Dunfermline 3 Queen of the South 2
Saturday, 31st Oct 2020Scottish Championship: Turner, O’Hara and McInroy start in place of Dow, Wilson and Fraser Murray. Euan Murray (21) 1-0: Declan McManus (43 pen.) 2-0: Joe McKee (51) 2-1: Paul Watson (60) 3-1: Stephen Dobbie (74 pen.) 3-2:
Halloween had been cancelled for 2020 but Queen of the South were allowed through the doors of East End Park for this the Pars second home league match of the season. The visitors seeking the first win of 2020 would be hoping to make it a horror show for the home side but they were on the back of five consequent wins.
Stevie Crawford made three changes to the team that started in the previous week’s match against Alloa Athletic. In came Kevin O’Hara, Kerr McInroy for his home debut and Kyle Turner taking the places of the injured Ryan Dow with Iain Wilson and Fraser Murray relegated you the bench.
From the Queen of the South side that went down 5-2 at home to Raith Rovers there were three changes. Allan Johnston brought in James Maxwell after suspension, Daniel Pybus and Calvin McGrory. Along with Nortei Nortey and Euan East, former Par Rhys McCabe dropped out but other former players Gregor Buchanan and Willie Gibson started.
The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end and following a cross field pass from Stephen Dobbie to Gibson there was a corner earned off Steven Whittaker within a minute. Fortunately McInroy easily cleared the low ball in from the right.
From a free kick just inside the Pars half, Gibson picked out Ayo Obileye on the edge of the box but the defence did its job but Euan Murray did need attention from the physio.
Dunfermline’s first attempt came from a 15th minute free kick 25 yards out just right on centre after Obileye blocked out Declan McManus but Dom Thomas blasted the ball over the four man wall and the Queens crossbar.
It required a good save from Owain Fôn Williams tipping the ball over the bar after Buchanan had headed a Joe McKee free kick on target when play switched to the other end Thomas centres from a corner on the right. After battling off Buchanan, Euan MURRAY found himself in space beyond the left goalpost to forcefully head the ball home, his fifth goal of the season. 1-0
Three minutes later Maxwell set up Aidan Fitzpatrick for a shot on goal that he sent high into the McCathie. Play was halted on the half hour when Connor Shields was injured as Thomas sent another corner over from the right.
Jamie Sutton the Dunfermline physio was also back on before the break when Aaron Comrie was kicked by Maxwell. He was subsequently subbed by Iain Wilson in 38 minutes.
Whittaker moved to right back with the sub assuming his role in midfield. The new full back forced a 42nd minute corner off Maxwell and although Thomas’ delivery was cleared Turner collected and when he drove into the right side of the Queens box, Pybus clipped him and referee Irvine pointed to the spot. McMANUS stepped up to convert the penalty sending the ball into the top right for 2-0 and a deserved half time lead.
Half time: Dunfermline 2 Queen of the South 0
Euan East was a half time sub for Queens and six minutes into the second half after a series of fast interchanges it was East who received the pass from Fitzpatrick to served up McKEE to strike the ball on target from 20 yards out. Fôn Williams got a touch on it but could not keep it out and it was 2-1.
Just four minutes later McKee delivered a free kick from the right that fortunately Obileye failed to net at the far post. In front of the McCathie Turner was presented with a tasty chance after Thomas had scampered away from Gibson down the left but the shot from just inside the box was blocked.
Dunfermline would go further ahead however from a Thomas corner on the left. Both teams central defenders tussled and were settled by the referee but when the cross came in both Pars men attacked the near post, Murray got a bite but as the ball was defended Paul WATSON smashed in a left footed shot. 3-1
Gregor Buchanan was immediately subbed by Nortei Nortey and then Fraser Murray replaced Kevin O’Hara on 69 minutes.
The visitors got back into the game five minutes later when Stephen DOBBIE scored from the penalty spot. Fitzpatrick was deemed to have been taken down by Wilson’s outstretched leg and the 37 year old striker made no mistake. 3-2
The goal lifted the Doonhamers and there were some nervous moments for the home side as they looked to hold on for a win that would take them to the top of the league.
Gibson earned a very necessary yellow card from his team’s point of view in stopping Thomas get clean in on goal and Fraser Murray worked the keeper from the 83rd minute free kick, Rohan Ferguson snatching the loose ball away from the inrunning McManus.
In the final minute of the 90 a Thomas pass found F Murray in the middle and his lay off to McManus was thrashed at goal but again Ferguson kept him out.
Dunfermline’s sixth successive win made it the best ever start to the season for the club and top of the League after three matches.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Mayo, Lewis McCann, Miller Fenton, Lucas Berry, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: E Murray (21), McManus (43 pen.), Watson (60)
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Rohan Ferguson: Willie Gibson, Gregor Buchanan (Nortei Nortey 63), Ayo Obileye, James Maxwell: Daniel Pybus, Calvin McGrory (Euan East HT), Joe McKee, Aidan Fitzpatrick: Connor Shields, Stephen Dobbie (c).
