Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 0

Tuesday, 13th Mar 2018

Ladbrokes Championship: Three changes to the starting eleven as in come Martin, Morris and Higginbotham. James Craigen (6) 1-0

After four successive away games Dunfermline Athletic returned to East End Park for their first home match since 26th January.

Manager Allan Johnston made three enforced changes to the Pars starting eleven. Jason Talbot was suspended having seen red at Paisley on Saturday. Dan Armstrong was back on the bench and Jean-Yves M`Voto was out with a hamstring injury so there were starts for Lewis Martin, Callum Morris and Kallum Higginbotham. Joe Cardle was unavailable due to sustaining an ankle injury in training.

Inverness came into the match having not played competitively since the 24th February, following a 2-0 home defeat to Greenock Morton. John Robertson’s side were missing the injured duo of Coll Donaldson and Nathan Austin, while Riccardo Calder was also unavailable. A mix-up with the team-sheet saw Cameron Harper start rather than Brad McKay, while Carl Tremarco and Jake Mulraney returned to the starting eleven. Canadian internationalist Charlie Trafford dropped down on to the bench.

Kevin Clancy led the teams out, with the Pars in their traditional home colours of the black and white, with Inverness wearing their first-choice kit, too. Dunfermline kicked off, shooting towards the empty Cowdenbeath end.

It was a lively opening by the hosts, with Tom Beadling driving forward and letting fly within 30 seconds. His shot cannoned off youngster Harper, who deflected the ball behind for an early corner to the home side.

Higginbotham drilled in a low corner towards the near post, with Lee Ashcroft flicking the ball on, but it harmlessly looped over the bar and out for a goal-kick.

In the fifth minute, Iain Vigurs took out Higginbotham on the edge of the box, as the winger cut inside from the right. Many players surrounded the ball discussing which option to take, as Harper received treatment from the visiting medical staff. The call was taken to take the teenager off, replacing him with ex-Pars defender, Brad McKay.

After the stoppage had ended, James CRAIGEN curled home the opener with a terrific left-footed shot which flew past Mark Ridgers as it nestled into the back of the Caley Thistle net. The former Falkirk midfielder, scoring his first goal for Dunfermline, helped the Fife side make the most of their early dominance with a fantastic swerving effort into the left-hand corner of the net. 1-0

In the following ten minutes, the game became very scrappy, as both sides snuffed each other out. There were 6 fouls in this period, with Higginbotham at the centre of most of them, with the Englishman being penalised by referee Kevin Clancy on numerous occasions.

However, on 16 minutes, Declan McManus got the break of the ball in the middle of the park as the striker burst into the space ahead of him. the ex-Raith striker had partner Nicky Clark waiting inside the area but chose to go alone, seeing his right-footed attempt blocked out for a corner off of Gary Warren.

Higginbotham swung the ball into the box from the right on 28 minutes, with the ball to the back-post being met by Colin Seedorf, who took no risks with Craigen lurking round the back as the ball got turned away for a corner. Craigen took the set-piece himself, with Morris rising highest to get a header on goal but the effort didn’t trouble Ridgers on this occasion.

More fouls followed as the match became bogged down in a midfield tussle, with neither side showing enough quality to create many clear goalscoring chances. Lee Robinson was yet to make a save while Ridgers was also quiet at the opposite end of the park.

It was a frustrating game to watch but the Pars fans were happy to hear Clancy’s whistle for the break, as they hoped the interval would inspire their side to kick on for a second goal. The Highlanders, on the other hand, would be hoping for much better in the second period, with their side not registering a shot on goal or a corner within the opening 45 minutes, despite having the bulk of possession.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 0

Caley Thistle looked more interested when they got the second half underway and early on Robinson had to hold an on target shot for Doran that lacked power. It was 52 minutes before Rodgers was called into serious action turning a well struck drive from Craigen around his right hand post.

Higginbotham delivered the corner and when the ball went back out Craigen crashed an effort over the bar and into the McCathie Stand. At the other end a Chalmers free kick in 58 minutes was sent into the penalty spot area but the Highlanders were blown up for over enthusiastic challenges.

Three minutes later Craigen tried another snapshot from outside the box but was off target. Next Morris did well to win the ball ahead of Oakley in front of goal after Inverness had put together a good move from Vigurs through Polworth to Mulraney wide right.

