Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 1
Saturday, 28th Jan 2017Ladbrokes Championship: two changes as Jason Talbot and Michael Moffat return. Tony Andreu (18) 0-1. John Herron (28) 1-1:
Dundee United were the visitors to East End Park for the third time this season in what was the fifth fixture between the sides since the end of August. Arriving from on the back of no wins in their last four United were seeking to get back on track against a club who were on a ten match unbeaten run.
Manager Allan Johnston restored both Jason Talbot and Michael Moffat to the starting eleven meaning Lewis Martin and Gavin Reilly were back on the bench. United made five changes. out went Jamie Robson, Charlie Telfer, Stewart Murdoch, Simon Murray and Tope Obadeyi. In came Thomas Mikkelsen, Paul Dixon, Lewis Toshney, Blair Spittal and Willo Flood, three changes in their midfield possibly suggesting where it all went wrong at Dingwall the previous Saturday.
The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end but the first threat came from the Fifers in the second minute when Nicky Clark nodded down the ball to set up Moffat to break but Frank Van Der Struik made a timely tackle to deny an early attempt.
United ventured forward and Sean Murdoch made a confidence building take before William Edjenquele was shown the first yellow card of the match in just the sixth minute. The big no.14 went right through John Herron and Kallum Higginbotham launched in the free kick that United got away.
Then two minutes later the East End faithful roared in anticipation as Nicky Clark raced forward. Moffat was well positioned to his right and the pass was perfect but although the striker`s attempt beat Cammy Bell, Edjenquele was behind him to stop the shot and Bell then smothered the loose ball.
Play was fairly even and both sides enjoyed periods of possession but in 18th minute United showed how to take a chance. Tony ANDREU fired an opportunist`s effort into the defenders on the top of the Pars box and when the ball rebounded back to him he sunk his shot in the bottom left corner of the net. 0-1
The lead might have doubled within two minutes, Spittal seeing his shot from 25 yards out go behind off the right goalpost. In 24 minutes a Moffat pass invited McMullan to run on to meet it on the right side of the United box but Bell was quickly off his line to put an end to the danger.
A cynical Toshney tackle on McMullan handed the Pars a 26th minute free kick but when the chance fell to Herron he fired wide from the edge of the box. Then another free kick in the very next minute led to the Pars equaliser. Higginbotham on the left hit the ball low to Nat Wedderburn who was lying deep. The midfielder returned a pass wide to Higginbotham who drew a defender before sending over the perfect ball for HERRON to meet and head home. The scorer`s first goal for the club was greatly celebrated with both his team mates and the bench. 1-1
Defender Mark Durnan crashed into keeper Bell but he was able to continue after a three minute stoppage.
As half time approached the visitors forced two corners on the right and Andreu got in a shot from the edge of the box that was well blocked. In 38 minutes was down well to stop a Mikkelsen break into the box before the United striker was caught offside as Callum Morris cut him down in the box.
The half ended with the Taysiders in the ascendancy and Murdoch pulled off a very fine save after Andreu had played Mikkelsen in on the top of the box. Final opportunity of the half might have come the Pars way but after a fine Geggan run down the right and lay off to McMullan was then cut out before it could reach Moffat.
All square at the break then but the stats showed 58% Dundee United possession and six shots to the Pars two.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Dundee United 1
The visitors changed keepers before the second half got underway, Luis Zwick replaced Cammy Bell who had received treatment for a couple of minutes after Herron`s goal.
Mark Durnan was shown a yellow card in 50th minute for a block on Higginbotham but when he drilled a low ball into the box from the setpiece, Flood took away the ball. Then a second free kick followed just two minutes later from a similar spot to the left of the United box. The ball broke to Wedderburn and somehow United kept out his stinging left footed effort.
Dundee United`s first threat of the second half came in 56th minute when Scott Fraser won possession back after solid clearances from Morris ands Wedderburn but the ball escaped out beyond the far post. Then in 58 minutes Fraser got ion behind on the right and his cutback looked certain to be sunk into the Pars net by Mikkelsen but Morris took the ball away with some brave defending.
Dunfermline then almost got fruit from their counter and Willo Flood had to concede a free kick on the edge of the box to halt McMullan. Higginbotham`s attempt was driven into the United wall but very quickly McMullan found himself with another chance as he raced through with the ball at his feet. Despite Herron outside him to the right, the on loan Celt tried a shot but it was rising all the way and cleared the bar.
