Dunfermline 2 Dundee 2
Friday, 2nd Aug 2019Ladbrokes Championship: Lewis McCann starts in place of suspended Kyle Turner. Ryan Dow (13) 1-0: Kevin Nisbet (35) 2-0: Danny Johnston (45 pen.) 2-1: Danny Johnston (75 pen.) 2-2:
The Pars league campaign kicked off against newly demoted Dundee on a Friday night in front of the BBC Scotland cameras that provided live coverage of the SPFL opener.
It was a vastly changed team that Stevie Crawford put out with only Lewis Martin and Lee Ashcroft surviving from the team that started in the final league match of the 2018-2019 season at Inverness just three months ago. From the side that defeated East Kilbride the previous Saturday eighteen year old Lewis McCann came in to take the place of the suspended Kyle Turner.
Dundee now under the charge of James McPake also had a much changed look but they had five survivors from the starting eleven against St Mirren on 18th May. Not having conceded a goal in their four Betfred Cup matches, Dundee fielded the same starting eleven and subs bench as saw Inverness Caley Thistle off on Sunday.
Sunshine bathed the East Stand that accommodated the travelling support as the teams emerged for kick off. McCann got the game underway and within 30 seconds Paul Paton had a crack from just outside the box but launched the ball well into the Dundee supporters.
There was a second minute free kick that caused early optimism after Jordan Marshall cut down Ryan Dow, unfortunately Dow’s delivery was too strong and the visitors could breath again. Two minutes later 16 year old Finlay Robertson was able to send a set piece in from the right that Josh Meekings headed on target and it required a good save from Ryan Scully, tipping the ball over his bar to keep the ball out.
A Dow corner from the right in seventh minute was heavy and no threat came about as a result. Then three minutes later a neat break set up Paton for a first time cross but his ball in from the right was just taken out by Meekings.
Meekings was shown yellow in making a critical interception to stop Dow on the edge of the Dundee box. Ashcroft met the free kick played over by Dow but keeper Jack Hamilton held the on target header. The keeper however could do little to prevent the Pars going ahead with their next attack.
After a poor back pass by Cammy Kerr, Kevin Nisbet dispossessed Jordan Forster on the left touchline and he laced the ball in for the in running DOW to find the visitors’ net. 1-0.
Lewis Martin made a great run up the left to eventually pick out McCann and his on target shot from 20 yards was deflected behind off Forster. Next in 20 minutes Dow worked his way through the defence on the left edge of the box, made ground and tried to pick out Nisbet in front of goal when maybe a less unselfish shot would have worked better.
The Fifers were well and truly on fire at this stage but Dundee managed to get some passes together and managed play the game in the Pars half. Ashcroft conceded a free kick 35 yards out at the midway stage of the first half but when former Falkirk player, Jordan McGhee hit that into the McCathie Stand there were welcome cheers from the home support.
In 26 minutes Dow sent Nisbet deep into the right side of the Dundee box but when he sent the ball across the six yard box there was no one there to convert. Then Josh Coley evaded the offside trap to run on to ball again on the right. His left footed cross was good but no takers.
There was some very good build up play before eventually Martin’s delivery from the left was headed wide by Nisbet on the half hour. Then Hamilton clutched a Nisbet cross but the next one on 35 minutes critically he missed. Dow received the pass from Comrie and then provided the cross from the right and the ball travelled all the way across the face of goal to NISBET who headed home. 2-0
Five minutes from the break Nisbet was able to compose himself for his shot from the right side of the box but the ball hit the corner of bar and left goalpost and from eight yards Coley’s follow up from an angle was blasted over the bar to a chorus of boos from the Dee fans.
Dunfermline were coasting towards a two goal half time lead when Dundee were awarded a really soft penalty. A Kerr cross from the right travelled across the box and when the ball broke off Dow, referee Greg Aitken pointed to the spot. Danny JOHNSTON stepped up and converted the 45th minute penalty kick in the bottom left corner. 2-1
Half time: Dunfermline 2 Dundee 1
James McPake made two changes prior to the second half kicking off, Josh Meekings and Andy Nelson went off to be replaced by Josh Todd and Declan McDaid.
The first half stats had suggested Dundee had the bulk of the possession but when it came to shots Dunfermline were well ahead and continued to press from the restart. After the initial assault however Dundee with especially their subs creating danger in front of goal.
