Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 0

Sunday, 20th Aug 2006

Goalless draw at Tannadice after Burchill misses penalty and two more sustain injury.

Jim Leishman went with the same eleven that faced Rangers last Sunday with the welcome return to the bench after injury of DarrenYoung and Aaron Labonte. Craig Brewster brought in former Par Noel Hunt since Lee Miller was suspended and David Proctor replaced Lee Mair.

Dundee United kicked off towards the sparsely populated Shed end and forced a corner on the right after only 40 seconds when Souleymane Bamba blocked out Collin Samuel`s cross. When Barry Robson sent over an inswinger Roddy McKenzie`s first involvement was an easy clutch in the centre of his area.

In 6th minute Stephen Simmons and Alan Archibald clashed. Referee Mike Tumilty immediately stopped play, Simmons lay face down and required treatment while the United player went off to be stitched up. Both teams were temporarily down to ten men as Simmons too went off to receive a stitch as well.

Two minutes later a Robson free kick slipped through the Dunfermline defence causing McKenzie to save a Samuel effort from 7 yards. Simmons and Archibald returned on 13 minutes when Scott Wilson received a yellow card when Noel Hunt fell over the defenders outstretched leg. From the free kick Christian Kalvenes was allowed a volley on the right side but fortunately the defence shut out his attempt from 8 yards.

Things had been favouring United but in 18th minute Dunfermline were awarded a penalty as Archibald got the finest of touches on Mark Burchill as he went away from goal on the right side of the United penalty box. Burchy pick himself and the ball up and took the spot kick. Derek Stillie went to his right, the ball went to his left but broke out off the outside of the right post.

Simmons had to leave the field as it was clear his earlier injury was affecting him so Darren Young came on for his frst involvement at any level in the 2006-07 season. It was Bamba to the rescue though as Roddy McKenzie`s punch on a looping Barry Robson header went back towards goal but the long black legs were there to blast the ball clear.

Bamba was on the ball sending an overhead kick from 14 yards over the crossbar at Dunfermline`s first corner of the match in 31st minute. At the other end a Wilson slip let in Samuel to cut back from the left and well placed, Stuart Duff blasted his 20 yard shot high and left.

In 38th minute both Darren Young and Phil McGuire were yellow carded, Young for dissent and McGuire for his challenge. An injury to Scott Muirhead meant Aaron Labonte came on as sub and the Pars injury worries continued to grow. In time added on at the end of the half there were United appeals for a penalty as both their attackers tumbled as the ball came into the box.

Half Time: Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 0

The second half was six minutes old before any goalmouth incident and when Duff advanced down the right to flash the ball low into the six yard box McKenzie was down well to save. Play continued around McKenzie with having to block out a Hunt effort from close in and then Scott Wilson putting in a tremendous tackle three yards out to deny Kalvenes of a certainty in 54th minute.

Labonte headed away a Duff free kick and then had to concede a corner when Samuel tried to round him. The home support rallied and their mood certainly expectant but the Pars held out resolutely. Wilson deflected a Mark Kerr shot for a 59th minute corner that Robson took short and fired high and left.

The 63rd minute brought the Pars first effort of the second half when Young was on the end of a McCunnie sweep into the far left of the box but Stillie had an easy job to gather the header. Further worries came when Mason brought down Hunt on the edge of the Pars penalty box but Robson`s lofty ball into the danger area was too big and Dunfermline could move up the park again.

The Pars had successfully taken the sting out of United`s second half push. Bamba had a run right into the opposition penalty box that Stillie stopped and Burchill and Mason fed in crosses that unfortunately the defence won. Mason`s 76th minute clearance was latched on to by Burchill and he drove a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Six minutes from time Stillie clutched a Burchill cross from deep left as McCunnie closed in at the far post. United through on two subs with Duff an Cameron being replaced by Robb and Conway. An 88th minute free kick for Young`s challenge on Samuel almost snatched the winner but Roddy McKenzie was well over to spectacularly tip Barry Robson`s 30 yarder round his post. Robb excited the home support beating two players on the left and flashing a shot through the Pars six yard box. No score at the end and probably a fair outcome.

There was a fine performance from the Fifers defence with McGuire again a star; Darren Young`s arrival in midfield certainly gave them more options but the inability to create chances in addition to the woodwork prevented any more than one point from this visit to Dundee.

