Dunfermline Athletic vs Partick Thistle

6 April 2024

Dunfermline Athletic

Chris Kane (78 pen.)

1

HT 0 - 1

Partick Thistle

Brian Graham (24)

Dunfermline Athletic

Chris Kane (78 pen.)

Partick Thistle

Brian Graham (24)

1

It will be fifth v third when Partick Thistle are the visitors on Saturday. Both sides will be seeking a win and should that happen the winners will join Raith Rovers and strangely given their present placing, Arbroath as the only Championship clubs to achieve that in four successive league games this season.

Milestones Partick Thistle (home)

Last League Victory | 22/03/22 | 4-1 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 16/12/23 | 1-2 | Championship
Best League Victory | 18/04/59 | 10-1 | Div One*
Worst League Defeat | 07/01/28 | 1-7 | Div One*
Last Goalless Draw | 14/10/10 | 0-0 | First Div

*Pre league reconstruction

In the previous 119 meetings between the clubs Dunfermline have won 53, Partick 36 and 30 have been drawn while at home, the Pars are well ahead with 32 wins to Thistle’s 12.

Last Time at East End Park
Saturday 16th December 2023
Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 2

There was an early let off for the Pars when a dangerous ball in from the right was turned out for a corner at Deniz Mehmet’s right hand post. Thistle scored from that 12th minute setpiece with Harry MILNE rising to head home at the far post. 0-1

Unfortunately the first half didn’t end well. From Fitzpatrick’s corner in from the left, Mehmet failed to hold, Milne headed on and Partick captain Brian GRAHAM stabbed the ball over the line. 0-2

Dunfermline pressed for most of the second half and the goal that everyone sensed was coming eventually came in 82 minutes. It came from a slick move with Otoo passing to McCann on the left and his cross met by TODD who swept the ball into the Thistle net. 1-2

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher (Aaron Comrie 41), Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo: Michael O’Halloran, Paul Allan, Joe Chalmers (Owen Moffat 55), Josh Edwards: Matty Todd, Alex Jakubiak, Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Miller Fenton, Liam Hoggan, Ewan McLeod, Jake Sutherland, Harry Sharp (GK), Max Little (GK)

PARTICK THISTLE: Jamie Sneddon: Jack McMillan, Aaron Muirhead, Lewis Neilson, Harry Milne: Ben Stanway (Ola Williams 75), Kerr McInroy: Steven Lawless (Zander Mackenzie 69), Blair Alston (Stuart Bannigan 60), Aidan Fitzpatrick: Brian Graham (c) (Ricco Diack 75).
SUBS NOT USED: Tomi Adeloye, Scott Robinson, Nathan McGinley, Ben Williamson, David Mitchell (GK)

Last Twelve Matches v Partick Thistle

The sides last met in February this year when Dunfermline won 3-1 at Firhill but the last dozen games between the teams have seen Dunfermline win four, draw two and lose six.

Date | H/A | F-A | Scorers

23/02/24 | A | 3-1 [0-1] Graham, [1-1] Fagan-Walcott, [1-2] Todd, [1-3] Benjamin
16/12/23 | H | 1-2 [0-1] Milne, [0-2] Graham, [1-2] Todd
30/09/23 | A 0-3 [0-1] Robinson, [0-2] Graham, [0-3] McInroy
21/01/23 A 1-1 [1-0] Benedictus, [1-1] Fitzpatrick
23/04/22 A 0-1 [0-1] Docherty
22/03/22: H 4-1 [0-1] Docherty, [1-1] Mayo og (10), [2-1] Todd, [3-1] Edwards, [4-1] Thomas.
26/11/21: A 0-1 [0-1] Docherty
23/10/21: A 0-0
07/08/21: H 0-3 [0-1] Docherty, [0-2] Holt, [0-3] Graham (og 78).
10/07/21: A 4-2 [0-1] Graham, [1-1] Todorov, [2-1] Comrie, [3-1] Macdonald, [4-1] Todorov, [4-2] Rudden.
10/03/20: A 1-1 [1-0] Murray [1-1] Graham.
30/11/19: H 5-1 [1-0] Nisbet [2-0] Martin [3-0] Nisbet [4-0] Nisbet [5-0] Nisbet [5-1] Cole.

Recent Form

Both sides go into this game having won their last three games and not having won the three before that.

