Preview Arbroath

Betfred League Cup: Tuesday 19th July
7.45pm kick off at East End Park

The Pars first two competitive matches of the 2016-17 season will be against the same opponents as last season. The venue for both matches this year are reversed so this Tuesday Arbroath will be the visitors and the following Saturday the Pars travel to Central Park to face Liam Fox`s Cowdenbeath. These matches are in the re-vamped Scottish League Cup now sponsored by Betfred.

Allan Johnston will be hoping that his Championship team will make a good impression in the Betfred Cup but even he would doubt their ability to repeat last season`s first four scorelines - 4-1, 5-1, 6-1 and 7-1. Arbroath are now managed by former Pars gaffer Dick Campbell. after over seven years in charge the 62 year old left Forfar Athletic in December last year and within three months was installed as manager of the League Two club. 

After taking over on 8th March Dick won two, drew one and lost six as the Red Lichties finished ninth in League Two. They kicked off this season on Friday night with a 1-1 draw against Dundee United in the first match of this Betfred Cup section. Their added time goal tied the game at 1-1 and in the next format for the competition a penalty shoot out decided the bonus point and United won that.

Previously

In the last thirty years the sides have only spent one season together in the league and have met as many times in cup competitions in that time. Arbroath were the visitors for the opening league match of season 2013-2014 and it was to be the Angus club`s first win at East End Park since December 1984. . In the interim Arbroath had three times come to Halbeath Road on cup business but the Pars had successfully negotiated League Cup and Challenge Cup ties against them.

Last Meeting at East End Park

League One: Tuesday 25th February 2014
Jim Jefferies went with unchanged starting eleven and for the first time that season the team achieved back to back shut outs. At the other end Stephen Husband, Ross Forbes and Josh Falkingham found the net to record an emphatic victory.

In 26 minutes Falkingham won another Pars corner and when that became another after the Arbroath clearance, Dunfermline got the goal that their pressure fully deserved. Keeper Sandy Wood could only punch Ross Millen`s free kick as far as Stephen Husband and from 15 yards Hubby made no mistake with a perfectly executed volley into the left corner of the Arbroath net. On the hour Ross Forbes just inside the box finished a Falkingham delivery from the right. Forbes was involved in Pars third goal in 71 minutes. His pass set Danny Granger off down the left wing and Danny`s low dipping cross found Falkingham charging in at the back post to slide home goal number three.

Last Meeting at Gayfield Park

Pertrofac Training Cup: Saturday 25th July 2015
Allan Johnston`s first competitive match as Dunfermline manager turned out to be an emphatic away win at Gayfield. His selection for this match had been worked on all pre season but in the end he was missing three of the players who had faced Hibs the previous Saturday.

No Josh Falkingham out with a hip injury, no David Hopkirk and no Jason Talbot due to his red card against Hibs. That made way for Lewis Martin, Shaun Byrne and the return of Joe Cardle. Faissal El Bakhtaoui scored the opener in just the eighth minute when Martin passed infield for the striker who took a touch before sending a 25 yard shot low into the bottom left.  Michael Moffat made it two 12 minutes later finishing a Ryan Williamson cut back. An El Bakhtaoui header and Wallace with a 20 yard strike made it four before substitute Martin Grehan stuck away a 72nd minute consolation.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Hearts): David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Lewis Martin: Rhys McCabe, Andy Geggan (c)(Lewis Spence 84), Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle: Michael Moffat (Paul McMullan 77), Gavin Reilly
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Callum Smith, James Thomas, David Hopkirk, Euan Spark, Cammy Gill (GK)

ARBROATH (v Dundee United):  Robbie Mutch. Gary Philips, Ricky Little, Colin Hamilton, Mark Whatley, Ryan McCord (Josh Thomson HT), Martin Scott, Omar Kader, Bryan Prunty (David Gold 75), Steven Dorris, Bobby Linn (Liam Callaghan 86)
SUBS NOT USED: Ricky Gomes (GK), Michael Dunlop, Gavin Malin, Kane Hester

Arbroath have signed goalkeeper, Ricky Gomes who has represented Canada at international level. Ricky who is 23 years old last played for Atletico Club Malveira in Portugal and impressed during training and in the second half of the friendly against Raith Rovers. They also have keeper Robbie Mutch on loan from Aberdeen. The seventeen year old was man of the match in Arbroath`s first Betfred match against Dundee United.

Referee will be David Munro.

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