In 65 minutes a United free kick 30 yards out was lifted into the Pars box and there were appeals as Morris appeared to hold on to Durnan. The ball was cleared but at the next attack Wedderburn picked up a yellow as he halted Fraser. The free kick was headed away by Geggan and then hooked into touch by an overhead kick from Higginbotham.
The away team made a change at the half way point in the half, Simon Murray replacing the luckless Mikkelsen. Five minutes later Joe Cardle subbed Paul McMullan but it was United who got the chance to snatch the next goal. Andreu broke in on the right side and Murdoch pulled off a great block. The rebound broke back for the United player and remarkably he crashed his effort over the bar when finding the net looked the easier option. Quite a let off!
With ten minutes remaining David Hopkirk came on for Kallum Higginbotham and the Pars sub was immediately presented with a chance from a Cardle corner but his shot from 20 yards was blocked.
Then in 84 minute Fraser tumbled in a challenge with Herron and a 28 yard free kick gave Spittal the chance to drive a shot to the top left corner. The effort looked netbound all the way until Murdoch leapt to turn it remarkably around the post. The Dundee side continued to press and Murray fired a good attempt wide right.
A fine turn from Herron set up an equally good ball for Reilly to run on to on the right but Zwick stopped his shot. Then Hopkirk launched a shot to the right side of the goal but Zwick put in the save.
The visitors then had the opportunity to steal the show. Flood`s cross into the box was headed behind for a corner by Morris and when that came in Murray had a fresh air attempt and Fraser got another cross in but the Pars survived.
The home side had the final chance in the third minute of added time. Andreu was booked as Clark seemed as though he would get away from him on the right. Cardle delivered the setpiece towards Ashcroft at the far post but the offside flag went up and referee Andrew Dallas blew up for full time.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys McCabe, Lewis Martin, Callum Fordyce, David Hutton (GK)
SCORERS: Herron (28)
YELLOW CARD: Wedderburn (65)
DUNDEE UNITED: Cammy Bell (Luis Zwick HT): Frank van der Struik, Mark Durnan, William Edjenquele, Paul Dixon: Lewis Toshney, Willo Flood: Blair Spittal, Anthony Andreu, Scott Fraser: Thomas Mikkelson ( Simon Murray 67).
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Dillon, Tope Obadeyi, Charlie Telfer, Jamie Robson.
SCORERS: Andreu (18)
YELLOW CARD: Edjenquele (6), Dixon (31), Durnan (50), Andreu (90+3)
REFEREE: Andrew Dallas
WEATHER: Rain 2C
ATTENDANCE 4670
NEXT MATCH: Ladbroke Championship: (away) v Falkirk, Saturday 4th February 2017, kick off 3.00pm at the Falkirk Stadium
Winning ticket 82070 won £879
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Preview Dundee United
Saturday, 28th Jan 2017Ladbrokes Championship: The Pars have taken 25 points from their first 21 matches and are six points off the play off spot.
Prior to this season Dundee United and Dunfermline met only five times in the previous nine seasons but now they are the visitors to East End Park for the third time this season in what will be the fifth fixture between the sides since the end of August. While there will be familiarity between them Pars followers are hoping that the result does not continue in the same familiarity. Certainly the games between them have been close and coupled with the Pars good form and United having won only one of their last six, there is enough to suggest that Saturday`s result will not be a foregone conclusion.
The four previous fixtures in Betfred and Irn Bru Cups and in the two league matches have all resulted in United wins. This has not always been the case since in the 132 previous league meetings honours are even at 48 wins apiece and 36 match drawn.
This season these clubs have met in the league outside the top flight since the famous 1995-96 season. Back in `96 Dunfermline pipped the Tannadice club to the First Division title finishing with 71 points to United`s 67.
|
Milestones Dundee United (Home) |
|||
|
Last
League Victory |
21/04/07 |
1 - 0 |
SPL |
|
Last
League Defeat |
10/09/16 |
1 - 3 |
Championship |
|
Best
League Victory |
11/08/45 |
7 - 0 |
Div B* |
|
Worst
League Defeat |
29/10/11 |
1 - 4 |
SPL |
|
*Pre league reconstruction |
|||
The last dozen league games between the two sides have seen . DA win two and United win eight, with two games ending all square. United have won all seven of the last seven meetings.
