Hearts 2 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 29th Jul 2017Betfred Cup: Shiels and Clark miss out, Wedderburn and Smith start. Don Cowie (20) 1-0` Joe Cardle (28) 1-1: Declan McManus (52) 1-2: Isma Gonçalves (86) 2-2.
For this final Group B match in the Betfred Cup Dunfermline were without Nicky Clark (ankle) and Dean Shiels. Into the side came Nat Wedderburn and 17 year old Callum Smith. As virtue of Hearts defeat in Peterhead on Tuesday a draw would be enough to see the Fifers top the section but clearly their hosts would have other ideas.
Hearts manager Ian Cathro said in his programme notes that four matches in two weeks can have its problems but he claimed that his side had prepared well for this encounter and they believed that they could win and top the group. The Jambos brought in Jamie Brandon and 28 year old Cameroonian Armand Djoum while Friday`s signing Connor Randall was on the bench.
It was a winner takes all scenario since should Peterhead win at Elgin then they would take second place and Hearts needed a win and Dunfermline a draw to top the group.
A heavy shower during the warm ups sent the travelling support scurrying into the upper half of the Roseburn stand. Kyle Laffferty got the match underway in bright sunshine with Hearts attacking the goal at the Roseburn end. Kallum Higginbotham and Ryan Williamson both made early intrusions into the Hearts box but the first danger came on two minutes when Isma Gonçalves blasted an effort off Callum Morris and behind for a corner that was successfully defended.
The Hearts keeper Jack Hamilton came out to pluck a tenth minute cross from Higginbotham out of the air. Another Higginbotham cross four minutes later after an exchange with Smith on the right side of the box, was again cleared amidst appeals for a push on Declan McManus on the edge of the six yards box.
There was more threat from the visitors when Michael Paton robbed Prince Bauben midway into the Hearts half but his subsequent shot from 20 yards out was blocked. Then in 19 minutes a quick counterattack with McManus feeding Joe Cardle for a slick pass out right for Smith was met by Cardle from the cut back and Hamilton had to dive to his right to hold.
But just as it looked like the Fifers would stand a great chance an equally swift forward move saw Don COWIE receive the ball on the edge of the Pars box and he crashed his low shot past Sean Murdoch for the 20th minute opener. 1-0
Hearts then had an opportunity from a 24th minute free kick and Gonçalves made a good job of protecting Djoum`s run into the right side of the box but fortunately his cross was cleared.
Then in 28th minute delight for Joe Cardle and the sun kissed Pars support. Higginbotham`s pass was gathered by CARDLE just inside the box and he showed great control to beat off John Souttar with first a right footed touch, a turn and then a low left footed shot that nestled in the bottom left of the Jambo`s net. 1-1
A 38th minute free kick was headed behind by Lafferty under pressure from Morris. Full back Michael Smith got to the byeline and sent the ball across goal but out for a throw in at the right corner flag. Hearts won possession back and Bauben had a worthwhile effort that was kept out.
A great save by Murdoch in 41st minute palming a Morris defensive header on to the crossbar and then a couple of great defensive displays from Cardle kept Hearts out.
The half time stats would show 62% home possession but the visitors had managed five shots on target to Hearts four. So at the break the scoreline suited Dunfermline in their quest to be in the hat for the draw on Sunday evening.
Half time: Hearts 1 Dunfermline 1
There were no changes to either side when Smith kicked off the second half. Hearts won a 47th minute corner when Morris was forced to blocked out Cowie from a Brandon pass but they wasted that opportunity.
Calum Smith created the next danger superbly beating Souttar down at the left corner flag and cutting back the ball into the centre of the box for Higginbotham. Hearts closed the chance down and McManus`s shot was blocked.
The 1132 Pars fans at Tynecastle were soon to be elated. Latching on to a long pass up the right from Higginbotham, Callum Smith brushed aside the challenge of Souttar and sprinted. He could have shot but squared for McMANUS who took the luxury of two taps to get the ball on to his right foot to release a shot that hit the net to the sheer delight of the Pars fraternity. 52 minutes on the clock and 2-1 to Dunfermline.
Williamson forced the Pars first corner of the game on the hour and although Lee Ashcroft could not connect with Higginbotham`s delivery it would keep Hearts in their own half a bit longer. Next a 63rd minute free kick on the right, level with the six yard box was held by Hamilton.
