Dunfermline 3 Partick Thistle 1

Saturday, 14th Nov 2009

IRN BRU First Division. McDougall 1-0 in 5th. Willie Gibson 2-0 after 40. Cairney 2-1 in 47. Gibson in 92 sealed 3-1 victory.

With Partick keeper Jonny Tuffey and Pars striker Andy Kirk both absent on international duty with Northern Ireland, the sides were understrength.  Jim McIntyre made  two changes to the team that started in Kirkcaldy the previous Saturday, Austin McCann replaced the injured Calum Woods and Steven McDougall came in for Kirk for what was just his third Dunfermline start.

Brian Hodge, Chris Erskine and Craig Hinchcliffe came into Ian McCall`s team meaning they had three changes from the eleven that defeated Morton the previous week.

There was a minute`s silence for former Pars goalkeeper and club doctor, Hugh Whyte who died on Monday before captain Alex Burke and Steven McDougall kicked off for the Pars. Former Kilmarnock player Jamie Adams produced the first shot of the afternoon but his effort from 25 yards was deflected off Neil McGregor for a corner.

Dunfermline hadn`t really had a chance to get near the Partick goal when after four minutes a John Robertson pass back to his keeper was too strong and to the keeper`s left. The needlessly conceded corner allowed Willie Gibson to aim for Steven Bell six yards out and Steven McDOUGALL latched on to the knock down to stick the ball in the net. For the stand in striker this was his first goal for the club.

Six minutes later Hinchcliffe dived to his left to hold a Burke shot from 30 yards and next Graham Bayne had a go but again the all red kitted stopper gathered.  Thistle forced a few corners but in 20 minutes again it was the home side who threatened. Bayne switched the ball wide right for McDougall and his pass picked out Bell on the edge of the visitors box. Squeezed out he slipped the ball to David Graham but his shot was blocked.

Adams was booked in 26 minutes after chopping down Gibson and just four minutes later the same player escaped a second when he crudely fouled Bayne. Thistle looked dangerous on the break but still it was Gibson`s crosses coupled with a less than confident looking keeper that kept up hopes of more goals.

Bayne`s snap shot from a McDougall cut back was stopped by the feet of Maxwell and then McDougall`s cross from the right was touched away by Hinchcliffe. Just five minutes short of the break however Dunfermline got the second goal that they deserved.  Willie GIBSON ran on to a big ball headed out of defence by McGregor and with both Archibald and Maxwell homing in on him he chipped the keeper from 16 yards.

The Pars finished the half strongly with Graham running on to a great ball from McDougall to cut back for Bell who in turn slipped the ball right for Ross to come close. Nevertheless 2-0 at half time the Pars were applauded off.

Half Time: Dunfermline 2 Partick Thistle 0

Within the first minute after the restart Bayne had two chances, a block on a Hinchcliffe clearance and then a header from a McDougall cross. But the next goal came at the other end when after just 90 seconds Paul CAIRNEY latched on to some loose defending 25 yards out to fire past Fleming at his right hand post.

Two Pars corners in 58 minutes roused the McCathie Stand but the best chance was a lob from wide left that Hinchcliffe held on his line.  The Pars first substitution of the afternoon was made on the hour when Graeme Holmes came on for Alex Burke. Six minutes later Nick Phinn replaced Steven McDougall.

On 70 minutes Holmes saw his powerful shot blocked then Graham ran at the opposing defence to win a corner from his deflected shot. Two minutes later the home support`s celebration of a David Graham `goal` when put through by Phinn was short lived as an offside decision went against him.

At the other end Mark Corcoran sent a good opportunity outside the right goalpost and then there was an even greater let off for the Pars as a Greg Fleming kick out was driven straight at Liam Buchanan on the edge of the box.  The keeper redeemed himself blocking Buchanan`s effort and Dowie swept the ball away.

Thistle piled on the pressure with a couple of corners finishing with sub Hodges striking a firm shot wide left.  Hinchcliffe stopped a Graham shot and a Bayne cross was headed behind from under his crossbar by Paul Paton.  A Gibson piledriver was deflected behind after Graham had beaten his man on the left to cross a dangerous ball.

The East End crowd were roaring for another Pars goal and that was duly obliged albiet two minutes into added time.  GIBSON again did the damage accepting the chance to drive the ball beyond Hinchcliffe.

The win took Dunfermline above Raith Rovers on goal difference, thanks to Morton`s shooting successes (5-0) but Inverness won to stay above Dunfermline.

