Preview Celtic

Dunfermline have never won a Scottish Cup tie against Celtic at East End Park but on the two occasions that they have got the better of the Glasgow side, the Pars have lifted the trophy.

The Pars met Celtic no fewer than 30 times in the seven seasons between the start of the 2000-01 season and the Scottish Cup final in 2007.  Since then the clubs have not met, principally because of Dunfermline`s relegation to the First Division.  There have been 20 Scottish Cup ties between the clubs.  Dunfermline have never won a Scottish Cup tie against Celtic at East End Park but on the two occasions that they have got the better of the Glasgow side, the Pars have lifted the trophy.

In January 1968 Dunfermline sensationally knocked the reigning European Champions out of the Cup in the First Round on their home patch.  Goals from Hugh Robertson and Pat Gardner caused the upset.  The only other win was in the 1961 Scottish Cup final when Jock Stein`s Pars were victorious, again by 2-0, in the replay at Hampden Park.

The Pars last home win over Celtic is now over twenty years ago. On 28th October 1989, Istvan Kozma and Ross Jack scored the important goals in a 2-0 league win in front of 19,580 supporters.

Two of the last three clashes have been in the final.  In 2007 Stephen Kenny`s team lost 1-0 as a result of a late Doumbe goal and in 2004 Jimmy Calderwood`s side went down 3-1 after leading 1-0 at half time courtesy of an Andrius Skerla goal. 

Recent Form

Celtic lie second in the SPL but are ten points behind Rangers after 23 games each. Celtic have scored 44 goals but have lost four away from home in this season`s campaign. The Celts came through their Fourth Round cup tie with the only goal of the match at Cappielow.

Dunfermline are currently sixth in the First Division, having amassed 29 points from 20 matches in which they scored 29 goals.  The Pars route from the Fourth Round included a 7-1 home win, an appeal and a 2-1 victory at Stenhousemuir in extra time.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (last time out at Stenhousemuir): Greg Fleming; Greg Ross, Neil McGregor, Andy Dowie, Austin McCann (c); Willie Gibson (Alex Burke 90+2), Steven Bell, Nick Phinn, Joe Cardle (Graeme Holmes 113); David Graham, Andy Kirk.
SUBS NOT USED:  Paul Willis, Chris Higgins, Greg Paterson (GK)

CELTIC (last time out v Kilmarnock): Artur Boruc; Lee Naylor (Scott Brown 74), Glenn Loovens, Jos Hooiveld (Josh Thompson 54), Andreas Hinkel (Paul Caddis 31), Aiden McGeady, Landry N`Guemo, Sung Yong Ki, Diomansy Kamara, Marc Antoine Fortune, Robbie Keane
SUBS NOT USED: Georgios Samaras, Zheng Zhi, Morten Rasmussen, Lukasz Zaluska (GK).

Referee will be Charlie Richmond who was also in charge of Celtic league match at Kilmarnock on Tuesday night.  The Pars still have three out injured - Graham Bayne, Steven McDougall and Stephen Glass.  In addition central defender Neil McGregor is struggling with a thigh injury.

Come on ye Pars!