Dunfermline 3 Livingston 1

Saturday, 21st Oct 2017

Ladbrokes Championship: Aird comes in for McManus. Kallum Higginbotham (2) 1-0: Fraser Aird (30) 2-0: Kallum Higginbotham (38) 3-0: Danny Mullen (87) 3-1:

Dunfermline Athletic entertained Livingston in their first home game in three weeks. It was third v second as yet again the Pars met a top team at East End Park.

Fraser Aird started just his second league match for Dunfermline being preferred to Declan McManus. Dean Shiels has served a one match suspension and his one match suspension still outstanding only relates to the Irn Bru (Challenge Cup) so he was listed as a sub alongside the returning Joe Cardle.

Livingston made one change from their side that successfully saw off Dundee United the previous week at the Tony Macaroni Stadium, Dale Carrick replacing Nicky Cadden.

The visitors kicked off and were particularly attacking in the opening ninety seconds putting their hosts under great pressure. Within two minutes however Livingston gifted the first goal of the afternoon. It would be in the bizarre category. Keeper Neil Alexander delayed his clearance about 15 yards out and when he blasted the ball it rebounded off Kallum HIGGINBOTHAM into the net, 1-0

Livingston pushed forward undeterred by the early set back and Sean Murdoch did well to keep out a Josh Mullin effort at the far post in fifth minute. Up until play stopped for an injury to Jackson Longridge five minutes later play was predominantly in the Dunfermline half. There was a free kick pumped into the Livi box from the edge of the centre circle but Callum Morris was blown up for his challenge on that.

Dunfermline`s efforts to get back up the park were led by Aird and Higginbotham but the latter was eventually dispossessed by Penrice. Danny Mullen was able to break into the Pars box in 19th minute only to be closed out but Shaun Byrne`s challenge on Lee Ashcroft`s clearance spun the ball back towards goal but Murdoch came to the rescue.

Next Aird burst through the middle and with the defence parting tried a crack at goal but his sights were much too high. As the midpoint of the first half passed Higginbotham threaded a fine ball through for Ryan Williamson to run on to and cross but unluckily there was no one in the vicinity of his delivery to take advantage.

The second Dunfermline goal on the half hour was a fantastic solo effort from AIRD. The Canadian internationalist met a pass from Jason Talbot on half way, made a strong run up the left, cut inside and when he saw the opportunity, he placed the ball in the top right of the Livi net. A superb goal to make it 2-0.

The Pars style was relaxed but a swift interchange from Aird to Clark and back to Aird set up the pass to HIGGINBOTHAM 20 yards out and he bulged the net with a fine strike. 38 minutes on the clock and it was 3-0.

The Pars saw the half out to go in three ahead at the interval. It had been a case of the home side taking their chances. Four shots, three on target and three goals to show for it. Surely en route to three points.

Half time: Dunfermline 3 Livingston 0

Livingston manager David Hopkin shuffled his line up for the start of the second half. Declan Gallagher came on at the back, Jack McMillan went to right midfield, Nikolay Todorov was moved upfront and Dale Carrick and Josh Mullin were withdrawn.

Within two minutes of coming on Gallagher was shown the first yellow card of the game for dumping Aird on the track. Aird had the first chance to addto the Fifers tally but slipped as he shot from 15 yards and was off target. There was a 52nd minute chance for Callum Smith when Clark cut back from the right byeline but the youngster skied his effort.

The first Dunfermline corner of the afternoon in 57th was blown up by referee Andrew Dallas before it could reach the six yard box for some over enthusiastic challenges. Next minute Aaron Splaine benefited from a fine square ball from Nat Wedderburn to Williamson who then sent the midfielder through on goal but unfortunately the ball ended up in the McCathie Stand.

Clark came closer in 61 minutes after Talbot evaded a rash Todorov challenge to set up the striker. It was the left upright that deflected Clark`s shot behind. In 64 minute Aird sent on a cross that found the head of Clark and he made Alexander tip the ball over his crossbar for another corner from the right but Livi blocked Clark`s shot.

Two minutes later the West Lothian side got their best chance this far when De-Vita took the ball to the left byeline and cut back for Mullen but from the edge of the six yard box, he failed to take the chance.

