Todd and Allan Re-united
Sunday, 7th Nov 2021After a decade together at Dunfermline duo hope to continue to forge partnership in first team
Everyone was watching on Saturday to see what changes the caretaker management team of Greg Shields and Steven Whittaker would make. First indication was the announcement of the starting eleven and that showed three changes from the team that started Peter Grant’s last match in charge at Arbroath the previous Saturday.
Mark Connolly returned after missing the Gayfield match through illness, Kai Kennedy returned after not starting the previous three games against Kilmarnock, Raith Rovers and Arbroath. Third change was to start locally developed talent in the shape of Matthew Todd.
Although Morton had taken the lead in 13th minute when Matty scored the Dunfermline equaliser ten minutes before half time the 20 year old’s selection looked like a masterstroke. A memorable day for the midfielder who was starting just his fifth league match for Dunfermline after playing only 18 minutes this season as a substitute over three Premier Sports Cup matches in July. While happy to start and score, after the match Matty confessed:-
“It is not the result the boys wanted, we have not being playing too well recently but today was a great moment for myself and for my family. I am just delighted with it.
“I found out yesterday morning in training that I was playing. I was just excited to be back involved with the boys. They have been great with me all week. Steven and Greg have shown faith in me and I am thankful for them to show that faith in me today.“
Watching from the Centre Stand, his mum Fiona and dad Mark celebrated with all the other Pars fans and Matty continued:-
“It was a really proud moment for my family I hope and I’m just delighted to score my first career Dunfermline goal. I didn’t have a clue what to do when the ball went in the net!”
His only other senior goal was for Brechin City while out on loan. Matty struck in the second half to secure a 2-0 win over Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill back in October last year. Prior to that the former Dunfermline High School pupil had been a regular contributor at youth and reserve level and he added:-
“It is something that I want to add to my game - goals and assists. Hopefully this is the start of some more goals and assists.”
To be given a start on Saturday will serve as a boost to Matty but he attributed his progress to coach Steven Whittaker and fellow player Graham Dorrans:-
“Since Steven came in last summer, it has been great working with him and it is someone else showing faith in me. Graham Dorrans is another man to ask. You can lean on his shoulder, ask him questions and he is always there for help. I am thankful to the two of them and Graham for helping me out this week.
“Graham is a great help behind the scenes with the boys, his experience off the park is second to none so I am thankful for his help. He is there to answer questions if I need it, if not I know my job on the pitch.”
On the pitch Matty was delighted that in centre midfield he was re-united with Paul Allan. Paul and Matty have been playing in the same teams all the way up through the Dunfermline youth system, a period taking them both back to the age of ten.
“I was delighted that it was Paul alongside me. We have a great friendship outside of football as well as inside the group. I have a vague memory of first playing alongside Paul, it could be ten years ago. I really enjoyed it today but looking forward it has got to be about results and we have got to start picking them up quickly.
“I would like to stay in the team but we have to start picking up points quickly. The first half performance today was probably one of the best of the season but we have to keep that going. Instead of just doing it for 45 minutes we have to continue for the whole of those 90 minutes, picking up points quickly.”
Matty also talked to Jordan Burt for ParsTV
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