Last Twelve Matches v Dundee United
|
Date |
H/A |
F-A |
WDL |
Competition |
| 12/11/16 | H | 0-1 | L | Irn Bru Cup |
| 08/11/16 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship |
| 10/09/16 | A | 0-2 | L | Championship |
| 31/08/16 | A | 0-3 | L | League Cup |
| 22/09/15 | A | 1-3 | L | League Cup |
| 31/03/12 | A | 0-3 | L | SPL |
| 29/10/11 | H | 1-4 | L | SPL |
| 20/08/11 | A | 1-0 | W | SPL |
| 28/10/08 | A | 0-1 | L | League Cup |
| 27/01/07 | A | 0-0 | D | SPL |
| 18/11/06 | H | 2-1 | W | SPL |
| 19/08/06 | A | 0-0 | D | SPL |
Last League Match v Dundee United at East End Park
Saturday 10th September 2016
This was the match that had all the stattos scanning the internet to find out just how many times a team had experienced three penalties saved in the first half of a game. This is certainly the most recent! First Gavin Reilly had the chance from the spot in the ninth minute, Bell went to his right and saved.
Simon Murray then scored the opener for United in 21st minute and another seven minutes passed before referee John Beaton awarded a second Pars penalty. This time Nicky Clark penalty sent the ball left and again Bell saved.
Remarkably another penalty was awarded in 32 minutes and this time Paul McMullan completed the hattrick of failures as yet again Cammy Bell choose to go the right way.Tony Andreu notched a second United goal in the first minute of the second half but Michael Paton struck back five minutes later.
There was always a belief that Dunfermline could take something from the game and that gained momentum as Paul Dixon was red carded with more than half an hour remaining. The Pars tried everything but couldn`t find an equaliser and to further ruin the afternoon Andreu netted an added time third.
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton, Ryan Williamson (Farid El Alagui 76), Lee Ashcroft, Callum Fordyce, Lewis Martin (Joe Cardle 83), Michael Paton, Andy Geggan (c), Rhys McCabe, Paul McMullan, Gavin Reilly, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Kallum Higginbotham, John Herron, Ben Richards-Everton, Michael Moffat, Cammy Gill (GK)
DUNDEE UNITED: Cammy Bell: Frank van der Struik, William Edjenquele, Paul Dixon: Lewis Toshney, Willo Flood (c), Simon Murray (Cammy Smith 67), Charlie Telfer, Nick van der Velden (Coll Donaldson 79), Tope Obadeyi (Jamie Robson 60), Anthony Andreu
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Dillon, Blair Spittal, Scott Fraser, Luis Zwick (GK).
| Current League Position:- | |
| Dunfermline | Dundee United |
| 6 | 2 |
| League Points | |
| 25 | 39 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -3 | +10 |
| Last 6 Match Form | |
| DDWWDW | DWLLDL |
| League Home / AwayRecord | |
| P10, W3, D4, L3 | P11, W4, D3, L4 |
United sit second in the Championship but are six points behind league leaders Hibs after 21 matches. The Pars have taken 25 points from their first 21 matches and are six points off the play off spot.
| Form last six matches | ||||||
| . . Dunfermline | . | . Dundee United . | ||||
| . Alloa Athletic (A) | W |
3-2 |
. Ross County (A) | L | 2-6 | |
| . St Mirren (H) | D |
1-1 |
. Queen of the South (H) | D | 3-3 | |
| . Ayr United (A) | W |
0-2 |
. Hibs (A) | L |
0-3 |
|
| . Raith Rovers (A) | W | 2-0 | . .Dumbarton (A) | L |
0-1 |
|
| . Falkirk (H) | D | 1-1 | . St Mirren (H) | W | 2-1 | |
| . Queen of the South (A) | D | 2-2 | . Raith Rovers (A) | D | 0-0 | |
United have won only one of their six away fixtures while Dunfermline have gone ten matches now unbeaten.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Andy Geggan (c), Lee Ashcroft, Callum Morris Lewis Martin: Paul McMullan, John Herron (Rhys McCabe 79), Nat Wedderburn, Kallum Higginbotham (Joe Cardle HT): Nicky Clark (Michael Moffat 73), Gavin Reilly.
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Farid El Alagui, Michael Paton, David Hutton (GK)
DUNDEE UNITED: (v Ross County): Cammy Bell: Mark Durnan, Frank van der Struik, William Edjenquele, Jamie Robson: Stewart Murdoch (Willo Flood 46), Tope Obadeyi (Thomas Mikkelson 50), Charlie Telfer, Scott Fraser, Simon Murray (Blair Spittal 67), Anthony Andreu.
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Dixon, Lewis Toshney, Luis Zwick (GK).
Referee will be Andrew Dallas.
C`mon Ye Pars!
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