PARS 0-2 Forfar Athletic, Premier Sports Cup, Group E
JAMES MCPAKE has said there were "honest and harsh words" exchanged in the Pars changing room after they crashed to a shock Premier Sports Cup loss to Forfar Athletic.
Russell McLean's close-range opener, after 28 minutes, gave Ray McKinnon's visitors a surprise lead, which Mark Whatley added to early in the second half to stun KDM Group East End Park.
Dunfermline had been looking to build on Saturday's opening success at The Spartans, but trooped off to the sound of frustration from the stands after being humbled by their League Two opponents.
A disappointed McPake said: "There were some honest and harsh words said in the dressing room. I’m never going to say what was said but it certainly wasn’t pleasant.
"We were nowhere near good enough. Senior experienced players let the younger ones down, and we all need to collectively look at that performance.
"Forfar made it hard for us. They were well set up and sat in that deep block, but when they had the ball they were better than us. They caused us more of a threat.
"The first shot we had that worked their goalkeeper was on 45 minutes and that’s unacceptable.
"I think people could tell I wasn’t overly pleased with the performance on Saturday, and that [tonight] was the reason why.
"When you get a performance like that, it’s obviously a concern. Performance levels are a concern, and the mistakes, and getting outfought as well.
"You can have bad days where your team’s not good enough or the other team frustrates you, but we got bullied tonight - and I’ve never said that about this team."
There were two changes to the home side's starting line-up from the one that saw The Spartans off with a three-goal victory in Saturday's Group E opener.
Taylor Sutherland, who netted the third within moments of coming on as a substitute, was rewarded with a place in the eleven, whilst captain, Kyle Benedictus, returned from illness in defence.
Joe Chalmers dropped out of the side, onto the bench, as did Rhys Breen, who was not in the match day squad.
Chris Kane, who got his first minutes of the season as a second half substitute at Ainslie Park, was also not involved for the Pars, who were hoping to consolidate their place at the top of the section before Saturday's visit to Livingston.
Last season's bottom side in the Premiership, who host Dunfermline on the opening weekend of the Championship in 18 days time, were 2-0 winners against Forfar on Saturday, but were inactive this evening, as Cove Rangers began their fixtures at home to The Spartans.
David Wotherspoon was first to threaten, sending a curling shot wide from the edge of the Loons box, after which Benedictus headed for goal, with Marc McCallum catching, from the ex-St Johnstone man's corner.
Lewis McCann could only turn the ball wide of the near post, under pressure from visiting defenders, from a Wotherspoon delivery before the hosts fashioned a good chance midway through the half.
Kane Ritchie-Hosler led them upfield, playing the ball in to Sutherland, who spotted the run of team-mate Ewan Otoo to his left.
The ball was played into his path, but the versatile midfielder's shot across goal failed to trouble the target.
Then, in the 28th minute, McPake's side suffered a shock as Forfar took the lead.
Nathan Cannon, on the right, showed great skill to go beyond Otoo and fire over a cross, which Deniz Mehmet came for but couldn't connect with.
Mitchell Taylor hammered the ball back towards goal, with the keeper blocking, before he got down again to deny Blair Malcolm, but was powerless to prevent McLean lashing home the third attempt from around six yards.
Dunfermline, towards the end of the half, tried to get back into it, and twice came close before the interval.
Patient play saw them work the ball wide for Ritchie-Hosler in space, whose cross was volleyed over by Aaron Comrie from 12 yards, before McCallum got a strong hand to deny McCann, after Comrie had picked him out with a deft backheel inside the box.
Benedictus had a great chance to equalise early in the second half, heading a superb Wotherspoon free-kick from the right wide from eight yards, and it proved costly as the Loons stunned the Pars with a second goal.
A pass out from the back by Mehmet was intercepted by Malcolm midway inside the Dunfermline half, and after playing it on for a team-mate, he played it through for Whatley, who found the net from inside the penalty area.
Sutherland, with an effort deflected into the arms of McCallum, and Otoo, who fired wide from distance, tried to react for the hosts, who made a triple substitution in the 65th minute, sending Chalmers, Andrew Tod and Michael O'Halloran on for Chris Hamilton, Otoo and McCann.
They still, however, struggled to create, with Wotherspoon firing a free-kick over the bar, and a Ritchie-Hosler drive that was well saved by McCallum at his near post, as close as they came before Forfar claimed a surprise three points.
Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Benedictus, Fisher, Ngwenya, Hamilton (Chalmers 65), Otoo (Tod 65), Ritchie-Hosler, Wotherspoon, McCann (O'Halloran 65), T. Sutherland.
Subs not used: Young, Hoggan, McLeod, Rowe.
Booked: Sutherland (90).
Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Klimionek, Morrison, Allan, Hutchison, MacLean (Skelly 67), Malcolm, Whatley, McLean, Taylor, Cannon (Reekie 78).
Subs not used: Inglis, Paris.
Booked: Malcolm (26), Morrison (74), McLean (89) Goals: McLean (28), Whatley (52).
Referee: Colin Whyte.
Attendance: 1,358.
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