League Record

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 5th
League Points: 41
Goal Difference: -4
Home League Record: P15 W5 D2 L8 GF18 GA23
Last Six Match Form: WLLWWW

PARTICK THISTLE
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 49
Goal Difference:+8
Away League Record: P15 W5 D6 L4 GF30 GA25
Last Six Match Form: DDLWWW

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Arbroath (A) W 3-2
Morton (A) W 1-0
Dundee United (H) W 3-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 0-2
Airdrieonians (H) L 0-2
Ayr United (H) W 2-0

PARTICK THISTLE
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) W 1-0
Arbroath (A) W 1-0
Morton (H) W 2-1
Raith Rovers (H) L 0-1
Queen’s Park (A) D 2-2
Dundee United (H) D 1-1

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Arbroath): Deniz Mehmet, Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Kane Ritchie-Hosler Chris Hamilton (Paul Allan 6 (Joe Chalmers 72)), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards, Matty Todd (Rhys Breen 89), Chris Kane, Alex Jakubiak (Lewis McCann 67)
SUBS NOT USED: Owen Moffat, Michael O’Halloran, Xavier Benjamin, Brad Holmes, Max Little (GK)

PARTICK THISTLE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): David Mitchell: Jack McMillan, Luke McBeth, Aaron Muirhead, Harry Milne: Lewis Neilson, Ben Stanway (Blair Alston 75): Steven Lawless, Scott Robinson (Zander Mackenzie 90+3), Aidan Fitzpatrick (Kieran Ngwenya 80), Brian Graham
SUBS NOT USED: Che Campbell, Thomas Horn, Ceiran Loney, Ross Stewart (GK)

Other cinch Championship fixtures

Airdrieonians v Morton
Inverness Caley Thistle v Arbroath
Queen’s Park v Dundee United
Raith Rovers v Ayr United

Pars remaining league fixtures

13 April – Airdrieonians (A)
20 April – Queen’s Park (H)
27 April – Inverness CT (H)
3 May – Ayr United (A)

Last 12 Meetings

23/02/24	Partick Thistle	1	Dunfermline	3
16/12/23	Dunfermline	1	Partick Thistle	2
30/09/23	Partick Thistle	3	Dunfermline	0
21/01/23	Partick Thistle	1	Dunfermline	1
23/04/22	Partick Thistle	1	Dunfermline	0
22/03/22	Dunfermline	4	Partick Thistle	1
26/11/21	Partick Thistle	1	Dunfermline	0
23/10/21	Partick Thistle	0	Dunfermline	0
07/08/21	Dunfermline	0	Partick Thistle	3
10/07/21	Partick Thistle	2	Dunfermline	4
10/03/20	Partick Thistle	1	Dunfermline	1
30/11/19	Dunfermline	5	Partick Thistle	1

Last 6 Matches

Dunfermline Athletic	Partick Thistle
W Arbroath (Away) 3-2	W Inverness Caley Thistle (Home) 1-0
W Greenock Morton (Away) 1-0	W Arbroath (Away) 1-0
W Dundee United () 3-1	W Greenock Morton (Home) 2-1
L Raith Rovers (Away) 0-2	L Raith Rovers (Home) 0-1
L Airdrieonians (Home) 0-2	D Queens Park (Away) 2-2
L Ayr United (Home) 0-2	D Dundee United (Home) 1-1

Third placed Partick Thistle were the opposition for the first match in April. Both teams were hoping for a fourth consecutive league win and so there were expectations that this would be a hotly disputed contest. The air temperature as if in anticipation rocketed to an unseasonably high 15 degrees but that was accompanied by a strong wind.

James McPake made two changes to his starting eleven with Miles Welch-Hayes coming in for Sam Fisher and Joe Chalmers taking over the midfield role vacated by the injured Chris Hamilton. Partick boss Kris Doolan made one change bringing back one time Pars loanee, Kerr McInroy and Ben Stanway dropping to the subs bench.

Dunfermline kicked off into the wind attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end and Josh Edwards long throws were deployed from either side in the opening minutes. Partick keeper David Mitchell was first into action holding a Chalmers free kick after Aaron Muirhead had dumped Chris Kane 30 yards out on the right side.

Kane Ritchie-Hosler had started really strongly and it was his run in eight minutes that led to Welch-Hayes threading an inviting ball across the six yard box that unfortunately no one could connect with. Within the same minute Alex Jakubiak teed up another cross from the right that Kane headed on target but into Mitchell’s arms.

In 16th minute Thistle took advantage of a defensive slip up that let Brian Graham in on goal. His shot came off Deniz Mehmet to set up Aidan Fitzpatrick 18 yards out. The Thistle man blasted the ball low on target but Kyle Benedictus was nicely placed to block and Mehmet gathered the ball.