Scott Lochhead replaced Callum Smith three minutes later but there continued good Pars possession in the opposition half. Williamson sent over a cross from the right and when Cardle returned there were loud appeals from the Pars fans as McManus was spilled in the box as he challenged for the ball with Berra.
Hearts began to look way out of sorts exemplified by a bad choice by Nowak to cross instead of taking the corner kick that was coming. He thrashed the ball behind much to the chagrin of the home support. Same again when Gonçalves beat the offside trap but then picked out Murdoch with his cross.
Jordan McGhee blocked a powerful Lochhead effort in 81 minutes and then Murdoch fisted away a Hearts free kick. The minutes were slipping away from the Jambos but the Lochhead conceded a free kick 25 yards out and Lafferty`s drove was cleared off the heel of Cardle. That raised a cheer from the travelling support who were ready to celebrate a famous win, but there was to be a fight to the end.
A 85th minute corner on the right was sent over by sub Martin, Murdoch fisted out only as far as Lafferty but Wedderburn headed behind for a corner on the left. When the ball came over there was a scramble and GONÇALVES managed to net from the melee. 2-2
In the second minute of added one there was one almighty miss from Stockton. Ashcroft and Berra crunched in front of the Pars goal and another corner transpired from the left. But when Stockton had a glorious chance the ball was sent over.
The match would be decided on penalties but Dunfermline had already topped the group.
1 Michael Paton scored low right
2 Jordan McGhee over the bar 0-1
3 Scott Lochhead scored left 0-2
4 Kyle Lafferty in off right post 1-2
5 Declan McManus centre saved by Hamilton
6 Malauray Martin high and wide right 1-2
7 Nat Wedderburn with left foot smashed in right 1-3
8 Don Cowie sent ball over the top
Pars take the two points for winning on penalties. Cue a huge and very vocal celebration by the Fife fans and the players. Nobody appeared to want to leave, it was just a shame that the late equaliser denied Dunfermline their first win at Tynecastle for 27 years.
SUBS NOT USED: Ashley Smith-Brown, Rory Currie, Connor Randall, Viktor Noring (GK)
SCORERS: Cowie (20), Gonçalves (86)
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham, Michael Paton, Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle (Jean-Yves M`Voto 89): Declan McManus, Callum Smith (Scott Lochhead 66)
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Splaine, Jason Talbot, Conner Duthie, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Cardle (28), McManus (52)
YELLOW CARD: Wedderburn (55), Lochhead (86)
REFEREE: Craig Thomson
WEATHER: Sunny 20C
ATTENDANCE 8404
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (away) v Livingston, Saturday 5th August 2017. 3.00pm kick off at Tony Macaroni Arena.
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Preview v Hearts
Saturday, 29th Jul 2017Betfred Cup: Group B Tynecastle Park, Saturday 29th July 2017, kick off 3.00pm
After the results on Tuesday night a draw at Tynecastle should be enough to see the Pars into the draw for the last sixteen of the Betfred Cup. Saturday`s opponents Hearts went down to a surprise defeat at Peterhead so the Group sees Dunfermline lead with eight points and the two sides below - Hearts and Peterhead - on six points. Pessimists, however, might say that a Peterhead win at Elgin coupled with defeat at Tynecastle would mean that the Pars might fail to quality.
Its the first time since December 2011 that Dunfermline will travel to Tynecastle. The sides have faced each other ten times in the League Cup and Hearts have the edge having won six to the Pars four - in 1971, 1974 (2) and 1997. One of the wins in 1974 was at Tynecastle.
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Milestones
Hearts (Away) |
|||
|
Last
League Victory |
|
2-0 |
Premier League |
|
Last
League Defeat |
17/12/11 |
0-4 |
SPL |
|
Best
League Victory |
|
2-0 |
Premier . League |
|
Worst
League Defeat |
|
1-7 |
SPL |
|
*Pre league reconstruction |
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The last time Dunfermline won at Tynecastle. was 27 matches ago more than 27 years back when George O’Boyle and Ross Jack were on target as the Athletic triumphed 2-0 in February 1990. The Pars solitary two Premier League victories were a bit like the proverbial buses, not just one but two came along during season 1989/90. Ross Jack and Paul Smith were the scorers when
Dunfermline have recorded just two wins in the last fifteen games between the teams, with two draws, and eleven defeats.