Williamson put together a couple of his trademark runs but Caley cleared he first and then forced him behind the second time. A misdirected headed clearance set up Craigen for yet another shot but from the edge of the box he placed his effort wide.

Clark made Ridgers hold a 70th minute shot from 25 yards out. There was one almighty scramble to keep Dunfermline out two minutes later after the Caley keeper came and failed to take a cross from the right and as the ball broke towards the goal line a defender got to it just in time.

With 15 minutes to go Clark launched the ball in from the left and it looked like McManus would head home the second but his attempt came back off the post to be hoofed away by an Inverness defender.

Inverness pushed up with Polworth feeding sub Zak Elbouzedi on the right nd he made Robinson save as he tried a shot from an angle. In 81 minutes the same pair combined to send a decent ball into a central area and Robinson was made to save Vigurs straightforward header.

Back in front of the home support Ashcroft flashed a header that was deflected over the bar from a Higginbotham corner. Then in 84 Martin went forward and rifled a good effort at goal from 30 yards out but Ridgers held albeit at the second attempt.

Next minute it looked like the Pars had to score. McManus ran on to the ball in the left side of the box and unselfishly cut back for the advancing Higginbotham who thrashed the ball om target only for the keeper to pull off a wonder block.

ICT assistant manager Brian Rice was sent to the stand as their frustrations showed. Tremarco collected the first yellow card of the game in 89 minutes but from the resultant free kick McManus placed the ball over the bar.

The home fans objected strongly to an offside flag that prevented McManus the chance to get in on goal but the Fifers saw out the game to register their first win since 6 January.

Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 0
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c) Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: James Craigen, Tom Beadling, James Vincent, Kallum Higginbotham, Declan McManus, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Fraser Aird, Dean Shiels, Dan Armstrong, Scott Lochhead, Nat Wedderburn, Andy Ryan, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Craigen (6)

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: Mark Ridgers: Collin Seedorf, Gary Warren, Cameron Harper (Brad McKay 5), Carl Tremarco: Jake Mulraney (Zak Elbouzedi 71), Liam Polworth, Iain Vigurs, Joe Chalmers, Aaron Doran (Connor Bell 71), George Oakley.
SUBS NOT USED: Daniel Mackay, Charlie Trafford, Jack Brown, Ryan Esson (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Tremarco (89), McKay (90+1)

REFEREE: Kevin Clancey
WEATHER: Dry 5C
ATTENDANCE 2249

NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Morton Saturday 17th March 2028, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park


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Preview Inverness Caley Thistle

Tuesday, 13th Mar 2018

Ladbrokes Championship: (home) Tuesday 13th March 2018, kick off 7.45pm at East End Park

This Championship fixture has been rescheduled for a second time after the previous attempt was snowed off by the bitter wintery `Beast from the east”. While the Pars were facing St Mirren on Saturday, Inverness’ match at Livingston fell foul of the weather meaning that the Highlanders have played only one league match since their 3-1 defeat at Falkirk on 27 January.

Dunfermline have only taken three points from their six league matches and Inverness have not gained any points since the six from two home matches in five days at the start of January.

Milestones v Inverness Caley Thistle (home)
Last League Victory 18/12/99 1-0 Division 1
Last League Defeat 18/01/12 1-3 Division 1
Best League Victory 07/08/99 4-0 Division 1
Worst League Defeat 18/01/12 1-3 Division 1
Last Goalless Match 02/05/12 0-0 Premier League
First Meeting 07/08/99 4-0 Division 1

Inverness have only lost six of the 32 matches between the sides. The Pars win in August was their first against ICT in over ten years.

Last 12 League matches v Inverness CT

28/10/17: (A) [0-1] Bell (23)
12/08/17: (H) 5-1 [1-0] Smith, [2-0] Ashcroft, [2-1] Vigurs, [3-1] Cardle, [4-1] Hopkirk, [5-1] Cardle.
18/02/12: (H) 1-1 [1-0] Cardle, [1-1] Ross.
22/10/11: (A) 1-1 [0-1] Tade, [1-1] Buchanan (pen.)
06/08/11: (H) 3-3 [1-0] Kirk, [1-1] Tansey, [2-1] Kirk. [2-2] Hayes, [2-3] Tansey, [3-3] Hardie.
17/04/10: (A) 0-2 [1-0] Rooney, [2-0] Foran.
19/12/09: (H) 0-0
17/10/09: (A) 1-1 [0-1] Proctor, [1-1] Kirk.
08/08/09: (H) 0-1 [0-1] Cox.
12/05/07: (A) 1-2 [1-0] McIntyre, [1-1] Hastings, [1-2] McAllister.
17/03/07: (A) 3-1 [0-1] Paatelainen, [1-1] Glass, [2-1] McIntyre, [3-1] Glass.
23/12/06: (H) 0-0

