Preview Dundee United

Next "World Cup Final" is at Tannadice where Pars have won four of their last seven league games

The second last game before the SPL split takes Dunfermline on the road to Dundee. Last time there it ended up with a Pars win courtesy of a 85th minute Paul Burns strike and oh how badly they would like to repeat that now. The Pars sit at the foot of the table on 20 points three behind Hibs.  With Hibs` match at Inverness not taking place until Sunday though  there is the added attraction of getting level on points with the Hibees for at least 24 hours.

For travelling supporters, Tannadice is one of the better away grounds to visit.  Pars supporters are accommodated in the South West of the stadium and there is always a good atmosphere.

United have come out on top in more than half the 29 meetings although the Fifers have won four of  their last seven league visits there. The home side did win when the sides met in the Co-operative Insurance Cup in October 2008 when the Pars lost 1-0..

Over the last twelve SPL matches between Dunfermline and United, the Pars have won six, lost two with four games ending all square.  In the last meeting at East End Park on the last Saturday in October, the Tannadice side arrived  in tenth place just one place above the Pars but they were two up early on before Gary Mason`s 26th minute red card made the task near impossible. Andy Kirk got a goal back in seventh minute of the second half but Houston`s men secured their first SPL win at East End Park since 1997 with two further goals from Russell and MacKay-Steven

For years Tannadice was one of those grounds that Dunfermline couldn`t win at for love nor money but suddenly it became a place for celebration.

That started with the famous First Division `title decider` in 1996, and was followed with similar emotion when Jim Leishman`s side secured their SPL status at the same ground in 2005.  Then at the end of season 2005-06 a cracking Freddie Daquin goal gave Dunfermline hopes (false as it turned out) that they could finish ninth in the league.  

Recent Form
The Pars have won only two of their 25 SPL games since the win at Tannadice in August.  Dundee United at 9-4 on favourites to win this Saturday, no doubt flavoured by the fact that they have not lost a home game in the SPL since Aberdeen went there and won 2-1 on 2nd January.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v St Mirren): Chris Smith; Jordan MacMillan, Andy Dowie, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); David Graham (Kyle Hutton 74), Gary Mason, Mark Kerr (Steven McDougall 84), Joe Cardle; Martin Hardie, Liam Buchanan (Andy Kirk 70).
SUBS NOT USED: Paddy Boyle, Paul Willis, Kerr Young, Ryan Goodfellow (GK).

DUNDEE UNITED (v Hibs): Dusan Pernis; Paul Dixon, Keith Watson, Gavin Gunning, Sean Dillon; Willo Flood, Scott Robertson, Gary Mackay-Steven, John Rankin, Johnny Russell, Jonathan Daly.
SUBS: Steve Banks (GK), Stuart Armstrong, Richie Ryan, Danny Swanson, Ryan Dow, Garry Kenneth, Barry Douglas.

Referee will be 30 year old John Beaton. His experience this season has been predominantly in the Second Division but was in charge of Auckinleck Talbot`s famous Scottish Cup tie at Tynecastle back in January.