Preview St Johnstone

The 0-0 draw on Tuesday night will give little indication as to how Saturday`s fixture will work out but St Johnstone won 2-1 earlier this season at EEP.

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes claims that every other team in the First Division would love to be in their position - league leaders with a three point advantage over second placed Partick Thistle but knows that there is an onus on Saints to go and win games.  This should ensure that Saturday afternoon should be more entertaining than Tuesday night`s goalless draw.

The Fifers have a good record over St Johnstone principally because of the performances at East End Park but with the last Pars win in this fixture being back in 2001 there`s a need to alter that record.

Details of the Match Programme for our game against

The 0-0 draw on Tuesday night will give little indication as to how Saturday`s fixture will work out but St Johnstone won 2-1 earlier this season 

A Dunfermline win could see them rise to fourth if other results went their way but regardless Jim McIntyre and his team want to finish as high up the league as possible. They now can only reach a maximum points total of 56.  St Johnstone are three points clear of Thistle in second with their goal difference currently worth an additional point.

It would take a massive collapse by both St Johnstone and Partick Thistle for other teams to enter the promotion frame at this stage. McInnes will still stress to his players that they need to be positive and maintain their lead. 

St Johnstone have lost only once - to Livingston - since 30th August but they have had nine draws on the road this season. Dunfermline, sadly, have yet to provide their home fans with a league victory in 2009.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Greg Shields, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson (Alex Burke 13); David Graham, Steven Bell, Nick Phinn (Greg Ross HT), Jamie Mole (Scott Muirhead 10), Graham Bayne, Andy Kirk.
SUBS NOT USED: Greg Paterson (GK), Rory Loy.

ST JOHNSTONE: Alan Main; Gary Irvine, Steven Anderson (Liam Craig 75), Kevin Moon, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Graham Gartland, Collin Samuel, Chris Millar (Gavin Swankie 82), Derek Holmes (Graham Barrett 62), Steven Milne, Paul Sheerin
SUBS NOT USED:  Martin Hardie, Euan McLean

Dunfermline will be struggling to select a team.  Nick Phinn, Scott Thomson and Jamie Mole were injured on Tuesday night, Stephen Glass is doubtful having missed that game because of an ankle injury picked up at Airdrie, Graeme Holmes, Kevin Harper and Simon Wiles are long term injuries. This possibly means that subs at Perth, Alex Burke, Scott Muirhead and Greg Ross could come into the starting eleven with Rory Loy and Austin McCann the only other real options remaining for Jim McIntyre. It could be the Pars bench on Saturday will have an average age below 20.

Referee will be Steve O`Reilly.  This will be the whistler`s third visit to East End Park this season.  He was in charge when Dundee won 1-0 in November and when Pars knocked Clyde out of the cup 2-0 in January.  C`mon Ye Pars!