Dundee United 1 Dunfermline 0
Saturday, 12th Jan 2019Ladbrokes Championship: same again starting eleven for Stevie Crawford’s first match in charge. Nicky Clark (81) 1-0:
Following the departure of Allan Johnston, this was the first game with Stevie Crawford in charge of the team. Seventh placed Pars took the road and the miles to Dundee to face third placed United and in typical football coincidence, it placed Stevie in the opposing dugout to Robbie Neilson. The pair had formed a management partnership at Hearts in May 2014 and then in December 2016 on to MK Dons in League One. The meeting was intriguing but it would be about what the players did.
Stevie went with the same starting eleven that Allan Johnston selected to meet Alloa the previous Saturday. The only changes were on the bench where Aidan Connolly and Malaury Martin replaced the injured pair, Ryan Williamson and Lewis Martin.
Dundee United made one change to their starting eleven with new signing Cammy Smith taking the place of former Par Fraser Aird. Pars top goalscorer from last season, Nicky Clark returned to the bench for the Tannadice club.
The teams changed ends before Cammy Smith kick off for the home side attacking the goal in front of their own fans. First hope came after three minutes defender Rachid Bouhenna let Aidan Keena away down the left but when he successfully got the cross in Frederic Frans got the danger away.
Two minutes later a James Craigen delivery into the box created concern in the United box but when Kallum Higginbotham sent the ball in from the left Benjamin Siegrist held comfortably.
In the ninth minutes the pink left boot of Jackson Longridge pumped a free kick from just inside the Pars half into the United box where Myles Hippolyte laid a chance back for Keena but his low shot towards the right side of the goal was held by the big Swiss keeper.
Three minutes later Fifers keeper Lee Robinson had to made a save from a Stewart Murdoch header after Pavlov Safranko receiving the ball from a corner on the left, headed back across the six yard box. When Keena was flattened by Frans Dunfermline were awarded a 19th minute free kick 30 yards out. Higginbotham lofted the ball to the far side of the six yard box where Danny Devine headed back across goal only for Siegrist to hold.
There were several good forward moves from the visitors and they were unlucky when Hippolyte’s ball in from the right was missed by Higginbotham due to a loss of footing. Next Devine accepted a loose clearance from Bouhenna to head the ball to the feet of Keena. The Irishman tried a snapshot from 30 yards out but was off target to the left.
James Vincent got caught on the edge of the centre circle so another free kick in 28th minute was taken short for Higginbotham to lob the ball onto the penalty box but the linesman’s flag went up to indicate an infringement due to an over enthusiastic urge to meet the cross.
United were not without threat and Pars defenders were reminded by McMullan who drilled his 32nd minute narrowly wide left. Back at the other end the Pars pressure led to a mistake in the United defence and Hippolyte sending a cut back from the right to Vincent in front of goal but the on loan player crashed his effort outside the right post.
Robinson made a good catch as United lobbed the ball in from the right before the Pars produced a superb chance from a 41st minute free kick that had earned Frans the first yellow card of the match. From 30 yards out Higginbotham sent the ball into open space on the left side of the United box. Devine raced in to head the ball on target but when turned away the flag went up as Hippolyte was deemed to be offside.
It had been a pretty even first half, the Pars had managed marginally more shots than their hosts and they had shown plenty of effort in the opening 45 minutes. After the teams had gone in from the break, deep in discussion Stevie Crawford and Greg Shields trailed them in.
Half time: Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 0
Former Celtic youth Aidan Nesbitt replaced Matty Smith for the second half and when Safranko charged down Devine’s pass the United player scurried away down the left and despite Devine’s pursuit go in a shot that Robinson parried away to his left.
United kept the Pars much quieter at the start of the second half with only a Higginbotham corner and an Ashcroft cross from the left creating any threat whatsoever for home defence. An injury to Murdoch stopped play on the hour.
In 62 minutes a strong Hippolyte run beat off the challenge from three defenders before hitting his shot at Frans. Callum Smith then became the first sub of the Crawford era coming on for Aidan Keena. At the midpoint of the half Hippolyte won a corner on the left but United cleared and then blocked Craigen’s return.
Higginbotham forced his marker into a mistake but as the Pars man struggled to keep his footing the keeper came out to sweep up. Nicky Clark was then introduced, former Par for former Par in place of Paul McMullan.
After another stoppage that concluded with Murdoch having to call it a day and on the restart Clark fired just wide to the right from inside the area.
