Dunfermline 0 Rangers 0

Saturday, 13th Dec 1997

SPL:
Bert Paton and Dick Campbell put out a team that was never going to leak goals like the magnificent Ibrox disaster back in October.

This was not a game that Dunfermline were expected to win but had Andy Smith been allowed on to the park for more than the 50/50 half time draw the suspended top goalscorer could have been the difference between one and three Premier points.

Craig Robertson was moved from sweeper to central midfield/ first line of defence with Harry Curran and David Bingham on either side of him. Behind that a back five of Shields, Den Bieman, Barnett, Tod and McCulloch. Hamish appeared to be dropped and George Shaw and Stewart Petrie were up front

Dunfermline’s best chance came in the opening two minutes when Andy Tod just failed to score from a cross ball. It was not until 43rd minute until any side had a shot on target with Westwater stopping an Alex Clelland effort after the defender had created alot of space on the right.

The game was appropriately sponsored by a local firm of criminal defence lawyers and usually its the team of class players who require the Referee’s protection. On this occasion it was the reverse. David Bingham was taken out in quick succession by Sergio Porrini and Rino Gattuso with both men making remarkable escapes from the referee’s wrath.

Gordon Durie did pick up a yellow card for yet another foul on Bingham and he was the victim of what looked liked a referee’s conviction that the next Rangers foul was going to be bookable. Gattuso was yellow carded in the second half for further crime this time on Shields.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Rangers 0

Richard Gough was substituted at half time but it was up front that really mattered for the Champions. The Dunfermline defence weathered a barrage of efforts as Rangers played towards their own supporters. Ian Westwater saved the shots on target and got somehow to all the dangerous crossballs. Walter Smith later described his style as “unorthodox” but a number of Rangers efforts were also driven high or wide.

Shields and McCulloch must have been giving Walter Smith misgivings for having issued them P45s. Den Bieman and Barnett played really well.

A very good performance from the Pars who have never beaten Rangers in the Premier League in 22 outings but the important factor was in making sure that Rangers did not add to their 63 Premier goals against the Fifers.

DUNFERMLINE: Ian Westwater: Greg Shields, Scott McCulloch, Andy Tod, Dave Barnett, Harry Curran, Ivo Den Bieman, Craig Robertson, Stewart Petrie, David Bingham (Sergio Duarte), George Shaw (Allan Moore)
SUBS NOT USED:
YELLOW CARD: none

RANGERS: Theo Snelders: Stale Stensaas (Ian Durrant 83), Richard Gough (Gary Bollan 45), Joachim Bjorklund, Alex Cleland, Sergio Porrini, Rino Gattuso, Stuart McCall, Jonas Thern, Marco Negri, Gordon Durie
SUBS NOT USED: Barry Ferguson
YELLOW CARD: Durie, Gattuso

REFEREE: George Simpson (Westhill)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 12115

NEXT MATCH: Saturday 20th December 1997 (away) v Motherwell

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