Preview St Johnstone
Wednesday, 21st Jan 2009Prices: £17 for adults, £10 for 16-18 year olds, £7 for senior citizens and £6 for Under 16s. Wheelchair Fans - £10/Helpers free.
In the context of the 2008-09 season this Saturday's meeting with St Johnstone in Perth could be the most important of the campaign. Derek McInnes' side are five points clear of Dunfermline. By the time the teams next meet on 11th April there will be just four fixtures remaining and although this division has its tradition of close finishes, there's a strong feeling that the Pars cannot let the Saints stretch the gap between first and second to eight points.
St Johnstone Away Milestones
It is now over 13 years and twelve games since St Johnstone last won a league match at home against the Pars. Since the defeat in November 1995, the Athletic have gained four wins and seven draws in Perth. The Saintees did however register a 3-2 home win in the CIS Insurance Cup in October 2003.
| Milestones - St Johnstone (Away) | |||
|
Last League Victory |
16/08/08 | 3 - 0 | First Division |
|
Last League Defeat |
18/11/95 | 0 - 1 | First Division |
|
Best League Victory |
10/02/62 | 5 - 2 | Div One* |
|
Worst League Defeat |
01/01/35 | 1 - 5 | Div One* |
| * Pre Reconstruction | |||
All Time League record v St Johnstone
The Pars had a good Premierleague record in Perth, having won more games than they've lost but the First Division has been very different. Since league reconstruction the Pars have only won four of the fourteen First Division away matches but the last one was just in August.
| Pars v St Johnstone: the Full League Record | ||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| At East End Park | 66 | 34 | 12 | 20 | 124 | 91 |
| At Muirton Park / McDiarmid Park | 63 | 19 | 16 | 28 | 88 | 95 |
| Division One (up to 1975) | 36 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 72 | 60 |
| Division Two (up to 1975) | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 68 | 64 |
| Premier Division (since 1975) | 23 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 22 |
| First Division (since 1975) | 29 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 37 | 39 |
| Second Division (since 1975) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 129 | 53 | 28 | 48 | 212 | 186 |
On the last visit to McDiarmid Park Iain Williamson, Nick Phinn and Graham Bayne scored as the Pars completely flattened their opponents.
| St Johnstone | DDunfermlinene |
| Current League Position | |
| 1 | 2 |
| League Form last six results | |
| DDWDWD | LWDWLD |
| League Points | |
| 37 | 32 |
| Goal Difference | |
| +7 | +8 |
| Home/Away Record | |
| P10, W7, D1, L2 | P9, W5, D2, L2 |
Recent Form
St Johnstone are unbeaten both home and away in the league since August. As well as falling at home to Dunfermline, they also lost to Clyde at McDiarmid Park. In their eight matches played since the sides last met, St Johnstone have won three and drawn five. The Pars have played nine, won four, drawn two but lost three.
Dunfermline have lost only two away matches all season - their first away league match at Firhill and their last at Dundee.
| Recent Form this season - home / away | ||||||
| St Johnstone (home) |
|
Dunfermline (away) | ||||
| Clyde | W | 1-0 | Dundee | L | 0-1 | |
| Morton | W | 1-0 | Queen of the South | W | 2-1 | |
| Queen of the South | D | 0-0 | Livingston | W | 3-2 | |
| Ross County | W | 2-1 | Airdrie United | W | 3-1 | |
| Partick Thistle | W | 3-0 | Clyde | W | 2-0 | |
| Airdrie United | W | 3-1 | Morton | D | 1-1 | |
Graham Bayne scored his first of five goals this far
for the Pars at McDiarmid Park in August
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Airdrie United): Paul Gallacher, Calum Woods (Scott Thomson HT), Greg Shields, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Muirhead, Steven Bell, Nick Phinn, Alex Burke, Rory Loy, Andy Kirk (Paul Willis HT), Graham Bayne (Jamie Mole 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Greg Ross, Greg Paterson.
ST JOHNSTONE (v Partick): Alan Main; Gary Irvine, Paul Hanlon, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Stuart McCafferty, Jody Morris, Gavin Swankie (Chris Millar 60), Liam Craig (Kevin Moon 81), Paul Sheerin, Derek Holmes, Andy Jackson (Collin Samuel 69)
SUBS NOT USED: Euan McLean, Steven Anderson
Referee will be John McKendrick - his first ever match in charge of either side but famous for the seven yellow cards and two red cards he showed to Ross County players earlier this season at Livingston.
Visiting supporters will be housed in the North Stand which has a capacity of 1900. Prices: £17 for adults, £10 for 16-18 year olds, £7 for senior citizens and £6 for Under 16s. Wheelchair Fans - £10/Helpers free.
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