For the first time in the game Shaun Byrne began to make his presence felt. He fired a cross over the goalmouth and McDaid had an effort blocked. Ashcroft took a booking for the team as he took down Todd just 19 yards out. Johnston drove the free kick into the five man wall and from the resultant corner McGhee sent his shot high.
Back at the other end Nisbet hit a low shot from the right that tantalisingly fell outside the left upright. Matthew Todd replaced Josh Coley on the hour and set up a breakaway for McCann but his return was just too far ahead of the Pars sub.
Hamilton held a Todd effort as the sub was making quite an impact on a central role behind Nisbet. Josh Edwards was also introduced for the tiring McCann who had given his all.
In 72 minutes Ashcroft cleared a McDaid corner in from the right and the home side were really looking for counterattacks at this stage. Edwards almost sent in Nisbet but Dundee cleared the danger but then Dundee were awarded another penalty and a decision that incensed Ryan Scully and Lee Ashcroft. Johnston burst into the Pars box between Comrie and Ashcroft and went down eight yards out despite Ashcroft winning the ball. Referee Aitken was not to be moved. JOHNSTON stood over the ball while things calmed down and then sunk the 75th minute penalty to Scully’s right. 2-2
As the clock ran down it was Dundee who had their tails up and were creating the greater danger. Paton and Comrie combined to clear another attack. Euan Murray mopped up the danger created by McDaid and Johnston and McGhee whizzed an effort over the bar.
As the match entered added time Edwards launched a free kick into the Dee box in search of Ashcroft’s head but the ball slipped behind. There one final Pars opportunity with a corner from the left in the third minute of time added but that was defended and it was to be one point a piece.
It was a game of two halves with Dundee recovering from their first half mauling to severely test the home side. Opinion was that the two Dundee penalties was doubtful and certainly they might not have scored otherwise.
It was a match where Stevie Crawford’s side played with great energy but had to contain opposition who were boosted by their goals from the spot.
SUBS NOT USED: Andy Ryan, Tom Lang, Stuart Morrison, Paul Allan, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Dow (13), Nisbet (35)
YELLOW CARD: Beadling (25), Coley (52), Ashcroft (57)
DUNDEE: Jack Hamilton: Cammy Kerr, Jordan Forster, Josh Meekings (Declan McDaid HT), Jordan McGhee, Shaun Byrne, Paul McGowan, Finlay Robertson, Jordan Marshall, Andrew Nelson (Josh Todd HT), Danny Johnson.
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Mulligan, Callum Moore, Lyall Cameron, Michael Cunningham, Calum Ferie (GK).
SCORERS: Johnston (45 pen., 75 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Meekings (12)
REFEREE: Greg Aitken
WEATHER: Sunny 17C
ATTENDANCE 5227
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship: (away) v Queen of the South, Saturday 10th August 2019, kick off 3.00pm at Palmerston Park.
Half time 50/50 draw winning ticket no. 502106 won £551
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Preview Dundee
Friday, 2nd Aug 2019Ladbrokes Championship: Friday 2nd August 2019 at East End Park, kick off 7.05pm
The opening league match of the Ladbrokes Championship will be Dunfermline’s home match against Dundee. The Friday night fixture will be a gauge of how ready Stevie Crawford’s new look young team are to mount a challenge in what is commonly recognised as the most competitive in the country.
History shows the Dundee have the upper hand on their West Fife opponents but their record at East End Park is not their best.
| Pars v Dundee: The Full League Record | ||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| At East End Park | 54 | 26 | 12 | 16 | 94 | 73 |
| At Dens Park | 54 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 64 | 108 |
| TOTALS | 108 | 38 | 27 | 43 | 158 | 181 |
Milestones Dundee (Home)
Last League Victory | 11/09/10 | 3-1 | First Division
Last League Defeat | 08/11/09 | 0-1 | First Division
Best League Victory | 19/03/88 | 6-1 | Prem League
Worst League Defeat | 27/10/45 | 0-6 | Div B*
*Pre league reconstruction
The teams have not met on league business since March 2011 and their last two matches against each other were in the League Cup. In August 2015 the Pars won 3-1 at East End Park and in July 2018 the Fifers won 1-0 at Dens Park.
Out the last twelve league matches between the teams, Dunfermline have won just two. Dundee have won four with six drawn.
