St Johnstone 0 Dunfermline 1

Saturday, 13th Aug 2011

SPL from McDiarmid Park, Perth. Andy Dowie for Andy Barrowman. Kirk (31) 0-1. Potter red card (61). Gallacher penalty save (61).

MATCH PICTURES
Jim McIntyre made one change from the same eleven that started the previous Saturday against Inverness Caley Thistle - Andy Dowie for Andy Barrowman.  St Johnstone made three changes - Liam Craig, David McCracken and Carl Finnigan coming into the side that lost 2-0 to Rangers.

The hosts kicked off and within two minutes Cillian Sheridan got in a low drive at Gallacher from the edge of the box. The Pars first attempt was from a Joe Cardle free kick but Andy Kirk`s header sent the ball wide. An eighth minute free kick from Liam Craig on the right was directed past Gallacher by Finnigan but since he used a hand instead of his head he earned a yellow card.

St Johnstone had more of the ball getting it down and using Murray Davidson but Cardle intercepted the ball to Mackay. An overstruck passback handed a 14th minute corner on the left but Mackay`s cross was headed clear by Dowie. Next a Cardle run lifted the travelling supports hopes. He picked out Hardie on the far side, Thomson ran wide stretching the defence but Hardie`s cross met no takers.

Back at the other end a corner from the right was headed forceably on target by David McCracken but Paul Gallacher beat the ball away. The Pars took the ball back upfield with Paul Burns sending a diagonal cross into the box but again no Dunfermline player on the end of it. On 24 minutes Cardle delivered another great ball from his right foot but keeper Peter Enckelman held.

Five minutes later a Mackay throw in from the right corner flag was picked out by Finnigan and he spun and shot narrowly wide and high but it was a good chance. Craig turned Burns shot behind for a corner on the right and Cardle took it short accepting the ball back from Paul Burns.  Joe switched it deep for Jason Thomson who drilled the ball low and hard into the box. The ball was heading out beyond the left goalpost but the predator that is Andy KIRK turned the ball in for his third of the SPL season. 1-0 Dunfermline.

The Pars pushed for another but Cardle pumped his free kick too far and Kirk was caught offside again. Saints won a corner in 41 minutes but after Gallacher`s punch out the defence mopped up. Davidson sent Sheridan away down the left but the offside flag was up.

A good first half for the Fifers who for the second week running went in with a 1-0 lead.

Half Time: St Johnstone 0 Dunfermline 1

The Pars got the second half underway but Davidson was first to threaten the scoreline heading over from close in on 47 minutes. The Saints player went through Kirk in the next minute and saw yellow for a crude tackle. Thomson was fed the ball from the free kick and Hardie rose in the six yard box to try a header but he was off target wide of the right goalpost.

Thomson sent over another great ball in 51 minutes but the bright green kitted keeper held as St Johnstone began to look rather ragged. Haber was offside as he turned the ball into Gallacher`s hands. Francisco Sandaza replaced Finnigan just eleven minutes into the second half as Derek McInnes tried to change Saints fortunes.

John Potter sees red

Dunfermline forced two corners in 59 minutes, Keddie`s challenge sent behind at the first and then Hardie heading narrowly wide of the right post at the subsequent one. Drama then at the other end as St Johnstone sub Sandaza waltzed around opponents as he burst into the Pars box on the right. As he passed Potter he came down as contact was made with Potter`s outstretched leg and the referee pointed to the spot. Having considered Thomson was not a covering last man, George Salmond sent off John Potter. Liam Craig took the ball off Sandaza and then sent the penalty kick to Gallacher`s left and in a carbon copy of the penalty save against St Mirren, the Pars keeper pushed it away.

Dowie dropped into the back four beside Alex Keddie while at the midway stage of the half David Graham and Steven McDougall replaced Joe Cardle and Andy Kirk. David Robertson came on for Haber and immediately glanced a header on Craig`s corner. He came close but slipping wide left. The ball was played around the Pars box as the Perth club enjoyed plenty possession but Gallacher held everything that came his way.

Eight minutes from the end Sandaza made another good chance laying the ball off for Davidson to head on target but Gallacher saved again. McDougall tried to give the defence a rest but with three men around him it was hard to keep possession. Davidson was blocked by Keddie to hand Saints a free kick 25 yards out but Craig continued his luckless day driving the ball over Gallacher`s bar.

St Johnstone`s last home league win over Dunfermline remains 16th November 1996. They have yet to score an SPL goal this season and as a consequence of Andy Kirk`s 31st minute goal, Dunfermline registered their first SPL win and go fourth in the league. A good result and a fine performance by the ten men to see out the final 30 plus three added minutes.

MATCH PICTURES

ST JOHNSTONE: Peter Enckelman, David MacKay, Frazer Wright, David McCracken, Liam Craig; Marcus Haber (David Robertson 72), Jody Morris (c), Murray Davidson, Kevin Moon; Cillian Sheridan (Francisco Sandaza 56), Carl Finnigan,
SUBS NOT USED: Alan Mannus (GK), Steven Anderson, Stevie May, Liam Caddis, Ricky McIntosh
YELLOW CARD: Finnigan (8), Davidson (48)

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher, Jason Thomson, John Potter, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Andy Dowie, Gary Mason; Paul Burns, Martin Hardie,Joe Cardle (Steven McDougall 68); Andy Kirk (David Graham 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Thomson, Paul Willis, Paddy Boyle, Kerr Young, Chris Smith (GK)
SCORERS: Kirk (31)
YELLOW CARD: Dowie (43), Hardie (71)
RED CARD: Potter (61).

