Preview Cowdenbeath

Of the last ten league meetings Dunfermline have won eight but this is a local derby and everyone knows history and the form book can go ou

It has been over 17 years since Cowdenbeath last met Dunfermline in a league match. That was back on May Day 1993 and that season in matches between the teams, the Pars scored 11 goals to Cowden`s 6.  The Central Park club took only 13 points from their 44 matches.  It was still just two points for a win that season but the change would only have added another three points.  One of the three games that Cowdenbeath won was at East End Park after they had already been relegated.

Cowdenbeath`s rise to the First Division came after promotion in consecutive seasons. After Livingston`s demise and subsequent ejection to the Third Division had given them a place in Division Two for last season and after a great season under Danny Lennon it looked like they had bottled it by letting Stirling Albion in to win the league. But play off wins over Alloa Athletic and Brechin City meant promotion to the First Division beside their Fife counterparts Dunfermline and Raith Rovers.

Dunfermline`s league record against Cowdenbeath reveals 26 wins and 26 defeats with 14 draws. Of the last ten league meetings Dunfermline have won eight but this is a local derby and everyone knows history and the form book can go out the window.

Jimmy Nicholl was appointed Cowdenbeath Manager after Lennon went to St Mirren and progress has been impressive.  The Blue Brazil sit fourth having taken nine points out of the first twelve.

League Form 

Not counting the penalty shoot out knock out by Queen of the South, Dunfermline are unbeaten this season at East End Park while Cowdenbeath have won both their away games in this season`s First Division.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Andy Dowie, Chris Higgins, Austin McCann (c); Willie Gibson, Steven Bell, Gary Mason (Nick Phinn 71), Joe Cardle; Andy Kirk, Steven McDougall (Pat Clarke 68).
SUBS NOT USED: Alex Keddie, Alex Burke, Kyle Allison (GK)

COWDENBEATH: David Hay; John Armstrong (Joe Mbu 46), Kenny Adamson, Mark Baxter, Scott Linton, Mark Ramsay, Colin Cameron, Craig Winter, Tom O`Brien (Lee Sibanda 75), Marc McKenzie, John Dempster (Greg Stewart 78).
SUBS NOT USED:  Paul Byrne, Ludovic Roy (GK).

Gary Mason is the sole survivor from the team that defeated Cowdenbeath in the League Cup in both 2002 and 2003.  Pat Clarke will be up against another of his former clubs and hopefully he can score like he did against Dundee.  The visitors goalkeeper David Hay was at Dunfermline as a youth as was Lee Sibanda but the nearest he got to the first team was cleaning Scott Thomson`s boots.