Preview Alloa Athletic

Scottish Championship: 3.00pm kick off behind closed doors at the Indodrill Stadium

The chances are that this Saturday’s match in the Championship might feel like a home match. Dunfermline have been pleased to be able to use Alloa’s Indodrill Stadium as their training centre this season so the players and coaching staff will be accustomed to the playing surface and the surroundings.

An advantage would be welcome since they failed to defeat Alloa Athletic in their four meetings last season. The first away league match of the season though comes on the back of four straight wins for the Pars but Stevie Crawford is already on record saying:- “We will need to make sure that we are organised out of possession and then ask our players to go and be creative and cause them bother as well.”

Milestones v Alloa Athletic (away)
Last Victory | 09/03/19 | 1-0 | Championship
Last Defeat | 09/11/19| 1-2 | Championship
Best Victory | 11/02/48 | 6-0 | Division B (two)
Worst Defeat | 26/04/52 | 4-5 | Division B (two)
First League meeting | 18/02/22 | 0-2 | Division Two

This is the 66th league match between the clubs and Alloa with 24 wins marginally hold the advantage. 20 have been drawn and 21 won by Dunfermline.

Although there had been cup knock outs and play off reversals, the Pars defeat at the Indodrill Stadium in November was their first loss in a league match to Alloa Athletic since May 1979.

Last 12 meetings against Alloa Athletic

Four Alloa wins, four Dunfermline wins with four drawn in last dozen meetings.

28/12/19 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 3 | Championship
09/11/19 | Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
28/09/19 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 1 | Championship
07/09/19 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 2 | Tunnock’s CW Cup
09/03/19 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
05/01/19 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Championship
03/11/18 | Alloa Athletic 0 Dunfermline 1 | Championship
13/10/18 | Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2 | Irn Bru Cup
15/09/18 | Dunfermline 0 Alloa Athletic 0 | Championship
21/01/17 | Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 3 | Scottish Cup
19/05/13 | Dunfermline 1 Alloa Athletic 0 | Div One Play off
15/05/13 | Alloa Athletic 3 Dunfermline 0 | Div One Play off

Last time at the Indodrill Stadium
Alloa Athletic 2 Dunfermline 1
Championship, 9th November 2019

A moment of weakness let the Fifers defence down. Josh Edwards attempted to see the ball behind for a goal kick but he was robbed of possession on the left byeline by Scott Taggart and the cross for O’Hara 12 yards out, right in front of goal, saw Ashcroft go in and although he cleared, referee Craig Napier pointed to the penalty spot as O’Hara was floored. The habitual goalscorer against the Pars, Alan TROUTEN sunk the 17th minute spot kick sending Ryan Scully the wrong way. 1-0

When Kyle Turner intercepted an Alloa pass inside his own half he was able to send Kevin Nisbet away up the right. As he cut along the inside of the box, evading Jon Robertson he was taken down by the outstretched foot of Trouten and again the referee was pointing to the spot. NISBET took responsibility for the setpiece and tucked the ball away in the bottom left with keeper Jamie Macdonald diving in the right direction but beaten by the pace. 1-1, 33 minutes gone.

In 72 minutes a quickly taken corner to Iain Flannigan 30 yards out on the right, let him dispatched a difficult ball to just beyond the far post where Kevin CAWLEY raced in to send his diving header past Scully. 2-1

ALLOA ATHLETIC: Jamie MacDonald: Scott Taggart, Andy Graham c), Robbie Deas, Blair Malcolm: Kevin Cawley, Jon Robertson, Iain Flannigan, Adam Brown (Robert Thomson 40): Alan Trouten, Kevin O`Hara.
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Buchanan, Nathan Gilhooley, Cameron O`Donnell, Paul Gillespie, Chris Henry (GK)

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Aaron Comrie, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin, Josh Edwards (Gabby McGill 87): Ryan Dow, Paul Paton (c), Kyle Turner (Tom Beadling 85) Greg Kiltie, Kevin Nisbet, Andy Ryan (Lewis McCann 77)
SUBS NOT USED: Harry Cochrane, Danny Devine, Joe Thomson, Cammy Gill (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: DDDWWW

ALLOA ATHLETIC
Final League Position: 8th
League Points: 31
League Record: P28 W7 D10 L11 GF33 GA43
Goal Difference: -10
Last Six League & Cup Match Form: DWWLWL

Recent Competitive Matches

DUNFERMLINE
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) W 3-1
Kilmarnock (A) W 3-0
Falkirk (H) W 2-0
Dumbarton (A) W 1-0

ALLOA ATHLETIC
Morton (A) L 0-1
Edinburgh City (H) W 2-1
Livingston (A) L 1-2
Airdrieonians (A) W 2-0

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Ryan Dow, Iain Wilson, Kyle Turner (Kerr McInroy 78), Dom Thomas: Kevin O’Hara (Fraser Murray 65), Declan McManus
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Lewis McCann, Paul Allan, Lewis Mayo, Cammy Gill (GK)

ALLOA ATHLETIC ( v Morton): Reece Willison: Liam Dick, Jon Robertson, Edin Lynch, Scott Taggart: Kevin Cawley, Raymond Grant, Lee Connelly (Stefan Scougall 67), Steven Hetherington, Alan Trouten, Robert Thomson (Liam Buchanan 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Cameron O’Donnel, Andy Graham, Innes Murray, Blair Malcolm, Andrew Wilson (GK).

Steven Hetherington was sent off against Morton so will be suspended for Alloa’s home game against the Pars.

The 21 year old goalkeeper and former Celtic and St Mirren youth, Reece Willison was signed ahead of the Morton match following an injury to Neil Parry’s injury against Edinburgh City.

Referee will be Don Robertson.

Other Championship Fixtures

Arbroath v Hearts (Friday night)
Dundee v Morton
Inverness Caley Thistle v Ayr United
Queen of the South v Raith Rovers

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