Dundee 3 Dunfermline 3
Saturday, 19th Dec 2020Scottish Championship: Whittaker and Mayo start. Charlie Adam (35) 1-0: Osman Sow (51) 2-0: Liam Fontaine (70): 3-0: Paul Watson (78): 3-1: Declan McManus (82 pen.) 3-2: Declan McManus (90+3) 3-3.
For consecutive visits to this venue Dunfermline came back from the dead to score goals and this time leave with a hard earned point.
Dunfermline travelled to Dundee seeking their first league win at Dens Park since October 2004. The much fancied home side sat five points and five places behind their visitors.
Stevie Crawford brought in Steven Whittaker and Lewis Mayo in place of Fraser Murray and Aaron Comrie both of whom sustained injuries against St Johnstone.
Dundee made one change to the eleven that drew last time out at Inverness, Osman Sow taking the place of Adam Jakubiak in a home side that included two former Pars - Lee Ashcroft and Shaun Byrne - and Pars loanee Jonathan Afolabi was on the bench.
Christmas music rang out during the warm up but with no spectators there would be no cheers. The Fifers started four points behind leaders Hearts so could not be Christmas number one but a win would see them secure second spot after eight fixtures.
Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal in from of the stand that normally houses the away support but within two minutes Dundee flashed a header over Owain Fôn Williams’ crossbar from a Christie Elliott cross.
The Pars tested the Dee keeper in fifth minute after Dom Thomas’ cross from the left was fed back by Ryan Dow to Declan McManus but Jack Hamilton dropped to his right to hold the shot.
Next minute a Jordan Marshall cross from the left was perfectly placed for Jordan McGhee at the far post but Fôn Williams pulled off a great save to deny Dundee. Danny Mullen popped an effort over the Pars crossbar after the home side had strung together a number of completed passes.
A 19th minute break by the 33 year old Paul McGowan running on to a Charlie Adam pass allowed the ball to be slipped right for Elliott to shoot but again Fon Williams did incredibly well, his outstretched right foot keeping the ball out.
At the other end Jack Hamilton did equally well to turn a well struck effort from Kyle Turner 25 yards out, around his right hand post. From the 24th minute corner Thomas got two chances to cross but Liam Fontaine headed away the first and the Pars no.23 slipped up on the tricky surface and the threat was over.
In 31 minutes Mullen quickly picked out McGowan and his lay off for McGhee on the right created another good chance but the former Falkirk man pulled his shot wide left.
Four minutes later Charlie ADAM showed all the experience of his 35 years, accepting a pass in the centre circle and making ground before smashing the ball past Fôn Williams from 30 yards out 1-0.
Two Dundee corners and a long Fontaine throw in kept the pressure up on the Pars whose first half chances had been very limited. In time added on a Thomas shot was deflected for a corner on the right but that was overhit and the half time whistle followed. Dundee had dominated the first half with 69% possession.
Half time: Dundee 1 Dunfermline 0
Iain Wilson was a half time substitution for the visitors, Kerr McInroy being withdrawn. Within 40 seconds of the restart things could have got a lot worse had Sow finished what looked like an easy chance in the six yard box.
Five minutes into the half the Pars gave away a silly free kick out on the right side and from that Dundee would score their second. Adam took the setpiece 25 yards out and SOW nipped in to the near post to glance a header past Fôn Williams. The 30 year old’s first goal of the season made it 2-0
Three minutes later an almost similar free kick saw Mayo clear Adam’s delivery. Kevin O’Hara was the Fifers second sub of the game replacing Dom Thomas in 54 minutes.
Five minutes past and Dundee forced two corners on the left that both times targeted Fontaine and there appeals for handball at the second that were dismissed. Iain Wilson had two good attempts to cross from the right byeline but both times was blocked.
A Turner free kick had all the big men forward in 64 minutes but Ashcroft headed behind for corner. Dow’s cross was defended but Wilson pinged the ball back out to the right for Dow and he went to ground as he twisted his way into the Dundee box but no penalty given.
