Preview St Johnstone
Sunday, 5th Apr 2009It is now over 13 years and twelve games since St Johnstone last won a league match at home against the Pars
In the context of the 2008-09 season this fixture against St Johnstone in Perth could have been the most important of the campaign. Unfortunately the clubs fortunes have gone in different directions since the weekend that they were scheduled to meet at the end of January. Back then Derek McInnes` side was five points clear of Dunfermline; now they sit top of the table twelve points better off and Dunfermline`s promotion challenge has all but gone.
It all looked so different back in August when Jim McIntyre`s side left McDiarmid Park with a 3-0 victory. Iain Williamson, Nick Phinn and Graham Bayne scored the goals that day and things were well on course for the Pars promotion push.
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 |
St Johnstone`s draw at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday was a better result for them than it was for Ian McCall`s men. The Saints are now three points ahead of them with six games to play, one more than Partick.
| St Johnstone | DDunfermlinene |
| Current League Position | |
| 1 | 7 |
| League Form last six results | |
| DDWLWD | LLWLDD |
| League Points | |
| 52 | 40 |
| Goal Difference | |
| +12 | +4 |
| Home/Away Record | |
| P15, W9, D4, L2 | P15, W7, D3, L5 |
Recent Form
St Johnstone are unbeaten at home in the league since August. As well as falling at home to Dunfermline, they also lost to Clyde at McDiarmid Park. The Pars have had fairly decent form away from home this season losing five but with just one win in the last eight league games their promotion hopes have sunk.
| Recent Form this season - home / away | ||||||
| St Johnstone (home) |
|
Dunfermline (away) | ||||
| Partick Thistle | D | 1-1 | Airdrie United | D | 0-0 | |
| Airdrie United | W | 3-0 | Ross County | L | 1-2 | |
| Ross County | D | 0-0 | Clyde | W | 4-1 | |
| Dundee | D | 0-0 | Livingston | L | 2-4 | |
| Livingston | W | 1-0 | Morton | L | 1-2 | |
| Clyde | W | 1-0 | Partick Thistle | W | 3-2 | |
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Airdrie United): Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Greg Shields, Scott Thomson, Austin McCann; Steven Bell (Greg Ross 79), Nick Phinn, Stephen Glass (c), Alex Burke (Andy Kirk 64); Graham Bayne, David Graham (Rory Loy 79)
SUBS: Greg Paterson (GK), Paul Willis
SCORER: Ross (90+3)
ST JOHNSTONE (v Partick): Alan Main; Gary Irvine, Liam Craig, Kevin Moon, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Stuart McCafferty, Collin Samuel (Steven Anderson 74), Martin Hardie (Gavin Swankie 84), Derek Holmes, Steven Milne (Graham Barrett 84), Paul Sheerin
SUBS NOT USED: Graham Gartland, Euan McLean
Referee will be John McKendrick - the referee originally scheduled for this fixture in January - 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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