Dunfermline Athletic vs Partick Thistle

16 December 2023

Dunfermline Athletic

Matty Todd (82)

1

2

HT 0 - 2

Partick Thistle

Harry Milne (12), Brian Graham (45)

Dunfermline Athletic

Matty Todd (82)

Partick Thistle

Harry Milne (12), Brian Graham (45)

2

After the win over fifth placed Airdrieonians, the Pars now take on the team one place above them in third. Partick Thistle will play back to back away games both in Fife. As many will have witnessed the Jags were fiercely competitive in their 4-3 defeat at Stark’s Park in Friday night’s televised match. Dunfermline will be wary of a team keen to make up for that disappointment.

Milestones Partick Thistle (home)

Last League Victory | 22/03/22 | 4-1 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 07/08/21 | 0-3 | 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 117 meetings between the clubs Dunfermline have won 52, Partick 35 and 30 have been drawn while at home, the Pars are well ahead with 32 wins to Thistle’s 11.

Last Twelve Matches v Partick Thistle

The sides last met in September this year when Thistle won 3-0 at Firhill but the last dozen games between the teams have seen even outcomes with Dunfermline winning four, drawing four and losing four.

Date | H/A | F-A | Scorers
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.
21/09/19: A 3-0 [1-0] Nisbet, [2-0] Dow, [3-0] Turner
06/04/19: A 2-2 [1-0] Beadling: [2-0] Anderson: [1-2] Blair (og): [2-2] McDonald.

Last time at East End Park
Tuesday 22nd March 2022, Championship
Dunfermline 4 Partick Thistle 1

It was the visitors who hit first when a Ross Docherty cross was missed by Edwards and Ciaran McKenna latched on to the ball deep up the right to deliver a cross that Tiffoney touched back for his captain, DOCHERTY, to smash the ball home from the edge of the box. 0-1

The luck that had deserted Dunfermline all season changed in the tenth minute when Lewis MAYO swished at a powerful Matty Todd cross and sent the ball into his own net. The chance came after a misguided pass found Joe Chalmers and the ball was sent from him through Steven Lawless and on for Kevin O’Hara to chase up the right. The striker’s cut back was then driven into the Jags box inviting the fatal mistake from the former Pars loan player. 1-1

Dunfermline played with confidence and made their commitment pay with a second goal midway through the first half. It came from a great cross in from the left that Matty TODD timed his run to head the ball downwards and past Thistle keeper Jamie Sneddon. 2-1

Five minutes past and another Dunfermline goal arrived. Again it was the magic of Thomas on the left wing that created the opportunity. His pass into the Partick box found EDWARDS and he took a touch with his right foot to sit the ball up for him to strike with his preferred left. The left back drilled a powerful effort past Mayo and through Sneddon to score his first ever senior goal.

Partick were pushing for a second goal that would have created a nervy finish when Dan Pybus provided the ball for a productive counterattack. Dan was actually in the D on the top of his own box when he launched the long ball that THOMAS latched on to. He outstripped sub Steven Bell as he made it to the Jags box and thrashed it into the net. 4-1

Recent Form

Dunfermline have won their last two league games and three of their last five league fixtures. Partick Thistle have won four, drawn one and lost one of their six games. They have scored 17 goals in their seven league games away from home.

League Record

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 4th
League Points: 21
Goal Difference: +23
Home League Record: P7 W3 D1 L3 GF10 GA7
Last Six Match Form: WLDLWX W

PARTICK THISTLE
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 25
Goal Difference: +6
Away League Record: P7 W3 D2 L2 GF17 GA10
Last Six Match Form: DWWWWL

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Airdrieonians (A) W 2-1
Arbroath (H) W 3-0
Raith Rovers (H) L 0-3
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Dundee United (H) L 1-2
Morton (A) W 2-1

PARTICK THISTLE
Raith Rovers (A) L 3-4
Airdrieonians (H) W 2-1
Queen’s Park (H) W 3-0
Morton (H) W 2-1
Arbroath (A) W 3-1
Ayr United (H) D 2-2

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Airdrieonians): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo: Michael O’Halloran, Paul Allan, Joe Chalmers, Ben Summers (Matty Todd 60), Josh Edwards: Craig Wighton (Alex Jakubiak 60), Lewis McCann (Owen Moffat 78).
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Ewan McLeod, Harry Sharp (GK), Max Little (GK)

PARTICK THISTLE (v Raith Rovers): Jamie Sneddon: Jack McMillan, Aaron Muirhead, Lewis Neilson, Harry Milne: Ben Stanway (Ricco Diack 87), Kerr McInroy: Steven Lawless, Blair Alston (Scott Robinson 80), Aidan Fitzpatrick: Brian Graham (Tomi Adeloye 80)
SUBS NOT USED: Ola Williams, Stuart Bannigan, Nathan McGinley, Ben Williamson, Zander Mackenzie, David Mitchell (GK)

