Dunfermline 0 Hearts 0

Saturday, 2nd Jan 1999

SPL:
Dunfermline now lie four points adrift at the foot of the Premier League

Pars fans streamed to East End Park for the New Year Derby game against the Jambos. David Graham started the match and Andy Tod returned after suspension. Edinho’s contribution was limited to eight fading minutes and new signing Billy McDonald was given all of two minutes to make an impression.

Hamilton and Jenkinson had chances for Hearts in the opening quarter and Dunfermline failed to pose a threat on the Hearts goal Then after 31 minutes a George Shaw header brought a save out of McKenzie in the Hearts goal and on 40 minutes David Graham had his shot saved by the Hearts no.2 keeper

Dunfermline 0 Hearts 0

After the interval Andy Tod hit the crossbar from a Stewart Petrie corner but no one could convert with the follow up. Dunfermline had their best spell of pressure in several matches after that but failed to capitalize. The match then swung to Hearts and there was a fear of a Tynecastle repeat with a late goal. But Hearts were just as poor as Dunfermline in search of goal and the game fizzled out to the goalless draw that was predictable from early on.

Both sets of fans booed the final whistle Hearts had all the excuses without the suspended David Weir and Gilles Rousset, and without injured Cameron, Adam, Naysmith, Salvatori and Ritchie. Dunfermline had only themselves to blame with too many misplaced passes.

Dunfermline now lie four points adrift at the foot of the Premier League. This is not the kind of “first foot” that is welcome. Ten league victories in 58 outings since the start of the 1997-98 season is simply not good enough The winter break means that the next league match is not for four weeks. Dundee United next followed by Rangers and Kilmarnock First Division football is a distinct possibility unless things change.

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Butler: Richard Huxford, Andy Tod, Greg Shields, Scott McCulloch: George Shaw, Andy Smith, Hamish French, Stewart Petrie: Gerry Britton (Edinho 82), David Graham (Billy McDonald 88).
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Templeman, Chris Martin, Ian Westwater (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Petrie (55)

HEARTS: Roddy McKenzie: Rab McKinnon, Steven Pressley, David Murie, Dave McPherson, Stevie Fulton, Thomas Flogel, Gary Locke, Leigh Jenkinson (Gary McSwegan 88), Jim Hamilton, Derek Lilley
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie Horn, Derek Holmes, Jose Quitongo, Myles Hogarth

REFEREE: George Simpson (Westhill)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 9227

NEXT MATCH: v Dundee United (away) Saturday 30th January 1999

League position: 10th and bottom four points below Dundee United


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