Dunfermline 0 St Johnstone 3
Saturday, 24th Dec 2011Smith, Jason Thomson, Boyle and Cardle in for Gallacher, Smith (36 og) 0-1; Sandaza (52) 0-2: Craig (59) 0-3.
MATCH PICTURES
St Johnstone returned to East End Park for the first time since April 2009 but this was their first top flight match there since October 2001. The Christmas Eve fixture afforded the Pars an opportunity to break their home duck in terms of wins and they did have some players back from injury to give Jim McIntyre selection options..
Paul Gallacher joined those on the sidelines but for this game McIntyre was able to bring back Jason Thomson, Paddy Boyle and Joe Cardle with Chris Smith between the sticks. The subs bench included Andy Kirk and the dropped Gary Mason,John Potter and Liam Buchanan. St Johnstone Manager Steve Lomas also had injuries that restricted his selection. He made three changes from the side that lost to Celtic the previous weekend. David Robertson, Alan Maybury and Kevin Moon moved out to make way for Callum Davidson, Jody Morris and Francisco Sandaza.
The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie stand end but the first chances came at the other end when firstly David Graham switched the ballleft for Cardle to cross. His effort was blocked but spun up in the air causing Enckleman to fist the ball over his bar and then from the ensuing short taken corner Willis received the ball back from Burns and then cut it back for Thomson but his shot went into the stand.
The Pars came closer on ten minutes when Enckleman came way out of his goals as he has been known to do. The keeper failed to get the ball out on the right wing and Andy Barrowman chipped in a shot from distance that dropped just wide of the right goalpost..
St Johnstone`s first corner on 13 minutes was swung in to the near post by Jody Morris and the Pars defence cleared. A second corner a minute later was fumbled by Smith and Graham cleared. On 21 minutes Burns fed Willis on the right where he beat Callum Davidson to get in for a great cross but his team mates were all on the six yard line and none attacked the ball that flashed across the face of goal.
Liam Craig capitalised when Hardie lost possession in midfield and sent a great ball over from the left that just evaded the inrushing Marcus Haber. Next Craig best thomson on the left side of the Pars box but fortunarely his cross failed to create much danger. A 28th minute free kick from Craig was not cleared. Sandaza robbed Hardie and eluded the Keddie challenge before making Smith save his shot from 20 yards.
The Saints started to gain much more possession and territorial advantage and went ahead from a bad mistake. The goal came from a Craig corner on the right, Chris SMITH went for the cross and appeared to punch the ball into his own net beating the efforts of Paddy Boyle on the line to keep the all out.
Immediately after the goal the Perth side had a good claim for a penalty when Boyle eased Murray Davidson off the ball as he raced forward. Then in 42 minutes a Craig shot was well saved by Smith and Sandaza thrashed the follow up on to the crossbar.
After startng the game well Dunfermline let St Johnstone in to it and gave them an early Christmas present to make it that bit harder in the quest for a home win.
Half Time: Dunfermline 0 St Johnstone 1
Dunfermline came out with fresh endeavour earning an early corner. Willis sent the outswinger over from the right but a St Johnstone head cleared first and Dowie pinged the knock down over the bar. Pressure was maintained with Graham sending Cardle down the left but his cross was defended at the near post. Then Cardle headed a cross from the right back across the face of goal but there were no takers.
It had been all Dunfermline until 52 minutes. A St Johnstone counter attack sent the ball right where Haber broke and then fired in a low cross cum shot that Smith disappointingly failed to hold leaving SANDAZA the simplest of chances to slide home from five yards out.
St Johnstone took further confidence from the goal and increased their lead just seven minutes later. Sandaza danced his way through the centre of the defence before releasing the ball to his left for Liam CRAIG to strike past Smith. Andy Kirk was introduced for Paul Willis meaning David Graham went right and the Pars went with two up front. Ryan Thomson followed at the midway point in the second half to take over from the luckless Hardie.
The stuffing had really been knocked out of the home side and the only hope now was some sort of consolation. Liam Buchanan was brought on for Andy Barrowman but the game seemed to be as good as over despite over quarter of an hour to go.
The Pars were allowed possession and they did push up but St Johnstone soaked everything up with little difficulty. They had the luxury of withdrawing Sandaza with ten minutes to go and his replacement Carl Finnigan immediately tested Smith with a headed flick on.
On 82 minutes a fierce Callum Davidson drive that was net bound seemed to be kept out by Finnigan. In the end there was to be no Christmas cheer for the club and its supporters. The poor home form continues into the new year when Celtic are the first foots. St Johnstone`s impressive away form continued and they maintained their position fourth in the SPL. As for the Pars they face Christmas at the foot of the tree with very little to light up their Festive period.
