Dunfermline 1 Dundee 1

Saturday, 31st Oct 2009

Pars seek the trick and treat for Halloween fixture. Graham Bayne on the bench, Willie Gibson comes in. Harkins on the hour 0-1. Sub Graham Bayne 1-1 in 77.

Manager Jim McIntyre dropped stand in captain Graham Bayne to the bench preferring to start with Willie Gibson. Dundee fielded an unchanged eleven from that starting against Rangers in midweek.

Stand in captain, Alex Burke led the Pars out and it was the home team that kicked off through Kirk and Graham attacking the goal in front of the travelling support, possibly numbering 1500, in the CCW East Stand.

Dunfermline forced two early corners on the right and when the second wasn`t fully cleared Willie Gibson smashed in a cracking third minute shot that narrowly escaped outside the left goalpost. Nevertheless it was a strong and confident start from the home side.

Both sides sized each other up meaning it was 13th minute before another chance was created. Gibson was faced with two men in front of him as he tried to enter the right side of the Dundee box so chose the better option, a cut back to Greg Ross who gained ground towards the penalty box before releasing an angled shot from 20 yards that was deflected behind for a corner.

It was all Dunfermline as Joe Cardle involved Graham in reaching Kirk for an opportunity but his shot from eight yards blocked by a defender. In 17th minute Gibson pumped over another ball from the right. It looked too strong but Bell headed back into the central area and Dowie edged it to Graham whose header dropped just wide left.

One way traffic but could the Pars capitalise on all this pressure? Dundee won their first corner of the afternoon in 26 minutes but the home defence coped well. Gibson fired over another Pars corner this time from the left, that was defended as was Cardle`s return.

In 32 minutes there was a let off for the Pars when Jim Lauchlan`s free kick from the half way line was headed down on the edge of the box by Gary McKenzie into the path of Leigh Griffiths but the striker was unusually slow in reacting and Fleming was able to collect.

Another Gibson cross was intercepted in front of McGregor by Craig Forsyth and next a Woods cross from the left failed to do any damage as well. A Ross cross was nicely held by Tony Bullock as the interval approached then neat work between Burke and Graham kept up the pressure but not enough to produce a shot on target.

In the final minute of the first half Lauchlan turned a Woods cross behind for a corner but that was not to alter anything that had gone before.

In terms of possession, territorial advantage and corners Dunfermline were ahead on points but its goals that count and that meant that there was all to play for in the second 45.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Dundee 0

Austin McCann replaced Calum Woods fot the second half and within two minutes of the restart Dundee had forced a good save out of Fleming and for the first time in the game the travelling support broke out into song. Gibson almost put an end to that with a shot from 20 yards that maybe should have ended up under rather than over Bullock`s crossbar.

In 53 minutes Gibson`s acute angled shot tested Bullock and this time the Pars fans rallied behind their side. Come on ye Pars warmed up the North West Stand while the Norrie had a sweet melody about Dundee housing.

A 20 yard free kick for Dundee silenced the Pars folk for a minute but cheers greeted Griffiths pop over the five man wall and the crossbar. Dunfermline then had a free kick 30 yards out that Gibson fired on target but comfortably into the hands of Bullock.

It had all looked so positive for Dunfermline but Griffiths` deflected shot on the hour won Dundee a corner on the left.  Sean Higgins delivery from the left picked out Gary HARKINS and his header flew into the Pars net to break the deadlock.  Greg Ross turned a Higgins shot off the line as Dundee took a lift from the goal.

Steven Bell shot wide in 68 minutes but the dominance that Jim McIntyre`s side had enjoyed in the first half had ebbed. Griffiths was booked for diving when he could have done better had he stayed on his feet.  McCann crossed for Graham to get a head on but Bullock caught the aerial ball before Cardle could react.

Cardle sent a dangerous ball into the box but there was no one in a black and white shirt there to convert. Graham Bayne came on for Cardle and there were cries of `must be` as the ball rebounded around the Dundee but the eventual shot by Gibson was blocked.  Dundee made a substitution at a Dunfermline free kick and when Gibson sent that over BAYNE headed home.  Yet another inspired substitution.

David Graham made Bullock earn his corn with a wonderful 82nd minute save just when it looked as though the points might have all been coming to Fife.  Everyone thought Andy Kirk had sealed it when he swept the ball into the net in 87 minutes but the offside flag had been raised.

Dundee forced two corners as time ran out and Dunfermline tried hard too to find the goal that would separate the teams. That never came and the match ended all square with the home fans showing their appreciation for a really good game.  Possibly not taking chances in the first half cost Dunfermline a win..

