

John Hughes was delighted with his side's victory. Photo: Craig Brown.

Crucially, though, Athletic have moved above Ayr into eighth place courtesy of their head-to-head record, which would decide the final placings if they remain locked on the same points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded, having won two and drawn one of the four games played between the clubs.

The Pars are now also nine points clear of bottom side Queen of the South, who were beaten 5-1 at title challengers Arbroath, and who will be relegated if they fail to win their game in hand at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow.

There were joyous scenes around East End come the final whistle, with the majority of the 4,855 strong crowd delighted, which was in sharp contrast to when they headed up the tunnel a goal down at the break following a lacklustre first half display.

Hughes, though, was pleased with the spirit of his players, and was keen to praise the efforts of Cole and Todorov.

Speaking to the media post-match, he commented: "I have always said, nobody has been flung off the bus or the boat.

"It is all hands on deck; there is a good spirit and camaraderie amongst them and everybody has their part to play. Those two came on and got the goals so I’m absolutely delighted.

"The thing about it is big Toddy comes on and gets the winner there. He has been training very well, he never lets his head go down and he has been getting on with it. He is probably the first one to dig up a few if they are not trying to do it right.

"He has had to be patient because, if you have seen us over the last couple of months, there have been things we have done really good. It is horses for courses but they certainly played their part today.

"I have said in a number of interviews that we want to do it right, playing nice attractive football but, from now until the end of the season, if we win ugly we will take it. I think that was it.

"The game should have been out of sight in the first half. It looked like it affected us a little bit and we had Jakub (Stolarczyk) to thank for one or two saves. We had one off the line.

"Second half, it was a case of what do we have to lose, it was a case of going with a real quirky shape to get more bodies forward.

"Dan Pybus wasn’t playing centre half; he was playing more in front of Efe (Ambrose), picking up the second striker in a sort of pivot role. Efe dealt with it and then with Josh (Edwards) and Toddy on the sides of him, they are not centre halves in a five, but we wanted to give them licence to get forward as well.

"Anyway, second half, all credit to them. We made it tough for ourselves but I’m really pleased for them."

He added: "We will take it, it wasn’t the greatest. I think we got out of jail a bit but we showed plenty of character in the second half.

"We were the better team in the second half. We were on the front foot, they showed the character to do that, and we got our reward."

For Hughes' opposite number - and his former player while at Falkirk - Lee Bullen, it was a disappointing return to East End.

The popular 51-year-old (pictured below), who enjoyed a five-year spell as a Pars player under Jimmy Calderwood, which culminated in an appearance in the 2004 Scottish Cup final, took charge of Ayr at his old club for the first time since leaving Sheffield Wednesday for Somerset Park in January.

He admitted that, while he hopes both clubs will remain in the division next season, there was frustration that his team weren't departing with a vital victory.

"Absolutely gutted and angry, because, again, up to 79 minutes and I think that first goal, up to that point, were dominant," he said.

"We should've been three or four up. The opportunities we created and passed up but, ultimately, football can come back to haunt you if you don't take your opportunities, and that's exactly what happened, so you have to give credit to Dunfermline for that.

"They stuck in the game, they kept themselves in the game, and then they took their opportunities when they came. It was a stupid decision from our defender to give away the free-kick in the first place; it was going by him anyway, so I don't know why, but anyway, the goalie can maybe do a little bit better, and then we lose a goal from around your (Dunfermline's) box.

"So, two 20-yard shots and we end up losing the game 2-1, which were dominating for up to 80 minutes approximately. It's very frustrating.

"It's all in the melting pot now; we're just trying to keep it exciting for everybody! I wish I could say that with a straight face but, listen, ultimately, that game there, with 11 minutes to go, we've almost secured the Championship status. Now, listen, we've got a fight to fight, so let's see where we go. It should be fun and games anyway; it's always fun and games with big Yogi's teams anyway, so let's see where we go."

Bullen added: "Ultimately, from my point of view, my ideal scenario would be Dunfermline and Ayr United to stay up in this league. That's what I want.

"I've got a lot of good memories here, it's a fantastic football club, great supporters, but I would rather it's us that stayed up and you guys have to go through the play-offs! I apologise for that, but that's the way I would prefer."