Other cinch Championsip fixtures

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

Last 12 Meetings

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
21/09/19	Partick Thistle	0	Dunfermline	3
06/04/19	Partick Thistle	2	Partick Thistle	2

Last 6 Matches

Dunfermline Athletic	Partick Thistle
W Airdrieonians (Away) 2-1	L Raith Rovers (Away) 3-4
W Arbroath (Home) 3-0	W Airdrieonians (Home) 2-1
L Raith Rovers (Home) 0-3	W Queens Park (Home) 3-0
D Inverness Caley Thistle (Home) 1-1	W Greenock Morton (Home) 2-1
L Dundee United (Home) 1-2	W Arbroath (Away) 3-1
W Greenock Morton (Away) 2-1	D Ayr United (Home) 2-2

It was fourth v third in this the last first team match at KDM Group East End Park in 2023. The home side made three changes from the team that defeated Airdrieonians the previous Saturday- Sam Fisher and Matty Todd and Alex Jakubiak started in place of Aaron Comrie, Craig Wighton and Ben Summers. Partick Thistle named the same starting eleven and bench that faced Raith Rovers eight days earlier.

The Jags kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end and it was their no.21 Aidan Fitzpatrick who got in the first effort of the match. His seventh minute attempt skied wildly into the stand. Dunfermline’s pressure was mainly down the left side but Thistle dealt with a Todd pass in search of McCann and then when he got deeper into their box.

There was a 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

Dunfermline almost struck back immediately with Michael O’Halloran’s run inside and pass for Jakubiak being met well but he struck his shot wide left from the edge of the box. Thistle defended an Edwards long throw in before Joe Chalmers drove a cross along the six yard box but there were no takers. It was from Chalmers 29th minute free kick that Paul Allan registered the Fifers first shot on target but Aaron Muirhead blocked his powerful 25 yard shot.

Having waited that long for a shot on target Ewan Otoo immediately tried the same and this time Thistle keeper Jamie Sneddon held the low effort. Then in 33 minutes an Edwards cross dropped for Todd and he launched an on-target shot that Milne blocked.

Sam Fisher required the physios on after a nasty challenge by Milne and although he tried to play on was forced to retire and make way for Aaron Comrie in 41 minutes. Unfortunately the 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

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Partick Thistle 2

In the third minute of the second half a fine switching pass from Edwards allowed Allan time to work on a fine cross that Todd unfortunately headed on to the roof of the net. Joe Chalmers was withdrawn in 55 minutes to make way for the introduction of Owen Moffat. Within minutes the on-loan Blackpool player had twisted and turned his way through the Thistle defence but was thwarted when his shot got blocked.

Playing on the front foot Dunfermline forced their first corner of the afternoon and although Thistle defended that comfortably Owen Moffat’s cross into the six yard box earned another as the Firhill side survived the threat. The play had swung in the home side’s favour with Jakubiak in particular creating danger in the opposition box, it just seemed that there was no one in the right place to finish.

Partick brought on Zander Mackenzie for former Par, Steven Lawless in 69 minutes but play continued towards Sneddon’s goal. Otoo got forward to blast a shot from the edge of the box but that was blocked. Jakubiak started a move from the edge of his own box picking out McCann who laid the ball off for Todd. He belted a shot on target but Sneddon deflected it behind off the woodwork.

Jakubiak was next to get an opportunity. He was on the end of an Edwards cross but his header fell wide right. Todd then beat two men to reach the left byeline but Sneddon held his cross at the base of his right post.

Then the goal that everyone sensed was coming eventually came in 82 minutes. 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

Going for the equaliser O’Halloran made a break up the right and his ball into a busy six yard box seemed to be touched on by Jakubiak only to be kept out by the left goalpost. Play continued predominantly towards Sneddon’s goal but despite all their trying the Pars could not find the equaliser.

Defeat means Dunfermline stay in fourth place but lose ground on the Jags.

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)
SCORERS: Todd (82)
YELLOW CARD: Moffat (90+3)

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)
SCORERS: Milne (12), Graham (45)
YELLOW CARD: Stanway (76), Sneddon (90+2)

REFEREE: Chris Graham
WEATHER: Drizzle 10C
ATTENDANCE: 4777
Manager’s post match comments

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (away) v Arbroath, Saturday 23rd December 2023, kick off 3.00pm at Gayfield Park

winner(s) for the 50/50 DAFC v Partick Thistle draw which ended on December 16, 2023 3:45 pm was ticket Number WEB9680