ALLAN Johnston reckons Dunfermline have made a statement of intent ahead of the play-offs against Dundee United after dismantling poor Dumbarton with clinical ease.

United have been a bogey team for the Pars who have been on a 13-game winless run that stretched back to 2011.

However, Johnston feels his side have the momentum going into the post-season action with the first leg at East End Park on Tuesday night.

Johnston said: “I think we have the momentum. If you look at the second half of the season we’re playing strongly, not losing a lot of goals and we’re scoring a few so it sets up nicely for Tuesday night.

“Hopefully we can put in a really good performance and score a couple of goals.

“We’ve not had a good record against them but that’s all in the past.

“I’m sure the boys are all desperate for Tuesday and they will be full of energy.”

Dumbarton had Craig Barr sent off after nine minutes for taking out Andy Ryan and it was damage limitation after that.

Johnston said: “It was a solid performance. Inverness had been getting a lot of results recently so we knew it was important to get a result and I felt the boys were really professional.

“We controlled it from start to finish. Them having a man sent off always helps, but we were on top before that.

“It was good to score four goals and roll on Tuesday. There were some great goals and I thought Fraser Aird was magnificent.

“Ryan has been talking for weeks that he was going to score – and he said it again at half-time – so I was delighted for him.

“You could see his celebration and hopefully it’s the first of many.”

It was all too easy for Dunfermline who won by four and could have won by double that amount and special guest Sir Alex Ferguson no doubt approved.

Aird gave a glaring indication of what he can bring to the team when he is on form as he set up two goals and scored the third in a comfortable win.

He set up Kallum Higginbotham in 18 minutes with a cross from the left and the English winger thumped a volley past Jamie Ewings.

Then he did it again in 25 minutes as Higginbotham bent one in from the left and scored the third on the stroke of half-time.

Ryan Williamson grabbed his first goal for Dunfermline in 66 minutes when he took a pass from Joe Cardle and nearly ran out of the stadium with excitement.

Dumbarton boss Steve Aitken will appeal the Barr red card as he prepares to face Arbroath over two legs.

He said: “The sending off killed the game as a contest, for me it’s a coming together,

“I’m not saying it's not a free kick but it was 30 yards from goal and their player did not have control of the ball.

“The referee looked to his linesman but the linesman was 20 or 30 yards away so it tells me he’s not sure.

“I will be appealing it. It was a poor decision. We will lodge our appeal on Monday and see where it takes us.”

“The first plan for us was not to finish bottom of the league and then we hoped to try to reel in one of the full-time teams.

“We’re in the play-offs and we know we face a tough game against Arbroath but we’re the Championship side and the onus is on us to get through.”