A double substitution for Dunfermline in 76 minutes saw Malaury Martin and Aidan Connolly taking the places of Joe Thomson and Kallum Higginbotham. It was a United sub however that broke the deadlock with just nine minutes remaining. A quickly taken free kick while the Dunfermline players were arguing with referee Alan Muir over the decision, sent Nesbitt down the left and it was his cross that CLARK met at the near post to glance the ball in. 1-0
Dunfermline responded with a long throw from Hippolyte that Frans headed away and Connolly worked hard to deliver crosses but to no avail. Robinson was on the edge of the centre circle to send an added time free kick forward but the home side defended that.
Despite a late Pars rally the game was to have no further scoring and the Fifers had to return down the M90 with nothing to show for their afternoon’s efforts. No instant fix from the Pars new management team but good positive signs on the park.
SUBS NOT USED: Billy King, Jamie Robson, Archie Thomas, Matej Rakovan (GK).
SCORERS: Clark (81)
YELLOW CARD: Frans (40)
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling, Joe Thomson (Aidan Connolly 76), James Vincent: Myles Hippolyte, Aidan Keena (Callum Smith 64), Kallum Higginbotham (Malaury Martin 76).
SUBS NOT USED: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Robbie Muirhead, Mark Durnan, Cammy Gill (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Hippolyte (77)
REFEREE: Alan Muir
WEATHER: Bright 9C
ATTENDANCE 5913
NEXT MATCH: William Hill Scottish Cup (away) v Raith Rovers, Saturday 19th January 2019, kick off 3.00pm at Starks Park.
50/50 half time draw, number 483195 won £540
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Preview Dundee United
Saturday, 12th Jan 2019Ladbrokes Championship: (away) v Dundee United, Saturday 12th January 2019, 3.00pm kick off at Tannadice
In May Dundee United’s 2-1 win caused Dunfermline Athletic’s exit from Premiership Play offs but the Fifers started this league season with a magnificent 3-2 victory at Tannadice, and on day one of the league the Pars looked serious title contenders. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge for both teams since then and United have changed their manager and their owner since.
The so-called momentum from the change of manager has only partly happened and indeed United have just one win in their last six games. The big question is how much funding is new owner/ chairman Mark Ogren prepared to put into the club and how much of that will change the United squad during the January transfer window.
Over the last two seasons these sides have met twelve times. Two seasons back it was in Betfred and Irn Bru Cups and in four league matches - resulting in five United wins and one draw. Last season it was four league matches and two play off games - United won four and two were drawn. This season after two meetings the honours are even after away wins in both fixtures. The Pars win in Dundee in August was their first over United there since August 2011
In the 139 league meetings Dunfermline have 49 wins and United 52 with 38 match drawn.
Milestones Dundee United (away)
Last League Victory:
04/08/18: 3-2: Championship
Last Defeat:
04/05/18: 1-2: Premiership Play off
Best League Victories:
29/01/66: 4-0: Div 1*
22/08/62: 4-0: Div 1*
28/02/48: 4-0: Div B*
Worst League Defeat
29/04/61: 0-5: Div 1*
*Pre league reconstruction
Dundee United 2-3 Dunfermline
Sat, 4th Aug 2018
The last dozen league games between the two sides have seen United win seven, Pars one with four games ending up all square.
Last Twelve Matches v Dundee United
Date | H/A | F-A | WDL | Competition
27/10/18 | H | 0-2 | L | Championship
04/08/18 | A | 3-2 | W | Championship
05/05/18 | A | 1-2 | L | Premiership Play off
01/05/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Premiership Play off
24/03/18 | A | 1-1 | D | Championship
13/01/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
02/12/17 | A | 1-2 | L | Championship
30/09/17 | H | 1-3 | L | Championship
11/04/17 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship
28/01/17 | H | 1-1 | D | Championship
12/11/16 | H | 0-1 | L | Irn Bru Cup
08/11/16 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship
Last time at Tannadice
Saturday 4th August 2018, Ladbrokes Championship
Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 3
After a fantastic second half comeback Dunfermline Athletic registered their first win over Dundee United in all competitions at this their sixteenth attempt.