REFEREE: George Salmond
WEATHER: Overcast 16°C
ATTENDANCE 3466

NEXT MATCH: (away) SPL v Dundee United
Saturday 20th August 2011, kick off 3.00pm

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Preview St Johnstone

Wednesday, 10th Aug 2011

It is now almost 16 years and twelve games since St Johnstone last won a league match at home against the Pars.

HOSPITALITY DEAL AND BUS FROM EAST END PARK
The last time these sides met in the 2008-09 season St Johnstone won the First Division title and promotion to the SPL. That success came however, after Saints failed to beat the Pars in the two contests at McDiarmid Park.

In August 2008 Jim McIntyre`s side left Perth following a 3-0 victory.  Iain Williamson, Nick Phinn and Graham Bayne scored the goals that day and things were well on course for the Pars own promotion push.  By the time the teams met in April of that season St Johnstone were well on the way to securing their success but Dunfermline held them to a goalless draw.

Admission Prices: Adults £21, Over 65s £11, Under 18s £10. Wheelchair users will be £13.

St Johnstone Away Milestones

It is now almost 16 years and twelve games since St Johnstone last won a league match at home against the Pars. Since the defeat in November 1995, the Athletic have gained four wins, and eight draws in Perth.  The Saintees did however register a 3-2 home win in the CIS Insurance Cup in October 2003.  Strangely the Perth club has a much better record at East End Park where the Pars have failed to win since October 2001.
 

Milestones - St Johnstone (Away)
Last League Victory	16/08/08	3-0	First Division
Last League Defeat	18/11/95	0-1	First Division
Best League Victory	10/02/62	5-2	Div One*
Worst League Defeat	01/01/35	1-5	Div One*
* Pre Reconstruction

All Time League record v St Johnstone

The Pars had a good Premier League record in Perth, having won more games than they`ve lost but the First Division record was very different. Since league reconstruction the Pars have only won four of the fifteen First Division away matches.

Pars v St Johnstone: the Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End Park	67	34	12	21	125	94
At Muirton Park / McDiarmid Park	64	19	17	28	88	95
Division One (up to 1975)	36	14	6	16	72	60
Division Two (up to 1975)	38	17	7	14	68	64
Premier Division (since 1975)	23	8	9	6	25	22
First Division (since 1975)	31	11	7	13	38	42
Second Division (since 1975)	3	3	0	0	10	1
TOTALS	131	53	29	49	213	189

Dunfermline`s record in the last dozen games is lost five, drawn five and won two. Both those Pars victories were at McDiarmid Park.

Last Twelve League Meetings
2008/09
11/04/09	Dunfermline	1-3	St Johnstone	First Division
07/04/09	St Johnstone	0-0	Dunfermline	First Division
01/11/08	Dunfermline	1-2	St Johnstone	First Division
16/08/08	St Johnstone	0-3	Dunfermline	First Division
2007/08
29/03/08	St Johnstone	1-1	Dunfermline	First Division
19/01/08	Dunfermline	0-1	St Johnstone	First Division
10/11/07	St Johnstone	0-0	Dunfermline	First Division
02/09/07	Dunfermline	0-0	St Johnstone	First Division
2001/02
12/01/02	Dunfermline	0-1	St Johnstone	Premier League
27/10/01	St Johnstone	1-2	Dunfermline	Premier League
04/08/01	Dunfermline	0-2	St Johnstone	Premier League
2000/01
20/05/01	Dunfermline	0-0	St Johnstone	Premier League

Both sides are seeking their first league wins of the season and the match will no doubt be a fiercely contested affair.

St Johnstone	DDunfermlinene
Current League Position
11	7
League Form last six results
WWWDDL	WWWDWD
League Points
1	2
Goal Difference
-2	0
Record
P2, W0, D1, L1	P2, W0, D2, L0

Recent Form

St Johnstone were without a match last weekend, they lost 2-0 to Rangers in their last game and had a 0-0 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on the opening day of the season. Dunfermline have two points from their first two SPL draws against St Mirren and Inverness Caley Thistle and their last away defeat was at Pittodrie in the Scottish Cup back on 6th February.

Recent Form - home / away
St Johnstone (home)				Dunfermline (away)
Rangers	L	0-2		Annan Athletic	W	2-1
Hamilton	W	1-0		Morton	W	2-0
Inverness CT	L	0-3		Cowdenbeath	W	1-0
Celtic	L	0-1		Ross County	W	1-0
Rangers	L	0-2		Dundee	D	1-1
Kilmarnock	D	0-0		Stirling Albion	D	1-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Paul Gallacher, Jason Thomson, John Potter, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Paul Burns, Martin Hardie, Gary Mason (David Graham 85), Joe Cardle; Andy Kirk (Steven McDougall 75), Andy Barrowman..
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Smith (GK), Ryan Thomson, Paul Willis, Andy Dowie, Kerr Young.

ST JOHNSTONE (v Rangers): Peter Enckelman, Calum Davidson, Frazer Wright, David MacKay, Steven Anderson, Jody Morris, David Robertson (Chris Millar, 60), Murray Davidson, Kevin Moon, Cillian Sheridan (Carl Finnigan, 60), Marcus Haber
SUBS NOT USED: Alan Mannus (GK), David McCracken, Chris Moffat, Stevie May, Richard McIntosh

Referee will be George Salmond.

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