Dundee United 1 Dunfermline 1
Saturday, 24th Mar 2018Ladbrokes Championship: same again Pars starting eleven. Nicky Clark (52) 0-1, Scott McDonald (55) 1-1
Dunfermline on the back of taking seven points from the previous nine travelled to Tannadice in search of their first league win there since August 2011. Manager Allan Johnston named an unchanged team while Dundee United made six changes from the team that lost 3-2 at home to Queen of the South in midweek. In came Harry Lewis, Scott Fraser, Willo Flood, Jamie Robson, Matty Smith and new signing Bilel Mohsni.
The 30 year old French born six time Tunisian internationalist, has only played a handful of games in France in the three years since leaving Rangers. Out went keeper Deniz, Mark Durnan, Willie Edenguele, Billy King, Paul McMullan and Thomas Mikkelsen.
The Fifers kicked off through Nicky Clark, Tom Beadling and back to Ryan Williamson. The visitors were attacking the goal in front of the United fans but it was the travelling support that had the best view of the first chance. Jamie Robson broke through on the left side of the Pars box and drove a low shot that was destined to sneak inside the right goalpost until Lee Robinson dived low to turn it away and Lewis Martin did well to block Anthony Ralston’s fierce follow up.
Robson proved to be more danger getting over two crosses from the left in six minutes, the second of which just evaded in on running Ralston. Dunfermline had nothing to note until 12th minute when Martin launched over a cross from the left that just evaded Clark’s leap.
Then five minutes later Declan McManus hit a left foot shot against the right upright from 14 yards after a neat piece of play from James Craigen through Clark on the edge of the box. Back at the other end United were awarded a free kick against Craigen and from 22 yards Scott McDonald hit the ball over off the Dunfermline wall. Scott Fraser’s corner was hoofed away by Lee Ashcroft.
Play eventually stopped in 24th minute after Stewart Murdoch followed through in his tackle on Tom Beadling on the top of the United D. Physio Kenny Murray came on to administer treatment and the big Englishman was fit to continue.
McManus tried a lob from 25 yards out on the left but just cleared the crossbar. Next Beadling played through Clark and although marginal, the offside decision was correct. On the half hour Williamson fed Kallum Higginbotham and after cutting inside laid the ball off for Craigen who fired narrowly wide right.
The Fifers were doing well at this stage and McManus next fed the ball in for Clark but unluckily he was caught offside. They forced their first corner of the game in 33 minutes but Ashcroft just couldn’t get enough purchase on Craigen’s delivery from the left.
Play continued to be encamped deep in the United half. Higginbotham crosses but that was cleared but Williamson gathered and his cross was desperately turned behind by Ralston for another corner.
One corner followed another and Higginbotham sent in a 38th minute corner that United had to defend again. McManus then from the left flashed the ball through the United box before Martin collected a yellow card in conceding a free kick 23 yards out. Fraser hit a fine shot that Robinson kept out with a fantastic one handed save at his right post.
From the corner Tam Scobbie got a free header from the resultant corner and the ball was net bound until Clark cleared off the line. Back to the other end with a swift move and McManus launched a shot over the bar from 20 yards.
It was a half which United started the stronger but the Pars came back and enjoyed a lot of the latter play. 52% possession for the visitors and despite McManus hitting the post, Harry Lewis was still to make his first save in earnest. United were denied the opener from Fraser’s free kick thanks to Robinson’s wonderful save.
Half time: Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 0
Mark Durnan replaced Tam Scobbie before McDonald got the second half underway. McDonald tumbled down in a tackle from Callum Morris that enraged the home support. That tackle was adjudged fair by referee Euan Anderson but when play stopped he yellow carded the Pars skipper for a previous challenge that he had played advantage.
CLARK was to score in 52nd minute after Williamson and Higginbotham made ground down the right. The goal from the cross was a tap in from close in. 0-1
The lead was only to last three minutes as a consequence of a mistake by Craigen. The ball was only eight yards out and Robinson had everything covered until the Pars man cleared the ball off McDONALD past the keeper. 1-1
The goal gave United a boost and they looked more likely after going on level terms. In 63 minutes Sam Stanton burst through the left channel to run into the path of a lay off from McDonald and fortunately the ball flew narrowly wide right.
Two minutes on and Mohsni was penalised for his challenge on Williamson. Craigen took charge of the free kick on the right level with the penalty spot and the ball was defended out to Williamson. 30 yards out the right back’s shot was going wide but Ashcroft deflected it but dropped just wide right.
Athletic pumped over another free kick from the right in 68 minutes but Higginbotham’s delivery was defended. McDonald’s challenge on Vincent earned another free kick but Craigen’s ball from the edge of the centre circle caused no danger.
Back at the other end Ashcroft could not usher the ball out behind and ended up pushing McDonald. The free kick was over hit by Matt Smith and the ball sailed over the goal.
Nat Wedderburn was the first Dunfermline sub in 73 minutes coming on to replace James Craigen. Dundee United then made Robinson pull off a good save from Ralston.
Into the last ten minutes and Mark Durnan fouled McManus to give the Pars a free kick on the left. Higginbotham’s delivery was dropped by Lewis but McManus stabbed the ball over the bar from close in. Quite a let off for the home side.
Beadling was booked in 85 minutes for complaining too much after he was deemed to foul Ralston. The free kick on the right was centred by sub Chris Slater and Durnan met the cross to head wide right.
Then on 88 minutes McMullan was given two bites at a chance on the left but could only win a corner. Back at the other end there was a good opportunity for a Dunfermline winner. Martin swung the ball over to the far post and Clark clipped the ball back but McManus could not get a connection.