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Fleming; Greg Ross, Neil McGregor, Andy Dowie, Austin McCann; Willie Gibson, Steven Bell, Alex Burke (c)(Graeme Holmes 60), David Graham; Steven McDougall (Nick Phinn 66), Graham Bayne.
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Willis, Chris Higgins, Greg Paterson (GK).
SCORERS: McDougall (5), Gibson (40, 90+2)
YELLOW CARD: McGregor (23), Ross (60)

PARTICK THISTLE: Craig Hinchcliffe; Paul Paton, John Robertson, Alan Archibald, Ian Maxwell; Paul Cairney, Simon Donnelly (Steve Lovell 66), David Rowson (Chris Erskine 78), Jamie Adams (Bryan Hodge 66); Liam Buchanan, Mark Corcoran.
SUBS NOT USED: Martyn Corrigan, Ryan Scully (GK)
SCORERS: Cairney (47)
YELLOW CARD: Adams (26), Rowson (38), Maxwell (53).

REFEREE: Mike Tumilty
WEATHER: Dry 9°C
ATTENDANCE 3111

NEXT MATCH: (away) First Division v Queen of the South
Saturday 21st November 2009, kick off 3.00pm

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Preview Partick Thistle

Wednesday, 11th Nov 2009

The last twelve league games have seen Dunfermline win six, draw two and lose four.

Dunfermline v Thistle: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	For	Agst
At East End Park	36	18	12	6	66	49
At Firhill	35	12	8	16	40	57
Division One (up to 1975)	45	18	14	13	77	72
Premier Division (since 1975)	6	3	1	2	8	10
First Division (since 1975)	20	9	5	6	21	24
TOTALS	71	30	20	21	106	106

Dunfermline have an edge on the history in league competition against Partick Thistle but are level on league goals after the 71 previous meetings.

Partick Home Milestones

The league defeat at East End Park in March this year was the first by Thistle for over 26 years. The 10-1 win in 1959 is one of the club`s most famous victories, as it prevented almost certain relegation.

Milestones Partick (home)
Last League Victory	18/10/08	1-0	SPL
Last League Defeat	14/03/09	0-1	First Div
Best League Victory	18/04/59	10-1	Div One*
Worst League Defeat	07/01/28	1-7	Div One*
*Pre league reconstruction

Last Twelve League matches
The last twelve league games have seen Dunfermline win six, draw two and lose four. The Pars last won when Rory Loy netted from the spot at Firhill to win the game 3-2  The Pars have failed to score in the last two games.

Last Twelve League Matches v Partick Thistle
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
19/09/09	A	0-2	[0-1] Cairney, [0-2] Donnelly
14/03/09	H	0-1	[0-1] Harkins
14/02/09	A	3-2	[0-1] Buchanan, [1-1] Bell, [2-1] Kirk, [2-2] Doolan, [3-2] Loy (pen)
18/10/08	H	1-0	[1-0] Kirk
02/08/08	A	0-1	[0-1] McKeown
05/04/08	A	1-0	[1-0] Crawford
16/02/08	H	1-1	[1-0] Crawford, [1-1] McKeown
15/12/07	A	1-1	[1-0] Burchill, [1-1] Buchanan
29/09/07	H	1-0	[1-0] Burchill
20/03/04	H	1-0	[1-0] Darren Young
27/12/03	A	1-4	[0-1] Thompson, [0-2] Grady (pen), [1-2] Brewster, [1-3] Ross, [1-4] Grady
27/09/03	H	2-1	[0-1] Grady, [1-1] Crawford, [1-2] Crawford

Recent Form

Dunfermline	Partick Thistle
Current League Position
7	4
Last Six Matches League Form
WLLWWD	LDWLDW
League Points
18	24
Goal Difference
0	+3
Home/Away Record
P7, W3, D1, L3	P6, W3, D1, L2

Dunfermline have now gone six league games undefeated while Thistle have won three out of six on the road this season.

Recent  Home / Away Form
Dunfermline Home				Partick Thistle Away
Dundee	D	1-1		Morton	W	3-2
Ayr United	W	3-1		Ross County	D	2-2
Queen of the South	L	1-4		Dundee	L	0-2
Raith Rovers	L	0-2		Inverness CT	W	3-2
Raith Rovers	W	3-1		Raith Rovers	D	1-1
Airdrie United	W	2-0		Ayr United	D	1-1

Teams last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Raith Rovers): Greg Fleming; Greg Ross (Austin McCann 84), Neil McGregor, Andy Dowie, Calum Woods; Willie Gibson, Steven Bell, Alex Burke (c) (Nick Phinn,  87), David Graham, Graham Bayne, Andy Kirk (Graeme Holmes 71)
SUBS NOT USED: Steven McDougall, Greg Paterson (GK).
SCORERS: Bayne (55) Graham (90).

PARTICK THISTLE (v Morton): Jonny Tuffey; Alan Archibald, Ian Maxwell, John Robertson, Simon Donnelly, David Rowson, Bryan Hodge (Jamie Adams 46), Paul Paton, Liam Buchanan (Steve Lovell 65), Paul Cairney, Chris Erskine (Mark Corcoran 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Hinchcliffe, Martyn Corrigan

Referee will be Mike Tumilty.

Come on ye Pars!

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