DUNDEE_UNITED: Derek Stillie; David Proctor, David McCracken, Alan Archibald, Christian Kalvenes; Stuart Duff 9Steven Robb 85), Mark Kerr, Greg Cameron (Craig Conway85), Barry Robson, Noel Hunt, Collin Samuel
SUBS NOT USED: Garry Kenneth, Ross Gardiner, William Easton, David Robertson, Euan McLean (GK)

DUNFERMLINE: Roddy McKenzie, Scott Wilson, Phil McGuire, Soulemayne Bamba; Calum Woods; Stephen Simmons (Darren Young 25), Jamie McCunnie (Owen Morrison 88), Gary Mason, Scott Muirhead (Aaron Labonte 42); Andy Tod (c), Mark Burchill
SUBS NOT USED: Greg Ross, Craig Wilson, Calum Smith, Dorus de Vries (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Woods (10), Wilson (13), Young (38), McGuire (38)

REFEREE: Mike Tumilty
WEATHER: Sunny 19°C
ATTENDANCE 6171

NEXT MATCH: CIS Insurance Cup v Ayr United (away) 7.45pm kick off Tuesday 22nd August

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Preview Dundee United

Wednesday, 16th Aug 2006

For years Tannadice was one of those grounds that Dunfermline couldn`t win at for love nor money but suddenly it became a place for celebration.

It`s certainly a tough old start for Dunfermline for after two home matches against Hearts and Rangers with an away day at Falkirk sandwiched in between, there are now two important matches in the north east to come next.  Craig Brewster will want to welcome his old pals and since the only club that United have beaten at home since he took over the management, is now in the First Division, he will certainly being wishing there was such a thing as an `old pals act`.  No chance - Dunfermline as has been their wont when going to Tannadice of late are needing points!

Premier League v Dundee Utd (Away)
Pld	W	D	L	F	A
26	5	7	14	24	38

Tannadice is one of the more pleasant away grounds to visit.  Pars supporters are accommodated in the South West of the stadium and there is always a good atmosphere.  A repeat of last May`s 1-0 win would satisfy all Pars fans but in Premier League contests at Tannadice Dunfermline`s record is not good.  United have come out on top in more than half the 26 meetings although the Fifers have won three of  their last four visits there.  

Milestones Dundee Utd (Away)
Last League Victory	02/05/06	1-0	SPL
Last League Defeat	20/12/05	1-2	SPL
Best League Victory	29/01/66 22/08/62 28/02/48	4-0	Div 1* Div 1* Div B*
Worst League Defeat	29/04/61	0-5	Div 1*
*Pre league reconstruction

Jubilation in May as Freddie stikes

Over the past twelve matches between Dunfermline and United, the Pars have won five, lost three with four games ending all square but the Tannadice form is not so good - just five wins from the 26 SPL matches there.

Last Twelve League Matches v Dundee United
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers

02/05/06	A	1-0	[1-0] Daquin
25/02/06	H	1-1	[0-1] Kenneth, [1-1] Burchill
20/12/05	A	1-2	[1-0] Samuel, [1-1] Wilson, [1-2] Robson
24/09/05	H	2-1	[0-1] McCracken, [1-1] Tod, [2-1] Ross
15/05/05	A	1-0	[1-0] Mason
22/01/05	H	1-1	[1-0] Christiansen, [1-1] Crawford
30/10/04	A	2-1	[0-1] Wilson (pen), [1-1] Tod, [2-1] Darren Young
07/08/04	H	1-1	[1-0] Tod [1-1]
11/05/04	A	2-3	[0-1] Miller, [0-2] Innes, [0-3] Scotland, [1-3] Bullen, [2-3] Crawford
17/04/04	H	1-1	[1-0] Shields, [1-1] McCracken
31/01/04	A	0-1	[0-1] Innes
01/11/03	H	2-0	[1-0] Thomson, [2-0] Mehmet

For years Tannadice was one of those grounds that Dunfermline couldn`t win at for love nor money but suddenly it became a place for celebration.

That started with the famous First Division `title decider` in 1996, and was followed with similar emotion when Jim Leishman`s side secured their SPL status at the same ground in 2005.  Then at the end of last season a cracking Freddie Daquin goal gave Dunfermline hopes (false as it turned out) that they could finish ninth in the league.  So Tannadice won`t be a problem for the players, and although United had a good result at Ibrox, followed by as draw for their ten men at Kilmarnock, Brew still has his work cut out to get United on track.

Recent Form
Dundee United Home	L Falkirk 1-2	L Dunfermline Athletic 0-1	L Falkirk 0-2	L Rangers 1-4	D Kilmarnock 2-2
Dunfermline Away	L Falkirk 0-1	W Dundee United 1-0	W Motherwell 3-2	D Falkirk 0-0	L Hearts 0-4

United last time out versus Kilmarnock: Derek Stillie; Christian Kalvenes,  David McCracken, Lee Mair, Stuart Duff (Noel Hunt 46), Alan Archibald, Greg Cameron, Barry Robson, Lee Miller (sent off 39)  Collin Samuel, (David Proctor 77)
Subs not used: Euan McLean, Steven Robb, Craig Conway, Garry Kenneth, David Robertson

Referee will be Mike Tumilty. He`s a new kid on the block but he was in charge of the Pre Season friendly against Carlisle on 22nd July this year and could not be faulted.

The match is NOT all ticket.  Pay at the gate admission prices are:
Lower Tier - £19 for adults, £9 for concessions.
Upper Tiers: £21 adults and £11 concessions

Come on ye Pars!

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