Dunfermline 2 Hibernian 3

Saturday, 14th Jan 2012

Kirk (14) 1-0. Griffiths (33) 1-1: O`Conner (75) 1-2. Buchanan (82) 2-2. Griffiths (82) 2-3

MATCH PICTURES
This was a match in which Dunfermline sorely needed to break their home duck with a victory that would take them above their opponents in the SPL table.  Dunfermline had won two and drawn one of their last three games against Hibs but prior to that the Edinburgh side had a five year unbeaten run at East End Park.

Jim McIntyre brought in his new on loan signing from Preston North End, goalie Iain Turner and the only other change from the side that started at Inverness the previous Saturday was Gary Mason in place of Paul Burns who was injured at the end of training on Friday.  Hibs had Sean O`Hanlon out suspended and Daniel Galbraith dropped to the bench. For the visitors David Stephens and Isaiah Osbourne came into the side that won at Cowdenbeath last Saturday.

Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal in front of the East Stand but it was the new signing who was first into serious action holding a Leigh Griffiths shot on the break after just 35 seconds. At the other end a Martin Hardie free kick from 27 yards out went narrowly wide in fifth minute and then Andy Kirk was caught offside as Dunfermline tried to go forward again.

Iain Turner did really well again on 10 minutes to save at his near post after Ivan Sproule made the chance on the left side of the Pars box, slipping the ball to his right for Callum Booth to thrash on target from 16 yards. Then in 14 minutes a Joe Cardle free kick from over on the left flank was flighted in perfectly for Andy KIRK to rise above defenders Michael Hart and Paul Hanlon to head past Mark Brown.

Hibs attempts to take anything from three successive Griffiths corners from the right in 20 minutes came to nothing. Next Osbourne flattened Andy Barrowman 28 yards out and from the free kick Hardie tried a curling shot that cleared the five man wall but was turned around his left hand post for a corner. The Fifers managed to maintain some pressure on their opponents but were contained.

Down on the right, David Graham took a neat touch to get around Booth but his pass for Barrowman on the top of the D was intercepted. At the other end Sproule and Hardie were yellow carded when some pushing and shoving handed Hibs a free kick on the left 30 yards out. Booth floated in the free kick but Stephens failed to get the crucial touch as the defence let the ball straight through and out on the right side.

There were chances for the Pars as Graham and Cardle pumped balls into the Hibs box but were nearly caught out on the half hour when Alex Keddie failed to cut out a cross field pass for Eoin Doyle but the Irishman`s cross cum shot dropped behind the goal.

The Pars defence were soaking up some good Hibs pressure until in 33 minutes Leigh GRIFFITHS drilled in a low shot from the right side of the box that gave Turner no chance as it was buried in the far corner. It had looked like the defence had weathered the storm when Osbourne was blocked on the edge of the box but the returned ball caught the defence as they tried to regroup. 1-1

Kirk was sent down the right five minutes later but disappointed with a cut bck that landed in the sidenetting.  A corner was then won on the right and Cardle picked out Keddie who headed down for Graham to snap a shot but he smashed it wide right under pressure from Osbourne.

Hanlon`s challenge on Barrowman earned another free kick 30 yards out but his third attempt of the afternoon failed to hit the target with the ball going out wide left. There was time for another Hibs attack and that terminated with Sproule hitting a good opportunity narrowly wide left.

It had been an end to end first half in this basement battle and at the break it was all square but the Fifers could possibly feel slightly more optimistic because they had created the better of the first half chances.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Hibernian 1

Keddie was alert as Griffiths threatened after only 15 seconds of the second half and then Turner was out well to fist away the cross eight yards out. Dunfermline countered with Graham creating for Barrowman and Kirk too looked like he was in on goal at one stage.

Cardle then showed ambition with a typical run on the left but sent his effort wide right. Next Graham swung a ball to the left but Joe was offside. Hardie put an end to a Sproule run down the left and then Turner came out of his goal to confidently clutch a David Wotherspoon free kick. Sproule continued to menace and it was fortunate that his pass for Doyle went behind the striker.

Osbourne`s long run from his own half was punctuated by a powerful shot that Turner pushed round his left hand post. Hibs kept coming but the corner, a free kick and then a Griffiths shot on target was held by Turner. Garry O`Connor was introduced in preference for Wotherspoon.

