Preview Brechin City

Pars in search of their first league success at Glebe Park since January 1994

The last time the Pars travelled to Brechin nothing other than a win would do if they wish to keep their slim hopes of a play off place alive. A 3-0 defeat to City killed off those slim hopes but contrast that to the mood this time around when Allan Johnston's team and supporters travel there after two confidence building victories in the Petrofac and Scottish League Cups. 

There has now been 45 league matches between them but the last victory there on league business remains on 4th January 1994.

The Fifers have won 29, Brechin City 8 and 8 matches have been drawn. The best Pars result in Brechin was a 6-1 win in 1979 courtesy of a Mike Leonard hat trick and goals from Jimmy Mullin, Kevin Hegarty, and Walter Borthwick.

These two met in the opening league fixture of last season as well when the Pars were held to a disappointing goalless draw. The second game last season was again at East End but City won that February night by the only goal of the game scored by Alan Trouten in 73rd minute.  When the teams met a week later in Angus, Josh Falkingham put the visitors ahead within the first minute only for Paul McLean to equalise early in the second half. The 1-1 draw extended Brechin's run to16 league games undefeated and meant that they were undefeated against the Fifers in season 2014-15.

Last Saturday Ayr United knocked Brechin City out of the Scottish League Cup at Somerset Park with defender Gerry McLauchlan scoring against his former club. Former Par Paddy Boyle fired into the top corner after 64 minutes to confine Brechin to a second straight cup tie loss.

Brechin went out of the Petrofac Training Cup losing 3-0 at home to Peterhead.  In contrast the Pars breezed past Arbroath 4-1 and Cowdenbeath 5-1.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Cowdenbeath): Sean Murdoch; Ryan Williamson, Callum Fordyce (c), B Richards-Everton, Lewis Martin; Michael Paton, Shaun Byrne (Josh Falkingham 79), Andy Geggan, Joe Cardle (David Hopkirk 77); Michael Moffat (Ryan Wallace 66), Faissal El Bakhtaoui
SUBS NOT USED: David Hutton (GK), Lewis Spence, James Thomas, John Potter.

BRECHIN CITY (v Ayr United): Graeme Smith; Paul McLean, Darren McCormack, Ross Perry, Kevin Buchan; Gary Fusco (Craig Molloy 66), Euan Smith (David Weatherston 82), James Dale, Jamie Montgomery (Craig Johnston 46), Andy Jackson, Robert Thomson.
SUBS NOT USED: Darren Dods, Patrick O'Neil (GK).

Referee will be John McKendrick.

Opposition: Since Last Season

It has been a summer of upheaval at Glebe Park, following the departure of manager Ray McKinnon to Raith Rovers and departure of key players such as Alan Trouten and Gerry McLauchlan to Ayr United. McKinnion took his management team with him, coaches Grant Johnson and Darren Taylor also moving to the Rovers.

After careful consideration of the wide range of applications Brechin appointed former Hibs, St Johnstone Inverness, Dundee United, Falkirk and Forfar defender Darren Dods as their new manager. On taking over Dods said:-

"I welcome the opportunity to come and manage Brechin City FC. I have experienced what Brechin City has to offer in our battles over the past two seasons. I greatly look forward to meeting and working with the players who have already demonstrated their commitment to the Club as we look to build a squad for the new season. Division One is a great league to play in and I am sure it will be a great league to also manage in, I am clear on our objectives as we look to be challenging amongst the best of the part time teams in Scotland. I thank the Club for showing faith in me as a young manager and I and I look to repay that faith through hard work and endeavour."

The Brechin new manager then appointed former City player Lee Bailey as his assistant manager. Lee joined Brechin City in 1999 on loan from Queen of the South having previously played for Hibs and Livingston. He moved from coaching at the Fife Football Performance Academy.

Amongst new Brechin player-manager Darren Dods signings are former United full-back Jonathan Tiffoney, centre-back Ross Perry and veteran striker Dene Shields, who has returned to Scottish football after a spell in Malta.

Central defender Perry (25) swaps League Two in England to return to Scotland in Ladbrokes League One having been with Northampton Town. Prior to this Ross spent much of the early part of his career with Rangers, followed by short spells at Falkirk and Raith Rovers as he sought to recover from serious ankle ligament injury which kept him sidelined for the entire 2013/14 season. He has also enjoyed international experience, representing Scotland at both U/19 and U/21 levels.

Tiffoney (24) is a right sided defender who has featured in a number of the recent pre-season friendlies and has already excited many of the City supporters with his eagerness to break forward. “Tiff” has considerable experience at this level having played for Ayr United and, most recently, Alloa Athletic.

Darren Dods also added forward Kevin Buchan (20, Dundee, Peterhead, Arbroath), midfielder James Dale (21, Forfar) and Jamie Montgomery (19, Forward, Dundee United). David Weatherston brought the complement of registered players to 18. The 28 year forward has previously turned out for Queens Park, St Johnstone, Queen of the South, Falkirk, Stirling Albion and Alloa Athletic.