Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 1

Saturday, 20th Aug 2011

Pars return to Tannadice. David Graham in for John Potter. HT 0-0. Burns (85) 1-0

MATCH PICTURES
Dunfermline made a successful return to Tannadice to take all three points in their first league meeting there since January 2007. Jim McIntyre made one change from the starting eleven that turned out at McDiarmid Park; David Graham coming in for John Potter. The only changes Andy Barrowman and Liam Buchanan replacing Paddy Boyle and Steven McDougall. Andy Dowie would line up beside Alex Keddie in the central defence.

For the hosts Keith Watson and Scott Allan dropped out of the team that had little to take home from Celtic Park the previous week. Barry Douglas and Gavin Gunning taking their places.

The teams changed ends before Willo Flood and Johnny Russell got the game underway. Paul Gallacher would be facing the sun that disappeared temporarily while awaiting referee Stevie O`Reilly`s whistle. United started the match the brighter with Gallacher getting a few early touches.

Russell and Flood caused the Pars defence a bit of a problem before Dunfermline could really get going. Martin Hardie was caught offside in six minutes when Andy Dowie`s free kick was pumped into the United penalty box, while at the other end Flood smashed a shot from 27 yards but straight at Gallacher. Another two offside decisions ended the Pars threat and the match went through a period where neither team created anything in the way chances.

In 14 minutes the best move of the game so far got the Pars down the left. Hardie`s neat interchange with Austin McCann led to Paul Burns reaching the byeline and a corner ensued. That came to nothing but very quickly there was another opportunity for Joe Cardle to send over a free kick from down by left corner flag. Alex Keddie met the delivery with a good header on target but it was cleared on the line.

The Fifers looked much better with Cardle creating the openings. On 20 minutes Joe took the ball from Mason and pushed the ball wide left for Kirk to cross but Dusan Pernis took the cross without being put under any pressure. At the midway point in the first half Thomson sent over a dangerous ball that Hardie headed over the bar from eight yards.

United woke up with a good delivery into the box that Thomson stole off Johnny Russell to deny a good goalscoring opportunity. Next a John Rankin cross from the left was met by the head of Jon Daly but the United captain`s effort drifted wide of Gallacher`s right hand post.

On the half hour a throw in on the left let United penetrate the Pars defence with Rankin cutting the ball back for Daly and the ball was turned behind for a corner on the left.  When Flood sent that over Gallacher punched it away from under his crossbar but Scott Robertson then got the chance to shoot from 20 yards. Gallacher pulled off a fantastic save, later to be described by United Manager Peter Houston as "world class",  turning the ball on to his right post to keep United out and the ensuing scramble on the edge of the six yard box was cleared by the defence.

A Thomson cross in 35 minutes was fisted away by Pernis as Kirk challenged and then McCann had to clean up conceding a corner as Keddie failed to take a high ball over. On 43 minutes Sean Dillon sent in a good ball from the right and Rankin came perilously close with a glancing header. Before the break Keddie cut out a dangerous cross from the left and Gallacher was forced to punch away another Flood corner.

Dunfermline had contained United well, Gallacher certainly kept them in the game with his tremendous save on the half hour but they had created moves of their own that might have come good. What they need to do is to stop United getting in as many crosses from the full backs, Dillon and Nixon.

Half Time: Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 0

The first chance of the second half dropped for Russell in 48 minutes, 12 yards out he controlled a cross from the right but then sent his shot wildly high and wide. At the other end Graham worked the ball on to his left foot to deliver from the right but no one could take the header opportunity as the ball continued out at the far post.

A Jason Thomson break in 53 minutes was punctuated by an early cross.  Cardle won the ball on the left but his final ball went straight into the hands of Pernis. Thomson headed away from in front of Daly as Dillon contiuned to get in crosses.  The corner could not be controlled and another followed.  The defence survived but looked a bit shakey.

The Tangerines began looking the more likely with Barry Douglas and Scott Robertson getting more to boss. Andy Kirk was withdrawn in 57 minutes with Andy Barrowman coming on.  Dundee United then failed in a goalmouth stramash when Daly and Rankin might have hit the target but eventually Rankin sent the ball forceably wide of the right post.

On 61 minutes Cardle sent in a ball for Barrowman`s first chance but the keeper got a touch meaning Burns controlled but it was Thomson who shot but lobbed it straight to Pernis. Four minutes later a Flood corner directed to the far post was contested by Garry Kenneth but blown up for his challenge on the keeper.

As the game entered its final quarter Hardie took a free kick from 30 yards but thundered the ball just outside the left goalpost. Scott Robertson was yellow carded for his tackle on Hardie and then Russell came close when he met a Paul Dixon ball into the penalty box.  Corners came thick and fast for United but the defence survived again.

Gunning`s tackle on Barrowman earned the Pars a free kick on the right.  Cardle pumped the ball to the far post but Hardie was penalised for his attempts to get in front of Dillon. United`s sub Danny Swanson sent a shot wide right before a Cardle run ended with a delivery that Mason flicked on for Hardie in front of goal but he was closed down by Nixon and the ball went high.