SUBS NOT USED: Tommy Goss, Diste Camara Sylla, Harry Robinson, Niyah Joseph, Jack Leighfield (GK)
SCORERS: McKee (51), Dobbie (74 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: McKee (32), Gibson (83)
REFEREE: Grant Irvine
WEATHER: Changeable windy 15°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: Scottish Championship (away) v Ayr United, Saturday 7th November 2020, 3.00pm kick off behind closed doors at Somerset Park
50/50 Half time draw Ticket number: 100009304 won £356
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Preview Queen of the South
Saturday, 31st Oct 2020Scottish Championship, East End Park kick off 3.00pm behind closed doors on Saturday 31st October
Queen of the South travel to East End Park looking for their first league points of this season and their first win of 2020. The visitors are a much changed team since they met the Pars at East End Park in March, the last home match before lockdown. Only two of their players that day featured in their match last Saturday.
Stevie Crawford’s Pars have won their first five competitive matches and require just one more victory to set the record for the club’s best ever start to a season. The hattrick off the bench by Kevin O’Hara at Alloa last Saturday should give the manager a nice headache when it comes to selection.
Milestones Queen of the South (Home)
Last League Victory | 02/11/19 2-0 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 20/10/18 | 0-1 | Championship
Best League Victory
30/12/72 | 6-1 | Div One (old)
16/04/11 | 6-1 | First Division
Worst League Defeat | 09/12/17 | 2-5 | Championship
Last Twelve League Matches v Queen of the South
Date: H/A F-A WDL League
07/03/20: (H) 1-1 D Championship
01/02/20: (A) 3-2 W Championship
02/11/19: (H) 2-0 W Championship
10/08/19: (A) 1-1 D Championship
20/04/19: (A) 1-2 L Championship
02/03/19: (H) 1-0 W Championship
15/12/18: (A) 0-0 D Championship
20/10/18: (H) 0-1 L Championship
31/03/18: (H) 3-1 W Championship
24/02/18: (A) 0-0 D Championship
09/12/17: (H) 2-5 L Championship
14/10/17: (A) 0-0 D Championship
In the last twelve meetings, Dunfermline have won four, Queen of the South three and five have been drawn.
Last meeting at East End Park
Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 1
Saturday 7th March 2020, Ladbrokes Championship
Queen of the South were to score with their first attack in the third minute. Michael Ledger won possession midway into the Dunfermline half and the ball was played right to Gary OLIVER who, with a low shot from a 45 degree angle, found the net just inside the left goalpost. 0-1
The Pars were to be handed a penalty and convert it within a minute of the second half kicking off. Ledger slid in to topple Ethan Ross on the left byeline and referee Greg Aitken pointed to the spot. Jon AFOLABI assumed the responsibility and smacked a left footed shot into the left side of the net. 1-1
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Lewis Martin, Danny Devine, Euan Murray: Dom Thomas, Paul Paton (c), Kyle Turner, Ethan Ross (Joe Thomson 85): Lewis McCann (Matthew Todd 67), Jonathan Afolabi (Gabby McGill 85).
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Edwards, Tom Beadling, Miller Fenton, Cammy Gill (GK)
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Ross Stewart: Michael Ledger (Michael Paton 60), Lee Kilday, Callum Semple, Kevin Holt: Darren Lyon, Lewis Kidd (Diemantas Petravicius 67), Iain Wilson, Daniel Pybus, Gary Oliver, Stephen Dobbie.
SUBS NOT USED: David Devine, Jack Hamilton, Ewan Gourlay, Jack Leighfield (GK).
Last Season’s Form
DUNFERMLINE
Final League Position: 6th
League Points: 37
League Record: P28 W10 D7 L11 GF41 GA36
Goal Difference: +5
Last Six League & Cup Match Form: DWWWWW
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
Final League Position: 9th
League Points: 28
League Record: P28 W7 D7 L14 GF28 GA40
Goal Difference: -12
Last Six League & Cup Match Form: LDDDLL
Recent Competitive Matches
DUNFERMLINE
Alloa Athletic (A) W 4-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) W 3-1
Kilmarnock (A) W 3-0
Falkirk (H) W 2-0
Dumbarton (A) W 1-0
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
Raith Rovers (H) L 2-5
Ayr United (A) L 1-2
Partick Thistle (H) D 0-0
St Mirren (H) D 2-2
Morton (A) D 2-2
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Alloa Athletic): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson (Lewis Mayo 51), Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Steven Whittaker: Fraser Murray, Iain Wilson (Kyle Turner 71), Dom Thomas: Ryan Dow (Kevin O’Hara 66), Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Kerr McInroy, Lewis McCann, Miller Fenton, Cammy Gill (GK)
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (v Raith Rovers): Rohan Ferguson: Nortei Nortey, Gregor Buchanan, Ayo Obileye, Joe McKee (Calvin McGorry 45), Aidan Fitzpatrick, Rhys McCabe, Willie Gibson, Connor Shields (Tommy Goss 89), Stephen Dobbie, Euan East (Daniel Pybus 76).
SUBS NOT USED: Diste Camara Sylla, Harry Robinson, Niyah Joseph, Jack Leighfield.
Referee will be Grant Irvine who gets a quick return since he was in charge of the Betfred Cup tie against Falkirk on Friday 9th October.
Sandy Clark and Allan Johnston should return to the dugout on Saturday
Other Championship Fixtures
Dundee v Raith Rovers
Inverness Caley Thistle v Arbroath
Morton v Ayr United
Alloa Athletic have no fixture since their match v Hearts was postponed due to the Jambos meeting Hibs in the semi final of last season’s William Hill Scottish Cup.
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