Neil Lennon has urged Victor Wanyama and his teammates at Dunfermline Athletic to shake off pressure and deliver a focused performance as they prepare for a crucial clash against Airdrieonians.
Dunfermline Athletic coach Neil Lennon has called on Victor Wanyama and his teammates to let go of the tension and drama as they gear up for the second-last match of the season against Airdrieonians FC on Saturday, April 26, at East End Park.
Dunfermline Athletic have recorded mixed results under the tutelage of Neil Lennon, and as he looks to extend his stay with the club, he has urged them to give their all in their next match.
The first match under Neil Lennon was a bit disastrous, ending in a 3-0 defeat to Ayr United and a red card for Victor Wanyama, the latest signing.
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Dunfermline then won 1-0 in their match against Livingston before losing to Hamilton, 1-0, in their next match. The Pars oozed class as they beat Queen’s Park 1-0 before a goalless draw against Partick Thistle.
Neil Lennon rallying call to Victor Wanyama and Co ahead of next match
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Now, Neil Lennon wants the Pars to drop some of their shortcomings ahead of their clash against Airdrieonians FC.
The team is ninth in the Scottish Championship and is just coming from a 1-0 loss to Greenock Morton and they will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they lock horns with Dunfermline Athletic.
“With two games to go and a goal difference of 14, you know we're in a really strong position, and hopefully the pressure and the shackles are off everyone,” Neil Lennon said in an interview on Dunfermline Athletic’s YouTube Channel.
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“Yeah, it'll be good, but I'd like to see the back of the pitch as well, it's really difficult to play any sort of conducive football on that.
“So we look forward to next week, and hopefully the tension and the dramas are settled. Again, I'm looking for a clean sheet, but I'm looking for far more of a goal threat next week.”
Neil Lennon reaction to Pars draw against Partick Thistle
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The former Celtic FC coach added that he was unimpressed by how the players turned out for the game, revealing that they let a lot of chances slide.
He explained that the pitch has also largely contributed to their poor style of play, but insisted that they could have played better than they did.
He added that Dunfermline Athletic had better opportunities to score many goals in the second half, but they never capitalised on that. However, he was excited to have walked away with another clean sheet.
“Yeah, I'm really satisfied with the point, I'm not satisfied with the performance, you know we had plenty of territory, again the pitch isn't helping us at all, it's really difficult,” Neil Lennon revealed.
“The performance looked a little bit nervy at times in the game, which is understandable considering the situation.
“Now it looks like we're more and less safe so that lift a lot of tension and pressure around the club, but we have to play better you know.”
What to address going forward
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Neil Lennon lauded Toby Oluwayemi for the great saves but pointed out one issue that needed to be addressed ahead of their next match.
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“I’m not happy with how Partic managed to get into those positions, and that's something we'll have to look at, but it's the other end of the pitch that we didn't get hold of the ball well enough,” he said.
Neil Lennon admitted that his side struggled with the quality of their final balls, execution of passes, and set plays, though he noted some improvement in the second half, where they managed to create more chances.
He pointed out that David Wotherspoon had two clear opportunities and also praised Michael O'Halloran’s chance from a delivery by David.
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Lennon felt they looked more threatening after the break, but regretted not testing the opposing goalkeeper enough.
He added that there was a sense of nervousness and tension among the players, possibly due to the pressure of their current situation, but believed that the team had now shaken off that burden.
“Michael Howerin worked hard, it's not his usual position, but he gives us that pace and physicality and his work rate was good, and you know, considering he'd been out of the team for a long time, he made a solid contribution,” he added.
As Dunfermline Athletic prepare for their pivotal clash against Airdrieonians FC, Neil Lennon remains hopeful that with the pressure easing and lessons learned from recent performances, his side can rise to the occasion, deliver a sharper attacking display, and finish the season on a strong note.