Three minutes later a Graham shot looked like it was net bound as it pinged through players towards the left side of the Pars goal but Welch-Hayes managed to scoop the ball away. Another slip up led to Benedictus seeing a yellow card and McInroy given the opportunity for a pop at goal from a free kick 28 yards out. Happily for Dunfermline the 23 year old lifted his shot over the defensive wall and on to the roof of the net.

There were a couple of blocks as Thistle pressed in 24 minutes and with the Dunfermline defence unable to clear Brian GRAHAM stuck away his chance. 0-1

Having struggled initially the Jags really got their game going and stifled the home side’s efforts to get up the park. McBeth’s foul on the attacking Kane earned him a yellow card and Chalmers another attempt from a free kick 30 yards out in a central position. Unfortunately the Partick wall did its job. It did get the ball back into the visitors half. In front of the North West Ritchie-Hosler was shown yellow in 38 minutes when he and the crowd clearly felt a throw in decision went unjustly against him.

Running on to a Matthew Todd pass Otoo earned a 41st minute corner down at a very windy left corner flag. Thistle survived as the cross passed through their box and out for goal kick that Mitchell not for the first time took all his time to take.

The half finished with the Fifers pressing after McBeth’s tackle on Todd yielded another free kick this time on the left side just 20 yards out. Todd fired to the near post where the keeper cleared. Chalmers then latched on to the clearance but his shot was blocked.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Partick Thistle 1

There was a 47th minute chance for Thistle when Fitzpatrick flashed the ball across the goalmouth from the right but Graham failed to connect. Ritchie-Hosler tried to cut inside a fire at goal but his effort was blocked. Jakubiak forced a 55th minute corner on the left after an Otoo burst up the left channel. Fagan-Walcott and Welch-Hayes got their heads to Todd’s corner but Mitchell would hold comfortably.

Owen Moffat was the first substitute to be used, replacing Chalmers in just the 12th minute of the second half. Lewis McCann followed seven minutes later taking over from Alex Jakubiak. Todd was then desperately as he evaded the offside trap to run on to Fagan-Walcott’s penetrating pass. Matty’s shot beat the keeper but was kept out by the left goalpost.

Todd also had a chance presented to him in 72 minutes when Ritchie-Hosler hooked on a Mehmet clearance but his effort sailed over the bar. An Edwards ball into the Partick box was skied by the defence but Mitchell beat Fagan-Walcott to the ball.

It had been a sustained period of Pars pressure with nothing to show for it but an Edwards ball towards Kane in the box caused Muirhead to concede a 78th minute penalty. KANE took some time to get the ball to sit on the penalty spot before cooly smashing it past Mitchell. 1-1

The right post then kept out a McInroy shot and in 85th minute Fagan-Walcott blocked an on target effort from Graham. At the other end Ritchie-Hosler’s run set up Todd for a cross to the far post but Moffat’s shot failed to hit the target. Kane then came closer with an 88th minute shot that hit the left post.

Dunfermline put Thistle under the cosh in the closing minutes. Fagan-Walcott swept a pass out to the left for Moffat and although he drew the keeper out his cross was blocked. In third minute of time added on Kane chested an Edwards pass goalwards but Mitchell held.

The draw ended both sides winning runs. Dunfermline remain fifth on 42 points eight behind their opponents and three behind their next opponents, Airdrieonians who have played one game less.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet, Miles Welch-Hayes, Kyle Benedictus (c), Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Joe Chalmers (Owen Moffat 57), Ewan Otoo, Josh Edwards, Matty Todd (Brad Holmes 87), Chris Kane, Alex Jakubiak (Lewis McCann 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Sam Fisher, Michael O’Halloran, Taylor Sutherland, Xavier Benjamin, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: Kane (78 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Benedictus (22), Ritchie-Hosler (38)

PARTICK THISTLE: David Mitchell, Jack McMillan, Luke McBeth, Aaron Muirhead, Harry Milne, Lewis Neilson, Steven Lawless (Ben Stanway 70), Kerr McInroy (Zander Mackenzie 87), Scott Robinson, Aidan Fitzpatrick, Brian Graham.
SUBS NOT USED: Kieran Ngwenya, Blair Alston, Ricco Diack, Che Campbell, Thomas Horn, Ceiran Loney, Ross Stewart (GK)
SCORERS: Graham (24)
YELLOW CARD: McBeth (34), Robinson (62)

REFEREE: Calum Scott
WEATHER: Windy 15°C
ATTENDANCE 5572
Manager’s post match comments

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (away) v Airdrieonians, Saturday 13th April 2024, kick off 3.00pm at the Excelsior Stadium.
50/50 HALF TIME DRAW: Winning 50/50 Number: Ticket 53660, won a total of £568