Dunfermline: James McPake hopes Scottish Cup can boost league results

It was a case of 'job done' for the Pars as they advanced to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup against Edinburgh City on Saturday.

Dapo Mebude and Matty Todd got the goals that, despite Connor Young's last-gasp penalty in reply, saw them get the better of their League Two opponents - and boss, James McPake, hopes it can help them find results to push up the Championship table.

He felt that his side were in control against the part-timers at Meadowbank Stadium, where they picked up a third victory in four outings in all competitions.

In the league, however, Dunfermline are second bottom - two points behind eighth-placed Greenock Morton - and this Saturday host Hamilton Academical, who are two places and three points better off.

With the cup now taking a back seat until mid-January, focus turns back to trying to move away from danger in the league, and McPake, when asked if their result in the capital could help, replied: "It will certainly help, regardless of how you win a game. It's the most important thing in football.

"We won that, and I've been critical of that team at times, where I've come out and said we've not played well - last week, for example. I'll need to watch the game back to see how well we actually did play - sometimes it's hard to judge when you're playing against a team that has no real pressure on them.

"I've been here as a player, I've been here as a manager, where you're in this cup and it can be made tough, but I felt in complete control of that game.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler congratulates Matty Todd on netting Dunfermline's second goal. (Image: Craig Brown.) "Again, I'll need to see it back and see where we could have been better, or maybe I'm not seeing it right, but that win will help, just the fact we've got it. Wins are the biggest things in football.

READ MORE: Mebude's first Pars goal helps earn Scottish Cup fourth round spot

"It's a win, we're into the next round of the cup. We'll be feeling better about ourselves for that, and then we move on to a good game at home next week."

Whilst some neutral observers had looked upon this game as one for a potential upset - City sit fifth in the fourth tier - it was an afternoon when the Pars could have won by a greater margin.

Any nerves that may have been prevalent amongst the players and supporters were calmed just six minutes in when Mebude scored his first goal for the club - and since September 2021.

He was on hand to slide home from Josh Cooper's low cross, after he was found by a long pass from goalkeeper, Tobi Oluwayemi.

Dapo Mebude slides in the opening goal at Meadowbank Stadium. (Image: Craig Brown.) Dunfermline continued on the offensive and home goalkeeper, Mark Weir, saved a Cooper free-kick before producing a fine finger-tip stop, whilst backpedalling, to push an audacious Todd lob over the bar.

Weir then produced a fine block from a Mebude header, with Cooper firing the rebound over, as McPake's side threatened to move further clear before the break.

The fact they weren't offered hope to Edinburgh, who had attempts of their own, the best of which saw Oluwayemi produce an outstanding reflex save from Innes Lawson's far post header.

Athletic, though, did find a second goal with 18 minutes to go when Mebude moved forward and passed to Todd, who advanced towards the edge of the box, before sending a shot into the net via a deflection off a City defender.

Only a smart save from Weir denied substitute, Taylor Sutherland, and Dunfermline from bagging a third, before the visitors were made to sweat in the final moments of the game.

Kyle Benedictus was penalised for a foul on Ouzy See inside the box, with Young converting the spot-kick, but it came too late to deny the Pars a place in round four.

"It should have been more comfortable than it was. I said that to the players in there," McPake said.

"There have been games where we've lost and said we maybe should have won, with chances created. Today was another one of them. I think we had a lot of good chances.

"The goalie obviously has two really good saves - the one that he saves and Josh Cooper puts over the bar, and then the one from Matthew. It would have been a great goal.

City goalkeeper Mark Weir produced a fine stop from Matty Todd. (Image: Craig Brown.) "But we got ourselves in front early on, too early to say deservedly so, but then I think you get that second goal and we were in complete control of the game. I don’t think Tobi (Oluwayemi) had an awful lot to do.

"It’s a team two divisions below you, they’re going to throw everything at it. They get a penalty but there’s not enough time in it.

"In terms of that, job done. We’re in the draw for the next round."

He added: "For Dapo as well, it's great to see him get his first goal. Josh Cooper, another one that started today, setting it up as well, so it's great.

"Then it's how quickly can you go and get that second goal. We had the chances to get it but, apart from defending a few cross balls, a few set plays, we were never under real pressure.

"They had wee bits and pieces of the ball, probably in the middle third of the pitch, but I never felt under any real pressure that we were going to be breached in terms of them getting clear-cut chances, which never materialised.

"They obviously get the penalty. For a minute or so, you're nervous, and hoping that the referee blows the whistle, but, as I say, any time you come, no matter who you draw in a cup, or whoever you play in a game, they're going to create some sorts of chances.

"Today, the ones that Tobi had to deal with, outwith the penalty, were never going to trouble him."