Dunfermline: Joe Chalmers reacts to Forfar Athletic defeat

The experienced midfielder admitted that the Pars players had "let themselves down" during Tuesday's shock Premier Sports Cup, Group E defeat at home to Forfar Athletic.

The League Two side went home with a 2-0 victory which leaves both teams, alongside Livi and The Spartans, who Dunfermline defeated in their first outing on Saturday, all tied on three points.

A positive result in West Lothian looks likely to be required if Athletic are to try ensure progression into the last 16, but Chalmers knows they have produce a lot better than they did against the Loons.

"When a performance is as bad as that, you have to get things out there, and work out why it happens, and try and make sure that it doesn't happen again," he told Press Sport.

"Of course, with this cup, you do get upsets, but it doesn't mean you accept that.

"We weren't good enough. This was an opportunity. Me, personally, I love the cups, and to try and go through to the next round.

"Obviously, we can still do it, but we've made it difficult for ourselves. We're going to have to stand up, get the shoulders out, and stand up and be counted now.

"This is a young group and maybe some of them are looking up to us (senior players), and we need to stand up and lead by example.

READ MORE: Boss says Pars were 'nowhere near good enough' as Loons claim cup shock

"To be fair, the older boys we do have, we try and do that all the time.

"I'm not someone who runs about shouting at people. I try and lead in a different way, but always try and get on the ball and, on the pitch, try and bring a calmness.

"Bene (captain Kyle Benedictus) is someone who is more vocal, so he'll do more of that and leading that way.

"As senior boys, we need to keep the boys together and keep everybody up to their work, make sure they're training.

"Everybody knows we need to get ourselves playing better than that."

Looking ahead to the game at Livingston, where Dunfermline will open their Championship campaign in just over two weeks' time, Chalmers continued: "I suppose it's one of the good things about this cup, is that the games do come quickly, so you've got a chance in a few days to show a reaction.

"We need to be mentally strong and show that reaction, show people that we're up to the task, and we've got good players there.

"We need to be stronger, we need to do better, and I am confident we can turn that round, because it is a good group.

"There's no doubting there's a lot of good players there, but we need to be stronger, and stand up to things better when things aren't going our way.

"We need to find a way of getting a result, or doing something. We can't just go under and just start playing the easy ball, or take the easy way out.

"We need to keep going, take risks and try and get out of it that way.

"Be braver is probably the word."