Last Fifteen Matches v Hearts |
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|
Date |
H/A |
F-A |
Scorers |
| 07/04/12 | H | 1-2 | [0-1] Glen, [0-2] Keddie og, [1-2] Zaliukas og |
| 17/12/11 | A | 0-4 | [0-1] Elliot, [0-2] Taouil, [0-3] Templeton, [0-4] Skacel |
| 15/10/11 | H | 0-2 | [0-1] Webster, [0-2] Skacel |
| 23/09/09 | A | 1-2 | [1-0] Bayne, [1-1] Glen, [1-2] Stewart pen. |
| 25/09/07 | A | 1-4 | [0-1] Nade pen [1-1] Simmonds, [1-2] Berra, [1-3] Elliot, [1-4] Elliot |
| 03/02/07 | H | 1-0 | [1-0] Wilson |
| 02/01/07 | H | 0-1 | [0-1] Pospisal |
| 28/10/06 | A | 1-1 | [0-1] Velicka [1-1] Hamilton |
| 29/07/06 | H | 1-2 | [0-1] Bednar, [1-1] Simmons, [1-2] Pospisal |
| 24/04/06 | A | 0-4 | [0-1] Pospisal, [0-2] Bednar, [0-3] Mikoliunas, [0-4] Makela |
| 14/01/06 | H | 1-4 | [0-1] Pressley, [0-2] Pospisil, [1-2] Burchill, [1-3] Pospisal, [1-4] Skacel |
| 22/10/05 | A | 0-2 | [0-1] . . [0-2] . |
| 05/03/05 | H | 1-1 | [1-0] Wilson, [1-1] Hartley (pen) |
| 04/12/04 | A | 0-3 | [0-1] Wyness, [0-2] Pereira, [0-3] Hartley (pen) |
|
H |
1-0 |
[1-0] Nicholson |
|
Last visit to Tynecastle
SPL Saturday 17th December 2011
Hearts 4 Dunfermline 0
The Pars first league match at Tynecastle for over five years failed to bring any Christmas cheer to the East End team. Hearts never looked back after taking an early lead and Jim McIntyre maintained that there would be no success until his team stopped leaking goals.
Ian Black whipped that over to the back post Ryan McGowan knocked it down for Stephen ELLIOTT to ram into the Pars net right on two minutes.
Perseverance on the left allowed the ball to be played to Mehdi TAOUIL who sent the ball past Gallacher from the edge of the box. It looked rather easy, 2-0
On 71 minutes Hardie tried to twist his way out of defence while surrounded by three opponents. he beat off two to raise applause of the travelling support but he failed to beat off the third and TEMPLETON went in on goal to thrash the ball beyond Gallacher. 3-0
In the second minute of added time a real pile driver of a shot from Stevenson was parried up in the air by the Pars keeper and SKACEL followed in to head home, 4-0.
HEARTS: Marián Kello. Jamie Hamill, Marius Zaliukas, Andy Webster, Ryan McGowan. David Templeton (Arvydas Novikovas 82) Stephen Elliott (Ryan Stevenson 84), Scott Robinson, Adrian Mrowiec, Ian Black, Mehdi Taouil.(Rudolf Skacel 72)
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie MacDonald (GK), John Sutton, Brad McKay, Chris Kane.
DUNFERMLINE: 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.
| Betfred Cup Form - | ||||||
| . HEARTS . | .
. .. |
. DUNFERMLINE . | ||||
| . Peterhead (A) | L | 1-2 | . Peterhead (H) | W | 5-1 | |
| . East Fife (H) | W | 3-0 | . East Fife (A) | D | 0-0 | |
| . Elgin City (A) | W | 0-1 | . Elgin City (H) | W | 6-0 | |
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE: (v Peterhead): Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham, Michael Paton (Aaron Splaine 59), Dean Shiels, Joe Cardle (Jean-Yves M`Voto 71): Declan McManus, Nicky Clark (Callum Smith 59)
SUBS NOT USED: Nat Wedderburn, Scott Lochhead, Conner Duthie, Cammy Gill (GK)
HEARTS: (v Peterhead): Jack Hamilton: Jordan McGhee, Christophe Berra, Krystian Nowak, Michael Smith: Don Cowie (Malaury Martin 76), Prince Buaben (Arnaud Sutchuin-Djoum 68), Rafal Grzelak, Isma Gonçalves, Kyle Lafferty
SUBS NOT USED: Cole Stockton, Rory Currie, Dario Zanatta, Jamie Brandon, Viktor Noring (GK)
Referee will be Craig Thomson
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