Preview Airdrieonians

cinch Championship (away) v Airdrieonians, Saturday 9th December 2023, kick off 3.00pm at the Excelsior Stadium.

When Dunfermline travel west to face Airdrieonians they always find themselves in a real test. Last season the two matches there were hotly contested with the Pars winning the first in February 4-3 from 3-0 down and then holding on for a 1-1 draw with just nine men in April.

The Diamonds were the Pars opponents in the first cinch Championship match of this season with the Fifers winning 2-1 at KDM Group East End Park. Since then the two promoted sides have held their own in the league with this meeting coming with the teams sitting in fourth and fifth places.

Milestones v Airdrieonians

Last Victory: 11/02/23 | 4-3 | League One
Last Defeat: 23/04/16 | 0-3 | League One
Best Victory:
11/02/23 | 4-3 | League One
17/10/64 | 4-3 | Division One
17/09/49 | 4-3 | League Cup
Worst Defeat:
30/10/54 | 2-6 | Division Two
22/02/36 | 2-6 | Division One
09/04/27 | 2-6 | Division One
Last Goalless Draw: 31/12/94 | Division One
First Meeting: 09/04/27 | 2-6 | Division One

Last time at the Excelsior
cinch League One, 22 April 2023
Airdrieonians 1 Dunfermline 1

After a goalless first half Airdrie came close and the Pars had the post to thank for keeping out Gallagher’s header after Frizzell and Telfer had combined in the lead up. Lewis McCann then went down holding his left ankle that he had injured in the first half in a challenge with the goalkeeper. It was ten minutes into the second half when Kevin O’Hara came on for McCann and within three minutes Dunfermline were ahead. It was his striking partner WIGHTON however who grabbed the chance chipping the ball over the advancing keeper. The chance came when the ball, was played from Benedictus through Mochrie to Chalmers and he lopped the ball forward for the goalscorer to wrong foot Fordyce and net. 0-1.

The 58th minute lead only lasted four minutes and it was a stormy five minutes as the Pars lost a goal and then their captain to a red card. The equaliser came from a corner on the right that GALLAGHER turned in at the far post. 1-1

Then within a minute Benedictus blocked Smith 20 yards out and was shown a straight red. Chris Hamilton came on as Craig Wighton was withdrawn before McCabe’s 65th minute free kick rounded the five man wall to be held by Mehmet low to his left. The heated atmosphere was further fuelled when O’Hara took out his man on the touchline in front of the tunnel. Another red card was shown by referee Greg Aitken and then to assistant manager Dave Mackay in the remonstrations after O’Hara’s dismissal.

After that the nine men played out a magnificent defensive display to hold on to a draw. Yet another memorable visit to the Excelsior Stadium and the players and management celebrated in front of the travelling fans like it was a victory. A fine performance but what a second half.

AIRDRIEONIANS: Josh Rae: Craig Watson, Callum Fordyce (c), Cammy Ballantyne, Rhys McCabe, Charlie Telfer, Adam Frizzell, Dean McMaster (Ben Stanway 61), Justin Deveney (Lewis Deveney 74), Calum Gallagher, Callum Smith
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Gabby McGill, Euan Deveney, Salim Kouider-Aisser, Lewis McGregor, Joe Dixon, Lachie Byrd, David Hutton (GK)
SCORERS: Gallagher (62)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Kyle Macdonald 75), Paul Allan (Robbie Mahon HT), Joe Chalmers, Chris Mochrie: Lewis McCann (Kevin O’Hara 55), Craig Wighton (Chris Hamilton 65)
SUBS NOT USED: Nikolay Todorov, Miller Fenton, Taylor Sutherland, Max Little (GK).
SCORERS: Wighton (58)
YELLOW CARD: Hamilton (73)
RED CARD: Benedictus (63), O’Hara (71), Dave Mackay (73)

Recent Form

Airdrieonians defeat last Saturday away to Partick Thisle was their first defeat in seven games. All the more impressive since only one of those matches were at home. They have lost twice at home this season - to Dundee United and Ayr United.

Dunfermline’s midweek win over managerless Arbroath was just their second win in eight games but their last three defeats have been to the teams sitting first and second in the Championship.

League Record



DUNFERMLINE

League Position: 4th

League Points: 18

Goal Difference: +2

Away League Record: P6 W2 D2 L2 GF6 GA7

Last Six Match Form: LWLDLW



AIRDRIEONIANS

League Position: 5th

League Points: 17

Goal Difference: -6

Home League Record: P7 W4 D1 L2 GF9 GA7

Last Six Match Form: DWWDWL

Last six matches



DUNFERMLINE

Arbroath (H) W 3-0
Raith Rovers (H) L 0-3
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Dundee United (H) L 1-2
Morton (A) W 2-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 0-1



AIRDRIEONIANS

Partick Thistle (A) L 1-2
Stranraer (A) W 1-0
Morton (A) D 0-0
Arbroath (H) W 2-0
Rangers B (A) W 4-2
Raith Rovers (A) D 1-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Arbroath): Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher (Alex Jakubiak 66), Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Aaron Comrie 58), Paul Allan, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Matty Todd (Michael O’Halloran 63), Owen Moffat (Craig Wighton 63): Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Harry Sharp (GK), Max Little (GK)

AIRDRIEONIANS (v Partick Thistle): Josh Rae: Craig Watson, Callum Fordyce, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Kanayo Megwa: Charlie Telfer, Dean McMaster, Adam Frizzell: Gabby McGill (Elliot Dunlop 77), Callum Gallagher (Nikolay Todorov 67), Liam McStravick
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys McCabe, Mason Hancock, Josh O’Connor, Gavin Gallagher, Joe Cassidy, Alasdair Spalding, David Hutton (GK).

Other cinch Championship fixtures

Raith Rovers v Partick Thistle (Friday on BBC)
Arbroath v Morton
Dundee United v Ayr United
Queen’s Park v Inverness Caley Thistle