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Mikkelsen, Billy King, Grant Gillespie, Deniz Dogan Mehmet: (GK)
SCORERS: McDonald (55)
YELLOW CARD: Scobbie (45)
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham, James Vincent, Tom Beadling, James Craigen (Nat Wedderburn 73): Declan McManus, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Fraser Aird, Dan Armstrong, Andy Ryan, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Clark (52)
YELLOW CARD: Martin (40), Morris (51), Beadling (85)
REFEREE: Euan Anderson
WEATHER: Sunny 11C
ATTENDANCE 5830
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Queen of the South, Saturday 31st March 2018, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
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Preview Dundee United
Saturday, 24th Mar 2018Ladbrokes Championship (away) Saturday 24th March 2018, 3.00pm kick off at Tannadice.
The Pars have had some memorable encounters with United over the years, but few, if we are going to be really honest, in recent times. Games can quite often be close, but almost always United seem to have the slight advantage that makes all the difference. It is thirteen games back since we experienced a Dunfermline win.
To avoid being too negative Dunfermline have managed to come up trumps when it really counts - like winning the First Division title in 1996, or staving off relegation by the skin of the teeth in 2006. Now is perhaps time for it all to come together.
United have not had their most impressive season and changing manager midstream didn’t have the hoped-for effect.
Tannadice Park is one of those grounds that fans enjoy travelling to with fairly easy off street parking and a ground with a good atmosphere. There have been 136 league meetings between the teams, United have won 51, Dunfermline 48 and 37 matches have been drawn.
Milestones Dundee United (Away)
Last League Victory:
20/08/11: 1-0: SPL
Last League Defeat:
02/12/17: 1-2: Championship
Best League Victories:
29/01/66: 4-0: Div 1*
22/08/62: 4-0: Div 1*
28/02/48: 4-0: Div B*
Worst League Defeat
29/04/61: 0-5: Div 1*
*Pre league reconstruction
The last dozen league games between the two sides have seen United win ten, with two games have ended up all square.
Last Twelve Matches v Dundee United
Date | H/A | F-A | WDL | Competition
13/01/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
02/12/17 | A | 1-2 | L | Championship
30/09/17 | H | 1-3 | L | Championship
11/04/17 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship
28/01/17 | H | 1-1 | D | Championship
12/11/16 | H | 0-1 | L | Irn Bru Cup
08/11/16 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship
10/09/16 | A | 0-2 | L | Championship
31/08/16 | A | 0-3 | L | League Cup
22/09/15 | A | 1-3 | L | League Cup
31/03/12 | A | 0-3 | L | SPL
29/10/11 | H | 1-4 | L | SPL
Last Meeting - Ladbroke Championship
Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 1
Saturday 2 December 2017
Two poor goals were conceded and although Declan McManus clawed them back into the match from the penalty spot, they could not find an equaliser in the final quarter of an hour.
United went in front when a 15th minute setpiece was swept over the Pars wall by Scott FRASER to find the right side of the net. 1-0
The Fifers conceded a cheap goal in 42nd minute. A Robson throw in on the left side picked out FRASER who despatched the ball with a right footed shot at an angle into far side of the goal. 2-0
DUNDEE UNITED: Harry Lewis, Paul Quinn, Mark Durnan, Jamie Robson: Stewart Murdoch, Scott Fraser (Paul McMullan 90), Billy King, Sam Stanton (James Keatings 70), Willo Flood (c)(William Edjenguele 90+3), Fraser Fyvie, Scott McDonald
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Allardyce, Matty Smith, Logan Chalmers, Deniz Mehmet (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Nat Wedderburn, Lewis Martin. Kallum Higginbotham (Fraser Aird 55), Michael Paton, Joe Cardle: Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Callum Smith, Dean Shiels, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Cammy Gill (GK).
Form last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Brechin City (A) W 3-0
Morton (H) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) W 1-0
St Mirren (A) L 0-2
Queen of the South (A) D 0-0
Livingston (A) D 0-0
DUNDEE UNITED
Queen of the South (H) L 2-3
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Queen of the South (A) W 3-1
Livingston (A) L 1-2
Aberdeen (A) L 2-4
Morton (H) L 0-3
Recent Form
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 5th
League Points: 43
League Record: P29 W11 D9 L9 GF43 GA30
Goal Difference: +13
Last Six League Match Form: DDLWDW
DUNDEE UNITED
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 44
League Record: P26 W13 D5 L8 GF37 GA33
Goal Difference: +4
Last Six League Match Form: DLLWDL
Defeat at home to Dunfermline Athletic would see the Pars leapfrog United as would victories for Morton over Brechin City and Queen of the South who take on Livingston.
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE (v Brechin City) Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham, James Vincent (Fraser Aird 72), Tom Beadling, James Craigen: Declan McManus (Dan Armstrong 64), Nicky Clark (Andy Ryan 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Jean-Yves M`Voto, Nat Wedderburn, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)
DUNDEE UNITED (v Queen of the South) Deniz Dogan Mehmet: Tam Scobbie, Mark Durnan, Willie Edjenguele, Anthony Ralston (Willo Flood 82): Stewart Murdoch, Paul McMullan (Scott Fraser 64), Billy King (Matt Smith 77), Sam Stanton: Scott McDonald, T Mikkelsen.
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Robson, Craig Slater, Grant Gillespie, Harry Lewis (GK)
Other Championship fixtures on Saturday
Morton v Brechin City
Queen of the South v Livingston
Ticket Prices
Jim McLean Stand (Upper tier): Adults £22, Concessions £12.
Jim McLean Stand(Lower tier): Adults £20, Concessions £10
Concessions apply to Over 65s and Under 18s. Full time students can also qualify for the concessionary price for this part of the stadium providing they have a valid matriculation card.
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