Preview Dundee United

Ladbrokes Championship: The Pars have taken 25 points from their first 21 matches and are six points off the play off spot.

Prior to this season Dundee United and Dunfermline met only five times in the previous nine seasons but now they are the visitors to East End Park for the third time this season in what will be the fifth fixture between the sides since the end of August. While there will be familiarity between them Pars followers are hoping that the result does not continue in the same familiarity. Certainly the games between them have been close and coupled with the Pars good form and United having won only one of their last six, there is enough to suggest that Saturday`s result will not be a foregone conclusion.

The four previous fixtures in Betfred and Irn Bru Cups and in the two league matches have all resulted in United wins. This has not always been the case since in the 132 previous league meetings honours are even at 48 wins apiece and 36 match drawn.

This season these clubs have met in the league outside the top flight since the famous 1995-96 season. Back in `96 Dunfermline pipped the Tannadice club to the First Division title finishing with 71 points to United`s 67.

The last dozen league games between the two sides have seen . DA win two and United win eight, with two games ending all square. United have won all seven of the last seven meetings.

Last Twelve Matches v Dundee United

Last League Match v Dundee United at East End Park
Saturday 10th September 2016

This was the match that had all the stattos scanning the internet to find out just how many times a team had experienced three penalties saved in the first half of a game. This is certainly the most recent! First Gavin Reilly had the chance from the spot in the ninth minute, Bell went to his right and saved. 
  
Simon Murray then scored the opener for United in 21st minute and another seven minutes passed before referee John Beaton awarded a second Pars penalty. This time Nicky Clark penalty sent the ball left and again Bell saved.

Remarkably another penalty was awarded in 32 minutes and this time Paul McMullan completed the hattrick of failures as yet again Cammy Bell choose to go the right way.Tony Andreu notched a second United goal in the first minute of the second half but Michael Paton struck back five minutes later.

There was always a belief that Dunfermline could take something from the game and that gained momentum as Paul Dixon was red carded with more than half an hour remaining. The Pars tried everything but couldn`t find an equaliser and to further ruin the afternoon Andreu netted an added time third.

DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton, Ryan Williamson (Farid El Alagui 76), Lee Ashcroft, Callum Fordyce, Lewis Martin (Joe Cardle 83), Michael Paton, Andy Geggan (c), Rhys McCabe, Paul McMullan, Gavin Reilly, Nicky Clark. 
SUBS NOT USED: Kallum Higginbotham, John Herron, Ben Richards-Everton, Michael Moffat, Cammy Gill (GK)

DUNDEE UNITED: Cammy Bell: Frank van der Struik, William Edjenquele, Paul Dixon: Lewis Toshney, Willo Flood (c), Simon Murray (Cammy Smith 67), Charlie Telfer, Nick van der Velden (Coll Donaldson 79), Tope Obadeyi (Jamie Robson 60), Anthony Andreu 
SUBS NOT USED: Sean Dillon, Blair Spittal, Scott Fraser, Luis Zwick (GK).

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Andy Geggan (c), Lee Ashcroft, Callum Morris Lewis Martin: Paul McMullan, John Herron (Rhys McCabe 79), Nat Wedderburn, Kallum Higginbotham (Joe Cardle HT): Nicky Clark (Michael Moffat 73), Gavin Reilly.
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Talbot, Farid El Alagui, Michael Paton, David Hutton (GK)

DUNDEE UNITED: (v Ross County): Cammy Bell: Mark Durnan, Frank van der Struik, William Edjenquele, Jamie Robson: Stewart Murdoch (Willo Flood 46), Tope Obadeyi (Thomas Mikkelson 50), Charlie Telfer, Scott Fraser, Simon Murray (Blair Spittal 67), Anthony Andreu.
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Dixon, Lewis Toshney, Luis Zwick (GK).

Referee will be Andrew Dallas.

C`mon Ye Pars!

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