Cardle pushed up the left but Graham`s touch back from the right was too far back however Hardie tried a shot but that was blocked. Ryan Thomson was the Pars first sub replacing Gary Mason. Osbourne caused more worries taking the ball down the right to cross for Sproule at the far side of the six yard box but thankfully Turner held.

There was a late call on Barrowman for offside as Cardle tried to send the striker away. Liam Buchanan and Paul Willis were the double substitutes in 71 minutes but Booth stifled Willis` first surging run and next Cardle tested Brown at his near post and Hibs broke again.

The Edinburgh side advanced down the left through Booth.  The defender was allowed to travel deep into the Pars half and his pass into the penalty box was touched on by Griffiths to O`CONNOR on the right side and the striker smashed the ball into the net again with Turner having no chance. 1-2 with quarter of an hour remaining.

Facing a four point gap opening at the foot of the table the Pars pushed for the equaliser. An 81st minute a Cardle corner picked out Hardie unmarked at the back post but Michael Hart cleared the big man`s header off the line.  Then a 82nd minute free kick that pushed everyone forward caused mayhem in the Hibs box, Keddie had a swish and in the melee to clear, the ball broke to Willis who threaded a fine ball into the path of BUCHANAN who thrashed the ball into the net. 2-2.

The game was tied for less than a minute Hibs taking the initiative from a throw in on the left and finding GRIFFITHS who burst into the box and tucked the ball under Turner to re-establish their lead. There was a good chance then for Barrowman after Brown failed to hold from Cardle but Stephens belted that away as the Pars striker slid in.

O`Connor was booked for diving when falling over Potter in the final minute and Hibs boss Fenlon received a lecture from referee Alan Muir before the electronic board went up to show four minutes of added time. In 94th minute Stephens bundled Buchanan over but there was to be no last gasp chance for Hardie to save the day from a 22 yards free kick instead the referee plumped for a bewildering bounced ball decision.

A good performance but not the result that the Pars were looking for. Still no home win and the fans were left to further puzzle where league points were going to come from.

DUNFERMLINE: Iain Turner. Andy Dowie, John Potter, Alex Keddie, Paddy Boyle. David Graham (Paul Willis 71),,Gary Mason (c) (Ryan Thomson 65), Martin Hardie,Joe Cardle. Andy Kirk (Liam Buchanan 71), Andy Barrowman
SUBS NOT USED: Kevin Rutkiewicz, Steven McDougall, Shaun Byrne, Chris Smith (GK)
SCORERS: Kirk (14), Buchanan (82)
YELLOW CARD: Hardie (26), Potter (76)

HIBERNIAN: Mark Brown. Callum Booth, Paul Hanlon, David Stephens, Michael Hart. Lewis Stevenson, Isiah Osbourne (Daniel Galbraith, 87), Ivan Sproule (c), David Wotherspoon (Garry O`Connor 61), Leigh Grifiths, Eoin Doyle (George Francomb 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Richard Towell, Scott Smith, Samuel Stanton, Graham Stack (GK).
SCORERS: Griffiths (33), O`Connor (75), Griffiths (82)
YELLOW CARD: Sproule (26), Osbourne (45+1), Griffiths (85), O`Connor (90)

REFEREE: Alan Muir
WEATHER: Overcast 6°C
ATTENDANCE 6780

NEXT MATCH: (home) William Hill Scottish Cup Fourth Round Replay v Inverness Caley Thistle, Wednesday 18th January 2012, kick off 7.45pm

Winning number in 50/50 prize draw - 54036 - wins £743


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Preview Hibernian

Wednesday, 11th Jan 2012

Dunfe

Dunfermline v Hibernian
Saturday 14th January 2012
Kick Off 3.00pm

Saturday`s visitors to East End Park arrive just one point ahead of the Pars. The Easter Road side`s cup success over Cowdenbeath last weekend was the first win since defeating St Mirren at the end of October but Dunfermline are without a win since they beat Hibs on Guy Fawkes night.  Given their lowly league positions both sides will be hoping to lift full points but the history of this fixture has seen more draws than anything else.

Premier League v Hibernian (Home)
Pld	W	D	L	F	A
24	6	14	4	26	29

Hibernian Home Milestones

The win in April 2007 ended a run of over five years since Dunfermline recorded an SPL win over Hibs at East End Park. After the Edinburgh side smashed their thirteen year gap without a win with their 4-1 victory back in March 2005, they continued that winning habit. The meeting of the clubs at East End Park was Jim Leishman`s final match in charge, Jim threw in the towel after the 4-0 Monday night defeat on 23rd October 2006.