SUBS NOT USED: John Potter, Gary Mason, Shaun Byrne, Ryan Goodfellow (GK)
ST JOHNSTONE: Peter Enckelman, David Mackay, David McCracken, Steven Anderson, Callum Davidson, Jody Morris (Kevin Moon 74), Chris Millar, Liam Craig, Murray Davidson (Alan Maybury 84), Francisco Sandaza (Carl Finnigan 79), Marcus Haber.
SUBS NOT USED: Alan McManus, Scott Gray, Ricky McIntosh, Mark Durnan
SCORERS: Smith (36 og), Sandaza (52), Craig (59)
REFEREE: Craig Thomson
WEATHER: Cool, Wet 6°C
ATTENDANCE 4474
NEXT MATCH: (away) SPL v Motherwell
Wednesday 28th December 2011, kick off 7.45pm
Pars 50/50 winning ticket: 48670
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Preview St Johnstone
Wednesday, 21st Dec 2011Pars seeking first home win but history favours the away team in
Please note: The Gallery Suite will be open on Saturday from 11.00 am for both sets of fans visiting East End Park
The Fifers have a good record over St Johnstone principally because of the performances at East End Park but with the last Pars win in this fixture being back in 2001 there`s a need to alter that record. After defeats to Hearts, Rangers and Celtic and taking just one point from their last five matches, there`s an urgent need to change the fortunes with the first home win of the season.
| 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 | 65 | 20 | 17 | 28 | 89 | 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) | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 26 | 22 |
| First Division (since 1975) | 31 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 38 | 42 |
| Second Division (since 1975) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 132 | 54 | 29 | 49 | 214 | 189 |
The first meeting between these two resulted in a Pars win at McDiarmid Park back in August when a late Paul Burns strike sealed the points in the bag for the visitors. The Pars last home win was courtesy of a Jack de Gier double after Paul Hartley had put the Perth side ahead in just four minutes.
|
Milestones v St Johnstone (Home) | |||
|
Last League Victory |
27/10/01 |
2-1 |
SPL |
|
Last League Defeat |
11/04/09 |
Div 1 | |
|
Best League Victory |
21/08/57 |
7-1 |
Div 2* |
|
Worst League Defeat |
21/10/50 |
2-7 |
Div 2* |
|
*Pre league reconstruction | |||
Strangely the away team in this fixture has been doing better of late. It is five games back since Dunfermline beat St Johnstone in a league game at home but 14 since St Johnstone took full points at home.
| Last Twelve League Meetings | ||||
| 2011/12 | ||||
| 13/08/11 | St Johnstone | 0-1 | Dunfermline | Premier League |
| 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 | St Johnstone | 0-1 | Dunfermline | Premier League |
| 27/10/01 | Dunfermline | 2-1 | St Johnstone | Premier League |
| 04/08/01 | St Johnstone | 0-2 | Dunfermline | Premier League |
It all looked so good when Dunfermline left St Johnstone with a win back in August but poor home form has left the Pars struggling in 12th place. By contrast St Johnstone`s away form has been remarkable.
| Dunfermline | St Johnstone |
| League Points | |
| 14 | 26 |
| Current League Position | |
| 12 | 4 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -20 | +1 |
| Last 6-Match Form | |
| WLLDLL | DWWLLL |
| Home/Away Record | |
| P8 W0 D4 L4 | P9, W4, D4, L1 |
St Johnstone have lost only once on the road this season. That was to Hibs but they have won at Celtic, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Hearts and drawn at Aberdeen, St Mirren, Dundee United and Rangers.
| Form last six home / away | ||||||
| Dunfermline (home) | St Johnstone (away) | |||||
| Aberdeen | D | Hearts | W | 2-1 | ||
| Dundee United | L | Rangers | D | 0-0 | ||
| Hearts | L | Dundee United | D | 0-0 | ||
| Rangers | L | Kilmarnock | W | 2-1 | ||
| Hibernian | D | Hibs | L |
2-3 | ||
| Motherwell | L | Motherwell | W | 3-0 | ||
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Hearts): Paul Gallacher, Andy Dowie, John Potter, Alex Keddie; Paul Willis, Paul Burns, Gary Mason (c)(Ryan Thomson,75), Martin Hardie, David Graham, Liam Buchanan (Andy Kirk 72), Andy Barrowman (Joe Cardle 62).
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Smith (GK), Pat Clarke, Shaun Byrne, Kerr Young.
ST JOHNSTONE (v Celtic): Peter Enckelman, Alan Maybury, David Mackay, David McCracken, Steven Anderson, Kevin Moon, Chris Millar, Liam Craig, Murray Davidson, David Robertson Marcus Haber.
SUBS: Alan McManus, Sam Parkin, William Gibson, Scott Gray, Carl Finnigan, Ricky McIntosh, Mark Durnan
Referee will be Craig Thomson.
C`mon Ye Pars!
The ideal Christmas Present: from Club Shop - £10.95.
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