'Ton up means friends reunited

Andy Dowie:- "We just need to make sure that we play as well as we can and be confident that we can get a victory."

Andy Dowie: Just waiting for Saturday

Andy Dowie is one of only three current Pars players who played against Morton the last time the clubs met. Andy Kirk and Joe Cardle were also at Cappielow that day securing Jim McIntyre's team's promotion to the SPL. Back on 30th April 2011 that Pars team also included two players who could turn out against Andy in this Saturday's meeting. Kevin Rutkiewicz and David Graham are now Morton players and could be men on a mission on their first return since leaving East End Park in May. Andy explained:-

"It has been all change since that great day down there; it feels like ten years ago now! Every time you go and play against your old team you always feal as though you have a point to prove so I'm sure the boys who are coming back will want to do well for their new club.

"Not just them, the rest of the Morton boys are good players and so we will need to be on our best to win on Saturday. They have had five victories on the bounce and that says everything. They are obviously high on confidence as well and will be coming looking for a win. It will make for an interesting game."

Another on the Morton books these days is Martin Hardie and every Pars fan is aware of just how Big Mad Mental Hardie enjoys East End Park. Andy continued:-

"We don't know if he will play because he has just come back from injury and has not started many games. Big Martin was excellent, especially when he came in at first. He played a big part in getting us promoted but on Saturday we just need to make sure that we play as well as we can and be confident that we can get a victory."

With Morton imposing the sole league defeat at East End Park in season 2010-11, Andy is keen to seal up the defensive gaps that occurred at The Falkirk Stadium in the last fixture:-

"Myself and Big Call were disappointed with the goals we lost, especially the first one. The two of us felt that we could have done better and we need to make sure that we do not concede a goal like that again. One of us should have dealt with it but we didn't. It is one but possibly the only mistake we have made recently. We have been playing well as a defence and the whole team has been helping from that point of view."

At 1-0 down at half time and then 2-0 down after virtually just two attempts at the Pars goal, the team felt that they could still get a result:-

"We did well to come back. I don't think anybody who was at that game could say that we didn't deserve it."

The developing central defensive partnership that Andy has with 22 year old former Newcastle United youth, Callum Morris looks like being a real advantage this season. Andy claims that Callum is enjoying his football at Dunfermline and it is showing on the pitch.

"I am seven years older and played a lot more games than him but he has come in and looks as though he doesn't need anybody's help. Now and again we will have a talk and make sure that we are doing this and that right but he has done well."

The team spirit that culminated in success that day at Cappielow with a championship winning side is something that Andy feels is present again this season in Jim Jefferies's team:-

"The feeling in the dressing room that year was really good and similar to what we have got this year. The good feel in training is being taken into games and the young boys have surprised the manager and everybody. I don't know if they have surprised themselves, you would have to ask them that." 

.

.