United were to go ahead after a scramble in front of the Pars goal. The ball was headed around and broke towards the Pars several players got a touch and the unfortunate James Craigen could not stop the ball crossing the line. Nicky CLARK peeled away to the left celebrating poking home the 44th minute goal. 1-0
Fourteen minutes into the second half Dunfermline got a well deserved equaliser. Faissal El Bakhtaoui controlled the ball on the right side of the box and he fed the ball back for THOMSON on the edge of the box and possibly with the aid of a deflection, his low drive beat the keeper low to his left. 1-1
A second Dunfermline goal came midway through the half and it was a second goal in Dundee for Jackson LONGRIDGE. The full back’s diving header was the finish required after Craigen’s thrown in reached Thomson and his snapshot was stopped but sat up nicely for the goalscorer. 1-2
Six minutes from time a Craigen throw in on the left was accepted by Louis LONGRIDGE. He beat a couple of men as he travelled left and from the edge of the box sent a good left footed finish into the bottom right. 1-3
There was to be late drama after AIRD netted from a 89th minute free kick 28 yards out. 2-3
The Pars saw the game out however to register their first win at Tannadice since 2011, celebrated famously by the 1347 very happy travelling support.
DUNDEE UNITED: Matej Rakovan: Frederic Frans, Jamie Robson (Paul McMullan 84), Sam Wardrop, William Edjenguele, Adam Barton, Sam Stanton (c), Christoph Rabitsch (Fraser Aird HT), Yannick Loemba, Craig Curran (Matthew Smith 72), Nicky Clark
SUBS NOT USED: Declan Glass, Paul Watson, Benjamin Siegrist (GK)
SCORERS: Clark (44), Aird (89)
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Lee Ashcroft (c), Mark Durnan, Danny Devine (Andy Ryan 90): James Craigen, Joe Thomson, James Vincent, Louis Longridge, Jackson Longridge: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Myles Hippolyte.
SUBS NOT USED: Aidan Connolly, Matthew Todd, Paul Allan, Callum Smith, Brandon Luke, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Thomson (59), J Longridge (67), L Longridge (84)
Form Last Six Matches
DUNFERMLINE
Alloa Athletic (H) D 2-2
Falkirk (A) W 4-2
Ayr United (H) D 0-0
Queen of the South (A) D 0-0
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-2
Morton (H) W 3-0
DUNDEE UNITED
Partick Thistle (H) D 1-1
Alloa Athletic (A) 1-2
Falkirk (H) W 2-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 1-1
Morton (A) D 2-2
Ayr United (H) L 0-5
League Form
In their last six league matches the Pars have drawn three, won two and lost one. This season away wins in the league have only come at Falkirk, Alloa and Tannadice.
Dundee United have taken six points from the last possible eighteen. Three draws against Morton, Inverness and Partick and one win over Falkirk. They were beaten by Alloa two weeks ago and are possibly still suffering flashbacks to their heaviest home league defeat in over 17 years when Ayr United humiliated them in the televised Friday night match on St Andrews Night.
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 7th
League Points: 24
Goal Difference: -5
Away League Record: P10 W4 D3 L3 GF15 GA15
Last Six League Match Form: WLDDWD
DUNDEE UNITED
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 33
Goal Difference: +1
Home League Record: P10 W4 D3 L3 GF17 GA20
Last Six League Match Form: LDDWLD
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Alloa Athletic): Lee Robinson: James Craigen (Ryan Williamson 57), Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling, Joe Thomson, James Vincent: Myles Hippolyte, Aidan Keena, Kallum Higginbotham.
SUBS NOT USED: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Callum Smith, Robbie Muirhead, Lewis McCann, Mark Durnan, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Keena (18), Flannigan (28 og).
DUNDEE UNITED (v Partick Thistle): Benjamin Siegrist: Callum Booth, Frederic Frans, Rachid Bouhenna, Stewart Murdoch, Paul McMullan, Fraser Fyvie, Sam Stanton, Fraser Aird (Aidan Nesbitt 45), Pavol Safranko, Matt Smith (Billy King 78),
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Robson, Paul Watson, Christoph Rabitsch, Craig Curran, Matej Rakovan (GK).
Referee will be Alan Muir.
Match Information
The away support will be housed in the West Stand (“Shed”) and lower tier prices £20 for adults and £10 concessions (65+, Under 18s and FTS with valid matric) apply.
Other Ladbrokes Championship Fixtures
Alloa Athletic v Morton
Inverness Caley Thistle v Ayr United
Partick Thistle v Falkirk
Queen of the South v Ross County
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