Todorov headed over the bar when 54ty minute substitute Raffaele De-Vita sent in a 71st minute corner from the right. Sub Jack McMillan might have done better had he chosen to shoot when the ball fell to him five minutes later but crossed instead and the chance was gone.

There was a double substitution made by Allan Johnston with nine minutes remaining. Fraser Aird went off to much aplomb and there was a great welcome back for Joe Cardle. Andy Ryan came on for Callum Smith at the same time.

The points looked well and truly in the Fifers bag and valiant attempts by the opponents got them an 87th minute consolation. Todorov headed down McMillan`s cross from a corner on the left and MULLEN turned the ball in from six yards. 3-1

Livingston pushed up for another but it was far too late for a dramatic finale. Fraser Aird was named Man of the Match as the Pars went back to second top, two points behind St Mirren who were held to a scoreless draw at Falkirk.

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, Aaron Splaine, Nat Wedderburn, Fraser Aird (Joe Cardle 81): Callum Smith (Andy Ryan 81), Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Declan McManus, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Dean Shiels, Cammy Gill (GK).
SCORERS: Higginbotham (2, 38), Aird (30)

LIVINGSTON: Neil Alexander: Nikolay Todorov, Alan Lithgow, Craig Halkett, Jackson Longridge (Raffaele De Vita 54): Josh Mullin (Declan Gallagher HT), Shaun Byrne, Scott Pittman, Daniel Mullen, Dale Carrick (Jack McMillan HT), James Penrice
SUBS NOT USED: Keaghan Jacobs, Dylan Mackin, Matthew Knox, Gary Maley (GK)
SCORERS: Mullen (87)
YELLOW CARD: Gallagher (47), Penrice (67), Byrne (90+1)

REFEREE: Andrew Dallas
WEATHER: Damp 13C
ATTENDANCE 5059

NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (away) v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Saturday 28th October 2017, kick off 3.00pm at the Caledonian Stadium.

014731


Views : 11,690

Related Stories

• Preview Livingston
• Managers post match comments
• Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 0
• Goal hunt but no score to settle
• Pictures from Dunfermline 3 Livingston 1

© 2024 ParsTV and Dunfermline Athletic

Check out the Gallery for more photo's -- the images below will scroll through automatically.

Preview Livingston

Saturday, 21st Oct 2017

Ladbrokes Championship: Saturday 21st October 2017, 3.00pm kick off East End Park

Dunfermline face Livingston at East End Park on Saturday for only the third time since December 2008.  With both teams within touching distance of St Mirren at the top at the end of the first quarter of the season, this is a compelling fixture and sure to be a good contest. There have been 35 league matches between these clubs and Dunfermline are ahead 12-11 on wins. The other twelve have been drawn.

Pars v Livingston: The Full League Record
.	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End Park	16	8	3	5	25	17
At Almondvale	19	4	9	6	18	24
First Division (since 1975)	17	7	4	6	27	22
Premier League (since 1975)	18	5	8	5	16	19
TOTALS	35	12	12	11	43	41

Usually there is not much between the sides and the teams could not be separated in the first fixture between the teams this season on the opening day of the Championship season.

Milestones  Livingston  (Home)
Last League Victory # 22/09/12 4 - 0 Sc Div 1
Last League Defeat # 26/01/13 0 - 1 Sc Div 1
Best League Victory * 22/04/78 7 - 1 Sc Div 2
Worst League Defeat# 03/11/07 0 - 4 Sc Div 1

# As  Livingston * As Meadowbank Thistle

Dunfermline have managed six wins in the last fifteen meetings between the teams. Livi have won five times, with the other four games being drawn.  It is five games back since Dunfermline last defeated Livingston.