McCann stopped Swanson on the right to concede a free kick, and another United corner resulted from that but again the Pars kept it out. Then in 85 minutes a quickly taken throw in by Ozzie McCann sent Cardle to the byeline from where his cross found Paul BURNS 19 yards out and he drilled the ball through the well populated penalty box to beat Pernis at his right hand post. 1-0.

As the minutes ran down Graham and Barrowman fought for possession and openings and there was anxious finish as United forced a late corner. Dunfermline saw out the two added minutes to record a good win and take the three points back down the M90. Another shut out with Gallacher a hero again but a great first goal for Burns for a result that took the Pars into third place in the SPL.

DUNDEE UNITED: Dusan Pernis; Sean Dillon, Garry Kenneth, Gavin Gunning, Paul Dixon; Willo Flood, Scott Robertson, Barry Douglas (Danny Swanson 64), John Rankin; Johnny Russell (Ryan Dow 80), Jon Daly
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Banks, Scott Allan, Keith Watson, Stuart Armstrong, Dale Hilson.
YELLOW CARD: Robertson (70)

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher, Jason Thomson, Andy Dowie, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); David Graham, Paul Burns, Gary Mason, Martin Hardie, Joe Cardle; Andy Kirk (Andy Barrowman 57)
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Thomson, Paul Willis, John Potter, Liam Buchanan, Kerr Young, Chris Smith (GK)
SCORERS: Burns (85)
YELLOW CARD: Hardie (77)

REFEREE: Stevie O`Reilly
WEATHER: Sunny 19°C
ATTENDANCE 6527

NEXT MATCH: League Cup (away) v East Fife, Tuesday 23rd August 2011 at New Bayview

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Preview Dundee United

Wednesday, 17th Aug 2011

The sides last met in the Co-operative Insurance Cup in October 2008 when United won 1-0 in front of their home fans.

For travelling supporters, Tannadice is one of the better away grounds to visit.  Pars supporters are accommodated in the South West of the stadium and there is always a good atmosphere. The sides last met in the Co-operative Insurance Cup in October 2008 when United won 1-0 in front of their home fans. .

Premier League v Dundee Utd (Away)
Pld	W	D	L	F	A
28	5	9	14	24	38

. United have come out on top in more than half the 27 meetings although the Fifers have won three of  their last six league visits there. .

Milestones Dundee United (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

. Over the last twelve matches between Dunfermline and United, the Pars have won six, lost just one with five games ending all square but the Tannadice form is not so good - just five wins from the 28 SPL matches there. .

Last Twelve League Matches v Dundee United
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
21/04/07	H	1-0	[1-0] McManus
27/01/07	A	0-0
18/11/06	H	2-1	[0-1] Robson, [1-1] Shields, [2-1] Mason
19/08/06	A	0-0
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]

. 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 season 2005-06 a cracking Freddie Daquin goal gave Dunfermline hopes (false as it turned out) that they could finish ninth in the league.  Mark Burchill`s penalty miss at Tannadice at this stage in the season five years ago denied the Pars their first league win on the road. .

League Stats .Early days yet but Pars will want to win as many points as they can.

Dundee United	Dunfermline
Current League Position
7	5
League Points
4	5
Goal Difference
-3	+1
Last 6-League Match Form
LWDWDL	WWWDDW
League record this season
P4, W1, D2, L1	P3, W1, D2, L0

. Recent Form The Pars have not lost a league game since 5th March but the opposition are getting tougher! Dundee United suffered a heavy defeat at Celtic Park last Saturday but they won at Tynecastle and drew at home to both Kilmarnock and St Mirren in their other three league games.

Recent Form - home / away
Dundee United (home)				Dunfermline (away)
St Mirren	D	1-1		St Johnstone	W	1-0
Kilmarnock	D	1-1		Annan Athletic	W	2-1
Slask Wroclaw	W	3-2		Morton	W	2-0
Hearts	W	2-1		Cowdenbeath	W	1-0
Motherwell	W	4-0		Ross County	W	1-0
Kilmarnock	W	4-2		Dundee	D	1-1

. Last time out DUNFERMLINE (v St Johnstone): 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: Chris Smith (GK), Ryan Thomson, Paul Willis, Paddy Boyle, Kerr Young. DUNDEE UNITED (v Celtic): Dusan Pernis; Sean Dillon, Garry Kenneth, Keith Watson, Paul Dixon; Willo Flood (Gavin Gunning 78), John Rankin, Scott Robertson, Scott Allan (Stuart Armstrong 67), Johnny Russell, Jon Daly. SUBS NOT USED: G Mackay Steven, Steven Banks, Ryan Dow, Barry Douglas, Danny Swanson.

. Referee will be Stevie Reilly who was the referee for Dunfermline`s opening match against St Mirren. In five games this season he has shown two red cards and has an average of three yellow cards per match. Come on ye Pars!

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