Kelty Hearts: Dunfermline loss won't impact league start says boss

Michael Tidser's side entertain Montrose at New Central Park on the back of a narrow defeat to Dunfermline Athletic.

The Championship side recovered from Craig Johnston's early goal to progress in the Fife derby, but the 'Maroon Machine' are confident it won't derail their fine start to their league campaign.

After the first round of matches, the New Central Park outfit are proudly at the summit, one point clear of Stenhousemuir and Alloa Athletic, who play each other at Ochilview, and Queen of the South, who are fourth.

READ MORE: Kelty 'weren't as brave' in Dunfermline loss - Tidser

Montrose, who Kelty drew with at Links Park on the opening day of the campaign, are fifth, and just points off top spot in what is a division where just nine points separate the leaders from bottom side Dumbarton.

"No, definitely not," was Tidser's reply when asked if defeat to the Pars wouldn't detract from his team's start to the season.

"As I say, our bread and butter is the league. We've got off to a good start but, again, you can see how tight the league is. You're two defeats away from potentially sitting second bottom.

Michael Tidser said that the league is his team's bread and butter ahead of the visit of Montrose. (Image: David Wardle.)

"So for us, it's full focus this week, get all the boys back, the ones that maybe need a recovery, and then we go again next Saturday at home.

"I've not had a full squad since the start of the season. I know most managers will say that, but we're slowly getting there now. Myself, Scott Allan, Liam Brown, Luke McCarvel, Lewis Moore - we'll all come back, as well as the loan boys, Connor Allan.

"So, if we can get everybody back firing, I think we've got a decent enough squad to go and cause a few problems in our league."

Ahead of the trip to Dunfermline, Tidser had said it was an opportunity for his players to "show far we've come over the past 18 months", and stated his belief that they were "good enough to go and put in a performance".

He was beset with selection issues - he could only name four substitutes, missed two players due to being ineligible, and had several injury concerns - and Tidser acknowleged that didn't help their cause.

However, he felt he needed more, adding: "Listen, it's difficult for them as well, because as I said, they've not played, but, no, I needed a wee bit more from some of them.

"I did say that to them at half-time, and then full-time as well. If you want to come in and play in this team every week, because we're doing well in terms of league position and stuff like that, I need a wee bit more.

"I think a few of them maybe froze at spells, maybe making a wrong decision, but it's up to me to try and help them along the way.

"But, listen, as I said, if you said to me, you come here - I don't like getting beat, and again, it sounds like I'm not happy - but we're injury-free, boys have got minutes on their legs, and it's now bread and butter, which is the league for us."