LAST FIFTEEN LEAGUE MATCHES V LIVINGSTON
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
05/08/17	A	1-1	[0-1] Pittman, [1-1] Higginbotham (pen)
30/03/13	A	2-2	[1-0] Thomson, [1-1] Andreu, [1-2] McNulty, [2-2] Husband (pen)
26/01/13	H	0-1	[0-1] Andreu
08/12/12	A	1-2	[0-1] Garcia, [0-2] Mullen, [1-2] Barrowman
22/09/12	H	4-0	[1-0] Barrowman, [2-0] McMillan. [3-0] Thomson, 4-0 Barrowman
10/03/09	A	2-4	[0-1[ McParland, [1-1] Bell, [1-2] Davidson, [2-2] Graham, [2-3] Davidson, [2-4] Griffiths
30/12/08	H	1-0	[1-0] Shields
15/11/08	A	3-2	[0-1] McPake, [1-1] Kirk, [2-1] Bayne, [2-2] Elliott, [3-2] Kirk
30/08/08	H	1-2	[0-1] Griffiths, [1-1] Kirk, [1-2] Griffiths
01/03/08	H	1-1	[1-0] Burke, [1-1] Dorrans
02/01/08	A	2-0	[1-0] Hamilton, [2-0] Burchill
03/11/07	H	0-4	[0-1] Craig, [0-2] Craig, [0-3] Tinkler, [0-4] Kennedy
19/08/07	A	1-1	[0-1] Mackay pen. [1-1] O Morrison
22/04/06	H	3-2	[0-1] Brittain, [1-1] Burchill, [1-2] Healy, [2-2] Burchill, [3-2] Burchill
11/02/06	A	1-0	[1-0] Burchill

Last Meeting at East End Park
Saturday 26th January 2013, First Division
Dunfermline 0 Livingston 1

This was a point in time when the club was in crisis and this was the second match in what was to be a disastrous fourteen match run with only one win. A work party of around 30 fans had responded to the Club`s early morning plea to turn out to help clear snow from the areas surrounding the stadium, and the pitch was looking great despite the depths of winter.

All the hard work was unfortunately not rewarded as the Pars slumped to a home defeat. What turned out to be the winner was scored in 21st minute. Mark McNulty took the ball to the right byeline before cutting back for Tony ANDREU to slot past Gallacher at his near post. 0-1

DUNFERMLINE:- Paul Gallacher. Jordan McMillan (c), Andy Dowie, John Potter, Stephen Jordan. Josh Falkingham, Shaun Byrne, Andy Geggan (Ryan Thomson 22), Joe Cardle. Andy Kirk, Ryan Wallace (Craig Dargo 60).
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Kane, Alex Whittle, Michal Hrivnak (GK).

LIVINGSTON: Andy McNeil. Kevin McCann (Callum Booth 90), Jesus Garcia Tena, Craig Barr, Anthony Andreu (Jordan Morton 67), Burton O`Brien, Stefan Scougall, Marc McNulty, Kyle Jacobs, Liam Fox, Iain Russell (Danny Mullen 74).
SUBS NOT USED: Callum Fordyce, Darren Jamieson (GK).

League Stats

Dunfermline 
Current League Position 3rd
Last six League form: WLWWLD
League Points: 17
Goal Difference +13
League Record
P9, W5, D2, L2

Livingston
Current League Position: 2nd
League form: WDWWWW
League Points: 18
Goal Difference: +6
League Record: P9, W5, D3, L1

Livingston`s sole league defeat this season was at home to St Mirren. . They have not lost a league match away from home since 2016.

. Recent Form
. . .Dunfermline . .			.	. .Livingston .
. Queen of the South (A)	D	.0-0		. .Dundee United (H)	W	2-0
. Falkirk (A)	L	0-2		. Dumbarton (H)	W	2-1
. Dundee United (H)	.L	.1-3		. Falkirk (A)	D	2-2
. Brechin City (A)	W	3-0		. .Hibernian (A)	L	2-3
. St Mirren (H)	.W	3-1		. Inverness CT (A)	W	3-1
. Morton (A)	L	2-3		. Queen of the South (H)	D	2-2

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, Aaron Splaine, Nat Wedderburn, Declan McManus (Andy Ryan 76), Callum Smith, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Fraser Aird, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Conner Duthie, Scott Lochhead, Cammy Gill (GK).

LIVINGSTON (v Dundee United): Neil Alexander: Nikolay Todorov, Alan Lithgow, Craig Halkett, Jackson Longridge (Raffaele De Vita 79). Josh Mullin, Shaun Byrne, Scott Pittman, Daniel Mullen, Nicky Cadden (Dale Carrick 12 (Jack McMillan 69), James Penrice
SUBS NOT USED: Keaghan Jacobs, Craig Henderson, Matthew Knox, Gary Maley (GK)

Referee will be Andrew Dallas.

Views : 8,531

Related Stories

• Queen of the South 0 Dunfermline 0
• Falkirk 2 Dunfermline 0
• William Hill Scottish Cup draw
• Managers` post match comments