Preview Arbroath

Irn-Bru Cup: Tuesday 15th August 2017, 7.45pm kick off at East End Park

The Pars face their second of three home matches in the space of eight days when they welcome Dick Campbell`s Arbroath to East End Park for the Irn-Bru Cup tie.

Fresh on the back of scoring sixteen goals in their last three home games the Fifers are looking forward to meeting their League One opponents. No one can imagine that Arbroath will be quite so keen.

Previously

In the last thirty years the sides have only spent one season together in the league and have met four times in cup competitions since 2009. Arbroath were the visitors for the opening league match of season 2013-2014 and it was to be the Angus club`s first win at East End Park since December 1984.

In the interim Arbroath had three times come to Halbeath Road on cup business but the Pars had successfully negotiated League Cup and Challenge Cup ties against them. Their last visit at the start of last season resulted in another Pars win.

Last Meeting at East End Park
Dunfermline 3 Arbroath 0
Betfred Cup: Tuesday 19th July 2016

As the interval beckoned Dunfermline got the breakthrough. Robbie Mutch tried to redeem himself for a poor kick and raced out of his box on the right, Gavin Reilly beat him to it and his cross into an empty six yard box saw Michael MOFFAT arrive to convert. 1-0

Then in 61 minutes Reilly sped in from the right, picked out Moffat who slid the ball forward for Andy GEGGAN to stick the ball away for 2-0.

Kallum Higginbotham had barely been on the park three minutes when he picked out Ryan Williamson to take the ball to the byeline and cross for MOFFAT to sweep the ball into the Angus side`s net. 3-0

DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Lewis Martin: Rhys McCabe (Paul McMullan 62), Andy Geggan (c), Nat Wedderburn (Lewis Spence 71), Joe Cardle: Michael Moffat, Gavin Reilly (Kallum Higginbotham 62)
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Callum Smith, Cammy Gill (GK)

ARBROATH: Robbie Mutch. Gary Philips (Gavin Malin 75), Ricky Little, Colin Hamilton, Mark Whatley (c), Ryan McCord (Liam Callaghan 75), Martin Scott, Omar Kader, Bryan Prunty, Steven Doris, Bobby Linn (Josh Thomson 75)
SUBS NOT USED: David Gold, Michael Dunlop, Kane Hester, Ricky Gomes (GK),

Last Meeting at Gayfield Park
Arbroath 1 Dunfermline 4
Petrofac Training Cup: Saturday 25th July 2015

Allan Johnston`s first competitive match as Dunfermline manager turned out to be an emphatic away win at Gayfield. His selection for this match had been worked on all pre season but in the end he was missing three of the players who had faced Hibs the previous Saturday.

No Josh Falkingham out with a hip injury, no David Hopkirk and no Jason Talbot due to his red card against Hibs. That made way for Lewis Martin, Shaun Byrne and the return of Joe Cardle. Faissal El Bakhtaoui scored the opener in just the eighth minute when Martin passed infield for the striker who took a touch before sending a 25 yard shot low into the bottom left.  Michael Moffat made it two 12 minutes later finishing a Ryan Williamson cut back. An El Bakhtaoui header and Wallace with a 20 yard strike made it four before substitute Martin Grehan stuck away a 72nd minute consolation.

Recent Form

Dunfermline
Inverness Caley (H) W 5-1
Rangers (A) L 0-6
Livingston (A) D 1-1
Hearts (A) D 2-2
Peterhead (H) W 5-1
East Fife (A) 0-0
Elgin City (H) W 6-0

Arbroath
Airdrieonians (A) D 1-1
Queens Park (H) W 2-0
Ross County (H) D 0-0
Hibernian (A) L 1-6
Montrose (H) W 4-0
Alloa Athletic (A) 1-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): 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)

ARBROATH (v Airdrieonians):  David Hutton: David Gold (Gavin Swankie 69), Ricky Little, Thomas O`Brien, Colin Hamilton: Omar Kadar, Yule, Mark Whatley, Danny Denholm, Bobby Linn (Ryan McCord 69), Steven Doris (Kane Hester 86)
SUBS NOT USED: Bryan Prunty, Henry, Skelly, Ricky Gomes (GK).

Referee will be Euan Anderson.

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