Hamilton saved after McManus had got in a snap shot from the edge of the box. As the midpoint of the second half came it had to be agreed that the Pars had improved but on 70 minutes FONTAINE with a left footed effort from 15 yards out found the net from Marshall’s corner from the left. 3-0
Turner sprayed the ball out to Mayo on the right in 77 minutes and he did really to head the ball forward for McManus and Hamilton had to concede the corner at his left hand post. From the corner Paul WATSON’s header looped into the left side of the Dundee goal. 3-1
Just four minutes later Ashcroft took down sub Lewis McCann and McMANUS stepped up to plant the penalty in the bottom right. 3-2 and eight minutes to play.
O’Hara came really close to converting Mayo’s strong ball through the six yard box and the game looked very different as Dundee clung on. A yellow card was shown to Dundee assistant manager as the pressure showed.
Watson have driven forward only to be fouled in the box. He clearly felt that he should have earned his team a penalty but the referee would have none of it. The game however had one final dramatic twist.
Sub Max Anderson took out Turner and the Pars would scored from the subsequent free kick in the third minute of added time. McMANUS smacked the ball into the top right from 25 yards out and it was 3-3.
What a comeback, one that totally devastated the Dundee manager and his team. For them it felt like a defeat but the point will hopefully have the opposite effect on Stevie Crawford’s team who headed back along the A90 in much different vibes. Maybe it wasn’t the win to smash that 16 year record but it certainly felt like we won.
SUBS NOT USED: Declan McDaid, Cameron Kerr, Finlay Robertson, Calum Ferrie (GK)
SCORERS: Adam (35), Sow (51), Fontaine (70)
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Lewis Mayo, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Steven Whittaker (Lewis McCann 77): Ryan Dow, Kerr McInroy (Iain Wilson HT), Kyle Turner, Dom Thomas (Kevin O’Hara 54): Declan McManus
SUBS NOT USED: Matty Bowman, Miller Fenton, Lucas Berry, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Watson (78), McManus (82 pen., 90+3)
YELLOW CARD: Wilson (69)
REFEREE: Grant Irvine
WEATHER: Damp 7°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: Scottish Championship (home) v Arbroath. Saturday 26th December 20020, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park behind closed doors
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Dundee 3-3 Dunfermline
Sat, 19th Dec 2020
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Preview Dundee
Saturday, 19th Dec 2020Scottish Championship: Saturday 19th December 2020, 3.00pm at the Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park behind closed doors
Stevie Crawford is hoping that his side can take confidence from Tuesday night’s performance against Premiership opponents to deliver a positive result against their next opponents Dundee.
Dunfermline’s 1-0 Betfred Cup win at the Kilmac Stadium in July 2018 was their first win there since October 2004. On Saturday they go to Dens seeking the three points that would stretch the Fifers advantage over the seventh placed Dark Blues to eight points.
Milestones Dundee (Away)
Last Victory | 22/07/18 | 1-0 | Betfred Cup
Last Defeat | 14/12/19 | 3-4 | Championship
Best Victory | 24/11/73 | 5-1 | Div One*
Worst Defeat | 22/03/47 | 0-10 | Div B*
*Pre league reconstruction
Last Meeting at Dens Park
Dundee 3 Dunfermline 4
Championship, Saturday 14th December 2019
Seven goals were served up in this festive feast of goals. The drama was compelling and for a neutral this was a game that had everything. After going down to ten men when Greg Kiltie was red carded in 62 minutes at 4-1 down, the visitors fought back seeking just one goal for a draw. There was a thrilling end to the game with Dundee relieved to hear the final whistle.
Just 15 minutes into the game Declan McDaid broke at speed. When he reached the Pars box he delivered an angled cross that with two Dundee men attacking the unfortunate Danny Devine directed into his own goal. 1-0
Dunfermline went up the park and duly equalised. Nisbet sent the ball across the penalty box, Tom Beadling drove a shot low towards the left side of the goal, it was deflected by the keeper but Ryan DOW was well placed to net. 1-1
Dundee however were to restore their lead on 25 minutes when a Cammy Kerr cross from the right was easy meat for Kane HEMMINGS to rise above everyone, his header dropping just inside the right upright. 2-1
Nine minutes later McDaid stole the ball as it was being shielded out for a goal kick by Lee Ashcroft. The ball was crossed through Danny Johnson for Paul McGOWAN to net from the left of the goal. 3-1
Dundee scored a fourth goal within 27 seconds of the restart. Hemmings took advantage of an Ashcroft slip and when his shot from 15 yards out rebounded off Comrie, JOHNSON crashed the ball home. 4-1
In 69 minutes NISBET, from just inside the box, hit an angled shot past Hamilton to net at the left post. 4-2
Remarkably the Pars were to snatch another goal back just three minutes later. Dow passed across field to MARTIN who popped a shot from the left corner of the penalty box found the net at the far post, 4-3 with 18 minutes remaining but no fourth.