Last Meeting at East End Park
Ladbrokes Championship, Saturday 12th August 2017
Dunfermline 5 Inverness Caley Thistle 1

Within 90 seconds Callum Smith put the Pars into the lead. A Matthew Elsdon free kick on half way was pumped to the far right where Joe Cardle gathered and fed the ball forward. Running through SMITH headed the ball on and when Mark Rodgers came to meet it 20 yards out the ball broke left and the seventeen year old slipped the ball in for his first ever league goal. 1-0

Kallum Higginbotham sent the ball in from the right for Lee ASHCROFT to meet at the near post and glance his 14th minute header in at the far post. 2-0

The visitors cut the deficit back just four minutes later. A Talbot challenge on Mulraney handed Caley a free kick 25 yards out VIGURS hit the setpiece low and the ball nestled in the far left of the home net. 2-1

Four minutes from the break a strong and determined run from Higginbotham cutting in from the right, brushed off challenges to set up CARDLE who netted from 20 yards out, in off the right post. 3-1

Midway through the second half HOPKIRK was presented with the opportunity to net from the edge of the box with a fine finish. 4-1

In the last minute of the match CARDLE rubbed more salt in the Highlanders wounds in a typical run along the 18 yard line until the opportunity arose to hit a low right footed shot into the bottom left. 5-1

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c) Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot (Lewis Martin 70): Kallum Higginbotham, Dean Shiels, Nat Wedderburn (Aaron Splaine 81), Joe Cardle: David Hopkirk (Scott Lochhead 74), Callum Smith
SUBS NOT USED: Jean Yves M`Voto, Michael Paton, Fraser Aird, Cammy Gill (GK)

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: Mark Ridgers: Colin Seedorf, Joe Chalmers, Matthew Elsdon, Riccardo Calder, Brad Mackay, Liam Polworth, Jake Mulraney (Alex Cooper 71), Iain Vigurs (David Raven 81), John Baird, George Oakley (Felitciano Zschusschen 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Connor Bell, Liam MacDonald, Ryan Esson (GK)

League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 6th
League Points: 35
League Record: P26 W9 D8 L9 GF39 GA30
Goal Difference: +9
Last Six League Match Form: DLLDDL

INVERNESS CT
League Position: 7th
League Points: 30
League Record: P24 W8 D6 L10 GF30 GA30
Goal Difference: 0
Last Six League Match Form: DLWWLL

Form last six matches

Inverness Caley Thistle`s only win in their last six matches was against Crusaders in the Irn Bru Cup semi final. Dunfermline are without a win in their last six matches.

DUNFERMLINE
St Mirren (A) L 0-2
Queen of the South (A) D 0-0
Livingston (A) D 0-0
Morton (A) L 1-2
St Mirren (H) L 1-2
Morton (H) L 1-2

INVERNESS CT
Morton (H) L 0-2
Crusaders (H) W 3-2
Dundee (H) L 0-1
Falkirk (A) L 1-3
Dundee (A) D 2-2
Queen of the South (H) W 3-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v St Mirren): Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: James Craigen (Lewis Martin 71), Tom Beadling, James Vincent, Dan Armstrong (Joe Cardle 57), Declan McManus (Callum Morris 74), Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Nat Wedderburn, Kallum Higginbotham, Andy Ryan, Cammy Gill (GK)

INVERNESS CALEY TH (v Morton): Mark Ridgers: Joe Chalmers, Gary Warren, Riccardo Calder, Collin Seedorf, Brad McKay, Liam Polworth, Aaron Doran Cogan, Iain Vigurs, Charlie Trafford (Nathan Austin 47 (Daniel Mackay 65)), George Oakley.
SUBS NOT USED: Carl Tremarco, Cameron Harper, Connor Bell, Zak Elbouzedi, Ryan Esson (GK).

Referee will be Kevin Clancy.

Other Championship Fixtures on Tuesday 13th March
Dumbarton v Brechin City
Livingston v Morton
Queen of the South v Dundee United

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