Preview Greenock Morton

Boosted by news that Pars season ticket sales have broken 3000, the first home match of the league season should attract a big home support.

The visit of newly promoted Morton will be yet another tricky fixture for the Pars yet if we go by the history odds have to be stacked against the Greenock side.

Morton have not won at East End Park since 1995 but they did knock Dick Campbell`s team out of the 1999 Scottish Challenge Cup.  That night a second half brace from Owen Coyle took the match to extra time and penalties that ended around 10.30pm with a win for the visitors.  The best performance came in February 1965 when two goals each from Jackie Sinclair and Alex Ferguson, and one each from John McLauchlin and Bert Paton set the record league win over Morton at East End Park.

Dunfermline`s last opponents when leaving Division One in 2000 were Morton and that day, amidst home protests against the Chairman, they defeated the Pars 2-0.

Last Saturday Morton defeated Clyde 3-2 at Cappielow but they were 2-0 losers at Dens Park on Tuesday in the CIS Insurance Cup. Dunfermline had a bad day at New Douglas Park losing 2-1 but have had sharpening up exercise courtesy of England`s finest in midweek.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: (v Hamilton Accies)
Roddy McKenzie; Greg Shields (c), Phil McGuire, Scott Wilson, Scott Muirhead; Kevin Harper (Jim Hamilton 87), Darren Young, Stephen Simmons (Owen Morrison 68), Stephen Glass: Mark Burchill, Tam McManus (Stevie Crawford 68)
SUBS: Sean Murdoch, Scott Thomson
SCORER: Burchill (17)
YELLOW CARD: Young (54), Wilson (77)
RED CARD: McGuire (47)

MORTON: (v Dundee)
Lee Robinson, Peter Weatherson, Alex Walker, Ryan Harding, Stewart Greacen, Kevin Finlayson (Jay Shields 46), Chris Millar (Dean Keenan 55), Jamie Stevenson (Brian Graham 74), Chris Templeman, Kieran McAnespie, Jim McAlister
SUBS: Adam Coakley, David McGurn (GK)

Morton have Rangers goalkeeper Lee Robinson on loan. Former Hibs player Jay Shields will be known to Pars fans and older fans will recall Keiran McAnespie who Fulham paid £80,000 to St Johnstone for in August 2000. Striker Chris Templeman comes against his former club.  The tall striker left East End Park after three and a half seasons for Stirling Albion but it was at Brechin City where he scored 63 goals that he made his mark and led to his transfer to Morton.  The 27 year old Fifer has hit the net 24 times for the Greenock side.

Dunfermline will be without Phil McGuire but there is plenty of competition for places with Captain Scott Thomson or Sol Bamba likely to return.

Referee for the match will be 40 year old banker Crawford Allan.