DUNDEE: Jack Hamilton: Cammy Kerr, Jordan McGhee (Josh Meekings 65), Jordan Forster, Jordan Marshall: Finlay Robertson, Paul McGowan (c), Graham Dorrans, Declan McDaid (Shaun Byrne 53), Danny Johnson (Andrew Nelson 84), Kane Hemmings.
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Todd, Sean Mackie, Josh McPake, Calum Ferrie (GK)
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Aaron Comrie, Danny Devine, Lee Ashcroft (c), Lewis Martin: Ryan Dow, Harry Cochrane (Paul Paton 49), Tom Beadling (Lewis McCann 83), Kyle Turner (Joe Thomson 58, Greg Kiltie, Kevin Nisbet.
SUBS NOT USED: Stuart Morrison, Anthony McDonald, Miller Fenton, Cammy Gill (GK)
Out the last twelve matches between the teams, Dunfermline have won five! Dundee have won two with five drawn.
Last Twelve Matches v Dundee
Date. | H/A | F-A | Scorers
24/01/20 | 2-0 | [1-0] Dow, [2-0] Nisbet
14/12/19 | 3-4 | [1-0] Devine (o.g.), [1-1] Dow (16), [2-1] Hemmings, [3-1] McGowan [4-1] Johnson, [4-2] Nisbet, [4-3] Martin
02/08/19 | H | 2-2 | [1-0] Dow, [2-0] Nisbet, [2-1] Johnson (pen.), [2 -2] Johnson (pen).
22/07/18 | A | 1-0 | [1-0] J Longridge
25/08/15 | H | 3-1 | [1-0] El Bakhtaoui, [1-1] Hemmings, [2-1] Cardle, [3-1] El Bakhtaoui
22/03/11 | A | 1-1 | [1-0] Burke, [1-1] Hyde
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
Form Last Six Matches
Dunfermline have won three of their last six matches, and lost just one of their last eleven league games. Dundee have lost only four matches this season, two of them away to Hibs in the Betfred Cup and in the league against away to Hearts and Ayr United. Their last league defeat at home was against Inverness Caley Thistle on 4th January.
DUNFERMLINE
St Johnstone (H) D 1-1
Morton (H) L 1-2
Raith Rovers (H) D 2-2
Arbroath (A) W 3-1
Hearts (H) W 2-1
Clyde (H) W 3-2
DUNDEE
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 2-2
Arbroath (H) W 1-0
Hibernian (A) L 0-1
Ayr United (A) L 0-2
Hibernian (A) L 1-4
Cove Rangers (H) W 3-0
Current League Stats
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 14
Goal Difference: +6
League Record: P7 W4 2 L1 GF15 GA9
Last Six Match Form: WWWDLD
DUNDEE
League Position: 7th
League Points: 9
Goal Difference: -4
League Record: P7 W2 D3 L2 GF10 GA14
Last Six League Match Form: WLLLWD
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v St Johnstone): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie (Lewis Mayo 64), Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Kerr McInroy: Fraser Murray (Iain Wilson HT et), Ryan Dow, Kyle Turner, Dom Thomas (Lewis McCann 105): Declan McManus (Kevin O’Hara 71)
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Whittaker, Matty Bowman, Miller Fenton, Lucas Berry, Cammy Gill (GK)
DUNDEE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Jack Hamilton: Jordan McGhee, Liam Fontaine, Lee Ashcroft, Christie Elliott, Jordan Marshall, Shaun Byrne, Paul McGowan (Declan McDaid 68), Charlie Adam, Adam Jakubiak (Max Anderson 72), Danny Mullen (Osman Sow 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Cameron Kerr, Jordan Foster, Finlay Robertson, Calum Ferie (GK)
Other Championship Fixtures
Alloa Athletic v Inverness Caley Thistle
Arbroath v Ayr United
Morton v Queen of the South
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