Last Twelve League Matches v Dundee
Date | H/A | F-A | Scorers
22/03/11 | A | 1-1 | [0-1] Burke, Hyde [1-1]
15/01/11 | H | 0-0
23/10/10 | A | 2-2 | [1-0] Gibson )pen), [2-0] Gibson (pen), [2-1] Griffiths, [2-2] Higgins
11/09/10 | H | 3-1| [1-0] Gibson (pen.), [2-0] Bell, [2-1] Harkins, [3-1] Clarke
30/03/10 | H | 2-1 | [1-0] Gibson, [2-0] Bell, [2-1] Harkins
17/01/10 | A | 2-3 | [0-1] Griffiths, [1-1] Graham, [1-2] McMenamin, [2-2] Kirk, [2-3] Griffiths
31/10/09 | H | 1-1 | [0-1] Harkins, [1-1] Bayne
12/09/09 | A | 0-1 | [0-1] Harkins (pen.)
31/03/09 | H | 1-1 | [0-1] Malone, [1-1] Woods
03/01/09 | A | 0-1 | [0-1] Paton
08/11/09 | H | 0-1 | [0-1] Antoine-Curier
13/09/08 | A | 0-0
Last Time at East End Park
Dunfermline 0 Dundee 0
Scottish First Division
Saturday 15th January 2011
Even after incurring points deduction for going into administration, Dundee arrived at East End Park in the spirit of Braveheart; you can take our points but you cannot take away our form. The Pars task was to halt the Dees impressive six match run of taking maximum league points. Top of the table Pars made two changes for the visit of Barry Smith`s Dundee; Jim McIntyre handed 19 year old Ryan Thomson his first ever league start and Pat Clarke came in to partner Andy Kirk up front.
Dunfermline should have gone ahead in seven minutes after Calum Woods cross from the right dropped to Thomson but his first effort was blocked by O`Donnell, Graham`s follow up dropped to Thomson again but again just four yards out, O`Donnell dived in to prevent the shot.
Having rode their luck for most of the first half Dundee came back at Dunfermline and Woods had to head clear from in front of goal, Riley pounced on a loose ball to power the ball over the Pars crossbar, McGregor headed away an Irvine cross.
Rab Douglas kept all the Pars efforts out and in the third minute of added time Kirk headed a Woods cross over the bar and the best that Dunfermline were to get was one point. Raith Rovers 1-0 win at Dingwall takes them above Dunfermline. The early misses in this game cost the Pars their leader status.
DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Neil McGregor, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Paul Willis (Wullie Gibson 64), Ryan Thomson, Gary Mason (Andy Dowie 82), David Graham; Andy Kirk, Pat Clarke (Steven McDougall 77),.
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Cardle, Kyle Allison (GK)
DUNDEE: Rab Douglas; Gary Irvine, Craig McKeown, Rhys Weston, Kyle Benedictus (Connor Rennie 73); Nicky Riley, Stephen O`Donnell, Gary Harkins, Craig Forsyth; Trialist (Leighton McIntosh 83), Sean Higgins
SUBS NOT USED: Johnny Stewart, John Gibson (GK)
Betfred Cup Form
DUNFERMLINE
East Kilbride | (H) | W | 4-0
Edinburgh City | (A) | L | 0-1
Albion Rovers | ( H) | W | 6-0
St Mirren | (A) | W | 3-2
DUNDEE
Inverness Caley Thistle | (H) | W | 1-0
Peterhead | (H) | D | 0-0
Cove Rangers | (A) | D | 0-0
Raith Rovers | (A) | W | 3-0
Dundee won both their drawn matches on penalties.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v East Kilbride): Ryan Scully: Aaron Comrie, Euan Murray, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Paul Paton (c)(Paul Allan 74), Ryan Dow (Lewis McCann 67) Tom Beadling, Josh Coley: Kevin Nisbet (Andy Ryan 63), Kyle Turner.
SUBS NOT USED: Stuart Morrison, Matthew Todd, Josh Edwards, Cammy Gill (GK)
DUNDEE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Jack Hamilton: Cammy Kerr, Jordan Forster, Josh Meekings, Jordan McGhee, Shaun Byrne, Paul McGowan (Declan McDaid 79), Finlay Robertson, Jordan Marshall, Andrew Nelson (Josh Mulligan 90+1), Danny Johnson (Josh Todd 67).
SUBS NOT USED: Callum Moore, Lyall Cameron, Michael Cunningham, Calum Ferie (GK).
Other Championship Fixtures
Alloa Athletic v Partick Thistle
Arbroath v Queen of the South
Ayr United v Morton
Dundee United v Inverness Caley Thistle
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