Preview Brechin City
Saturday, 23rd Dec 2017Ladbrokes Championship: (home) v Brechin City Saturday 23rd December 2017, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park.
While Dunfermline took on St Mirren last Saturday, Brechin City had to sit the afternoon out after the postponement of their match at the Falkirk Stadium due to ice. That prevented the `Battle of the Basement Boys` and denied City the opportunity to add to their three league points. (They has taken a point from matches against Falkirk, Livingston and Dundee United.)
Every player and every manager in this season`s Championship repeats the belief that there are no easy games in this league and despite Brechin`s league position this is another example of that. The first match between the sides this season at Glebe Park was a hard fought affair and although the Pars left with 3-0 win that maintained their position as league leaders, the match was not as easy as the scoreline suggested.
There have been 50 league meetings between these teams. the Fifers have won 34, Brechin City 8 and 8 matches have been drawn. There have been some high scoring games and the Pars have only ever lost four home games against their Angus opponents. Brechin`s win in February 2015 was their first at East End Park since April 1987.
Milestones v Brechin City (home)
Last Victory: 26/03/16: 3-1 League One
Last Defeat: 24/02/15: 0-1 League One
Best Victory: 14/12/29: 10-1: Div Two
Worst Defeat: 18/04/87: 0-2: Div One
Last 12 League matches v Brechin City
23/09/17: Brechin City 0-3 Dunfermline
26/03/16: Dunfermline 3-1 Brechin City
20/02/16: Brechin City 1-2 Dunfermline
05/12/15: Dunfermline 3-1 Brechin City
08/08/15: Brechin City 1-6 Dunfermline
18/04/15: Brechin City 3-0 Dunfermline
03/03/15: Brechin City 1-1 Dunfermline
24/02/15: Dunfermline 0-1 Brechin City
09/08/14: Dunfermline 0-0 Brechin City
29/03/14: Dunfermline 2-1 Brechin City
25/01/14: Brechin City 3-2 Dunfermline
23/11/13: Dunfermline 3-1 Brechin City
Last Meeting at East End Park
Ladbrokes League One - 26 March 2016
Dunfermline 3 Brechin City 1
A hattrick from Faissal El Bakhtaoui coupled with a Cowdenbeath win at Peterhead combined to ensure the League One title was won with this victory. After just eight minutes EL BAKHTAOUI slid in to meet a Wallace cross from the right. 1-0
The second goal of the game came in 24th minute when a long diagonal pass from Jason Talbot picked out EL BAKHTAOUI who finished in style for 2-0
Much celebration was soon tempered as former Pars striker Robert THOMSON got one back for the visitors. A simple through ball from Craig Molloy that maybe had the defence looking for an offside decision. 2-1
Paul Joseph Crossan had replaced Ryan Wallace with only minutes to go and it was his strong run to catch a Paton pass that allowed him to cut back for EL BAKHTAOUI to finish with aplomb. 3-1
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch. Craig Reid, Brad McKay, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot. Michael Paton, Andy Geggan (c), Josh Falkingham, David Hopkirk (Michael Moffat 40). Ryan Wallace (Paul Joseph Crossan 89), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys McCabe, Shaun Byrne, Lewis Martin, Shaun Rooney, David Hutton (GK).
BRECHIN CITY: Graeme Smith. Paul McLean, Darren Dods (Euan Smith 5), Gary Fusco, Willie Dyer. James Dale, Jamie Robson, Craig Molloy (Liam Coogans 77), Liam Watt, Andy Jackson, Robert Thomson.
SUBS NOT USED: Jonathan Tiffoney, Jamie Montgomery, Darren McCormack, Craig Johnston, Paddy O`Neil (GK)
Form last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
St Mirren (A) L 0-1
Queen of the South (H) L 2-5
Dundee United (A) L 1-2
Dumbarton (H) D 2-2
Morton (H) D 1-1
Queens Park (A) W 4-1
BRECHIN CITY
St Mirren (H) L 1-2
Morton (A) L 0-4
Inverness Caley Th (A) L 1-4
Dundee United (H) D 1-1
Buckie Thistle (A) W 3-2
Livingston (A) L 2-3
Recent Form
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 5th
League Points: 23
League Record: P17 W6 D5 L6 GF32 GA23
Goal Difference: +9
Last Six League Match Form: DDDLLL
BRECHIN CITY
League Position: 10th
League Points: 3
League Record: P16 W0 D3 L13 GF11 GA36
Goal Difference: -25
Last Six League Match Form: LLDLLL
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE v St Mirren) Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham (Michael Paton 82), Nat Wedderburn, Dean Shiels, Joe Cardle (Fraser Aird 82): Nicky Clark, Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Andy Ryan, Callum Smith, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Cammy Gill (GK)
BRECHIN CITY (v St Mirren) Graeme Smith, Sean Crighton, Paul McLean, Gary Fusco, Willie Dyer (Aron Lynas 17), Jordan Sinclair, Euan Smith, Euan Spark, Liam Watt (Finn Graham 75), Kalvin Orsi (Andy Jackson 79), Isaac Layne
SUBS NOT USED: Ally Love, Chris O`Neil, Patrick O`Neil (GK)
Darren Dods’ selection problems are easing with the news that James Dale will return from suspension whilst Aberdeen loanee Connor McLennan is available after recovering from injury. Willie Dyer was only rated as 50/50 ahead of last Saturday`s postponed match against Falkirk so that leaves long term injury victim Ryan McGeever as the only definite absentee for City.
Referee in charge will be Greg Aitken, his first Dunfermline match since the Hibs game on 1st April
Other Championship Fixtures
Dumbarton v Falkirk
Dundee United v Livingston
Morton v Inverness Caley Thistle
Queen of the South v St Mirren
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