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Fleming; Greg Ross, Neil McGregor, Andy Dowie, Calum Woods (Austin McCann HT); Willie Gibson; David Graham, Steven Bell, Alex Burke (c), Joe Cardle (Graham Bayne 75), Andy Kirk,
SUBS NOT USED: Graeme Holmes, Nick Phinn, Greg Paterson (GK)
SCORERS: Bayne (77)

DUNDEE: Tony Bullock; Eric Paton, Craig Forsyth, Gary McKenzie, Jim Lauchlan, Eddie Malone; Paul McHale, Brian Kerr, Gary Harkins (Richie Hart 90), Leigh Griffiths, Sean Higgins (Colin McMenamin).
SUBS NOT USED: Derek Soutar, Richie Hart, Pat Clarke, Chris Casement
SCORERS: Harkins (60)
YELLOW CARD: Forsyth (64), Griffiths (72)

REFEREE: Euan Norris
WEATHER: Bright 16°C
ATTENDANCE 4001

NEXT MATCH: (away) v Raith Rovers Admission Info
Saturday 7th November 2009, Kick Off 3.00pm

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Preview Dundee

Wednesday, 28th Oct 2009

The Pars have not recorded a home win over their Tayside opponents since the end of the 2004-05 season in the SPL.

The next visitors to East End Park are Jocky Scott`s Dundee. The Dees manager was in charge of Dunfermline from 1991-93 but now after replacing Alex Rae he is in his third period at the helm at Dundee and leading a title challenge.

The Pars lost out to a Gary Harkins penalty in the first meeting of the sides at Dens Park in September so this will be an opportunity for Jim McIntyre`s team to claw back some points on the leaguie leaders.

Pars v Dundee: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End Park	50	24	10	16	88	70
At Dens Park	51	12	13	26	59	102
TOTALS	101	36	23	42	147	172

History shows the Dundee have the upperhand on their West Fife opponents and although their away record in the fixture is not their best the Dark Blues are unbeaten in their last four visits to East End Park. The Pars have not recorded a home win over their opponents since the end of the 2004-05 season in the SPL.. 

Milestones Dundee (Home)
Last League Victory	07/05/05	5-0	SPL
Last League Defeat	08/11/09	0-1	First Division
Best League Victory	19/03/88	6-1	Prem Lg
Worst League Defeat	27/10/45	0-6	Div B*
*Pre league reconstruction

Out the last twelve matches between the teams, Dunfermline have won only two, Dundee six with four draws. Dunfermline have failed to score in the last six games against Dundee.

Last Twelve League Matches v Dundee
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
12/09/09	A	0-1	[0-1] Harkins (pen.)
31/03/09	H	1-1	[0-1] Malone, [1-1] Woods
03/01/09	A	0-1	[0-1] Paton
08/11/09	H	0-1	[0-1] Antoine-Curier
13/09/08	A	0-0
22/03/08	H	0-1	[0-1] Daquin
05/01/08	A	0-0
01/12/07	H	0-1	[0-1] McDonald
15/09/07	A	1-1	[1-0] Hamilton, [1-1] McDonald
07/05/05	H	5-0	[1-0] Derek Young, [2-0] Derek Young, [3-0]  McDonald og, [4-0]  Skerla, [5-0] Derek Young
09/04/05	A	1-2	[1-0] Darren Young, [1-1] Lovell (pen.), [1-2] Sancho
01/01/05	H	3-1	[1-0] Tod, [2-0] McNally (og), [2-1] Barrett,  [3-1] Tod

League Form 

Dunfermline	Dundee
Current League Position
7	1
League Points
14	22
Goal Difference
-1	+6
Last 6-Match League Form
LLWDDW	LWWDWW
Home/Away Record
P6, W3, D0, L3	P5, W1, D3, L1

The Pars are unbeaten in the last four league games and have won their last two at home.  Dundee have only won once on the road in this league season, at Morton in their last away game. 

Form last six league home / away
Dunfermline Home				Dundee Away
Morton	W	3-1		Morton	W	1-0
Ayr United	W	3-1		Ayr United	D	2-2
Queen of the South	L	1-4		Queen of the South	L	0-2
Raith Rovers	L	0-2		Airdrie United	D	1-1
Raith Rovers	W	3-1		Raith Rovers	D	2-2
Airdrie United	W	2-0

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE  (v Morton):  Greg Fleming; Greg Ross (Chris Higgins 80), Neil McGregor, Andy Dowie, Calum Woods; David Graham, Steven Bell, Alex Burke (Willie Gibson 59), Joe Cardle; Andy Kirk, Graham Bayne (c) (Nick Phinn 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Steven McDougall, Greg Paterson (GK)

DUNDEE (v Rangers): Tony Bullock; Eric Paton, Gary McKenzie, Jim Lauchlan, Eddie Malone; Paul McHale, Brian Kerr (Richie Hart 79), Gary Harkins, Craig Forsyth, Leigh Griffiths (Colin McMenamin 72), Sean Higgins (Pat Clarke 70)
SUBS NOT USED: Derek Soutar, Chris Casement

Referee will be Euan Norris.

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