Milestones Hibernian (home)
Last League Victory	07/04/07	1-0	SPL
Last League Defeat	23/10/06	0-4	SPL
Best League Victory	19/03/62	4-0	Div One*
Worst League Defeat	28/02/81	0-5	First Div
*Pre league reconstruction

The Pars have won only two of the last 12 meetings, Hibs have won six and there have been four draws. The most recent match ended with a 1-0 Fifers win in Edinburgh courtesy of an early and rare Austin McCann goal

Last Twelve League Matches v Hibernian
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
05/11/11	A	1-0	[1-0] McCann
17/09/11	H	2-2	[0-1] Sproule, [0-2] O`Connor, [1-2] R Thomson, [2-2] Hanlon (og)
07/04/07	H	1-0	[1-0] McGuire
30/12/06	A	0-2	[0-1] Killen, [0-2] Killen (pen)
23/10/06	H	0-4	[0-1] Sproule, [0-2] Killen, [0-3] Benjoullen, [0-4] Killen
21/01/06	A	1-3	[0-1] Riordan, [1-1] Donnelly, [1-2] Riordan, [1-3] Fletcher
26/10/05	H	1-2	[0-1] O`Connor, [0-2] O`Connor, [1-2] Mason
30/07/05	A	1-1	[1-0] Shields, [1-1] O`Connor
19/03/05	H	1-4	[1-0] Nicholson, [1-1] Riordan, [1-2] Fletcher, [1-3] Fletcher, [1-4] Riordan
18/12/04	A	1-2	[0-1] Glass, [1-1] Tod, [1-2] Riordan
02/10/04	H	1-1	[0-1] O`Connor, [1-1] Donnelly
13/04/04	H	1-1	[0-1] Riordan, [1-1] Dempsey

Who will be bottom after Saturday?

Hibs lie eleventh with 15 points, the Pars 12th with 14 points. Pat Fenlon was appointed Hibs manager on 25th November and since then his new team have picked up just one point against Inverness Caley Thistle in his reign of six SPL games. Since Jim McIntyre`s side`s win over Hibs, the Pars have picked up just one point from a draw against Aberdeen.

Dunfermline	Hibernian
Current League Position
12	11
League Points
14	15
Goal Difference
-26	-17
Last 6 Match Form
DLLLLLD	LLLDLW
League Record
P10, W0, D4, L6	P10, W2, D2, L6

Hibs have already registered away wins in Inverness and Paisley but their league form is not good.

After losing only one home match last season in the First Division, the Pars are still in search of their first home win of this season.  In seasons 1971/72, 1973/74 and 2005/06 Dunfermline had just four home points up to 1st January, which is the same as this season.  But a new record has been set for the latest date at which a home league game has been won.  It was previously held by season 1991/92 when the 1-0 win against Falkirk on 11th January 1992 was the first home league win of the season.  Let`s hope that record can be ended with a win over Hibs.. 

Form last six home / away
Dunfermline  (home)				Hibernian  (away)
Celtic	L	0-3		Cowdenbeath	W	3-2
St Johnstone	L	0-3		Dundee United	L	1-3
Aberdeen	D	3-3		Aberdeen	L	0-1
Dundee United	L	1-4		St Johnstone	L	1-3
Hearts	L	0-2		Celtic	D	0-0
Rangers	L	0-4		St Mirren	W	3-2

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Chris Smith, Andy Dowie, John Potter, Alex Keddie, Paddy Boyle; David Graham,, Paul Burns, Martin Hardie (c) (Ryan Thomson 84),Joe Cardle (Gary Mason 84); Andy Kirk (Liam Buchanan 70), Andy Barrowman
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Goodfellow (GK), Kerr Young

HIBERNIAN (v Cowdenbeath): Mark Brown; Callum Booth, Paul Hanlon, Sean O`Hanlon, Michael Hart; Lewis Stevenson, Daniel Galbraith,  Ivan Sproule, David Wotherspoon, Leigh Griffiths, Eoin Doyle
SUBS: Martin Scott, David Stephens, Richard Towell, Akpo Sodje

Referee will be Alan Muir. Come on ye Pars!

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