ATHLETIC boss James McPake said that there are areas of his side where they will struggle to deal with injuries after watching two players go off on Saturday.
And he said that he felt for the club's supporters after they saw their favourites lose their Championship opener at Livingston, but couldn't fault the application of his players, who he said are "giving absolutely everything".
Dunfermline headed to West Lothian on the back of three successive defeats in the Premier Sports Cup - one of which was at Livi - that saw them exit the competition at the group stage.
The depth of the Pars squad has concerned a number of fans going into the league campaign, and that was not helped when Kieran Ngwenya had to go off in the first half due to a groin problem, with Sam Fisher following after the break with a facial injury.
READ MORE: Pars players are 'giving absolutely everything' says boss after Livi defeat
"That’s football. Injuries happen, we know that, and the real hope is you don’t get [injuries to key players]," McPake said.
"Matty Todd is a massive player for us. Everybody knows that, every Dunfermline fan knows that, and every other team knows that.
"Chris Kane is the same, and he will be back for next week.
"There’s certain areas in the pitch where we can cope with injuries and there’s certain areas where we can’t, which is not great.
"I come out and say all the time there’s frailties in the squad. It’s there, it’s plain.
"It’s not an excuse. We lost the game because we conceded two poor goals, but I feel for the fans. You see them all there and they’re desperate to see the team win, they’re desperate to see the team perform, and, to be fair to the players, I think they’re giving absolutely everything.
"Look at Aaron Comrie, where he plays and what he does. Chris Hamilton, where he plays and what he does.
"I can’t ask for a single ounce of more effort from them."
The sizeable contingent that travelled to cheer on Dunfermline at the Home of the Set Fare Arena may have done so more in hope than expectation, but they saw an opening 45 minutes that provided encouragement.
They carried more of an attacking threat, spearheaded by Taylor Sutherland and Lewis McCann, with the latter forcing Shamal George into an unconvincing stop early on, with the former unfortunate not turn the loose ball on target.
The home goalkeeper then comfortably saved a low shot from range from McCann before Aaron Comrie fashioned the visitors' best opportunity.
After latching on to a loose ball just inside his own half, the full back burst forward, sending the ball wide for McCann.
Comrie continued his run into the penalty area, where he was found by his team-mate, but sent the ball over the bar.
At the other end, Deniz Mehmet comfortably held an Andrew Shinnie header, and produced a good stop from Stephen Kelly's free-kick, before Rhys Breen - on for Ngwenya - fired a drive for goal that George saved smartly.
There were positives for the Pars to take into half-time but, when the teams re-emerged, it was a different ball game.
A period of pressure from the Lions from the start of the second period was rewarded when Scott Pittman, on the turn, lashed high into the roof of the net from eight yards after seizing on a ball played across the penalty area.
From then on, Livingston took control and, with just under 20 minutes to go, wrapped up the points with a second goal.
Lewis Smith was played in behind the Pars defence and ran into the box, where he laid it on for Kelly to fire home.
Chris Hamilton was unfortunate to head over from a Kane Ritchie-Hosler cross, as they didn't give up, but not even a penalty award in the dying seconds would provide consolation.
After McCann was felled by Ryan McGowan, David Wotherspoon took the kick, but crashed it off the woodwork, which McPake felt "summed up our day".
"I thought first half we competed well. We had the better of the game in the first half, but you don't get anything for 45 minutes," he said.
"I think we were doing our job in terms of everything they threw at us in the first half.
"We knew the way they were going, and they're decent there. They ask you questions, as we saw later on in the game, but first half, I thought the shape of the team was good.
"Obviously you lose Kieran Ngwenya, which is a massive for us. When he goes off, it changes the full dynamics of the team by moving people about, but I can't question those lads for what they're doing for us.
"They're giving absolutely everything, everything for every fan that came down as well.
"I hope the fans can see that. I'm sure they can because they work their socks off and, just at the minute, we need to ask them to work."
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