Preview Falkirk

Ladbrokes Championship (away) at The Falkirk Stadium, Saturday 6th October kick off 3.00pm

Falkirk on their own ground are never easy opponents where Dunfermline are concerned and the Pars win there in April was just the first at The Falkirk Stadium since March 2011.

Last weekend Saturday’s opponents won their first match of the Championship campaign, and picked up their first victory of Ray McKinnon’s reign, with a 2-0 win over Alloa at the Indodrill Stadium.

While Falkirk went five games without a win Dunfermline were on a run of six without a win before they defeated Partick Thistle. No matter what the form says however this is a derby match that will be keenly fought regardless.

Milestones Falkirk (Away)
Last Victory
07/04/18 2-1 Championship
Last Defeat
05/10/17 0-2 Irn Bru Cup
Best Victory
01/01/65 4-0 First Division*
Worst Defeat
1936-37 4-6 First Division*
*Pre league reconstruction

Dunfermline have won just three of the last twelve meetings but those three were in the last five meetings.

Last 12 Matches v Falkirk
07/04/18 (A) 2-1 W Championship
02/01/18 (H) 2-0 W Championship
04/11/17 (A) 1-1 D Championship
05/10/17 (A) 0-2 L Irn Bru Cup
19/08/17 (H) 3-1 W Championship
22/04/17 (H) 1-2 L Championship
04/02/17 (A) 0-2 L Championship
26/12/16 (H) 1-1 D Championship
15/10/16 (A) 1-2 L Championship
19/08/14 (H) 1-2 L Petrofac Cup
27/08/13 (A) 1-2 L League Cup
27/03/13 (H) 0-2 L Division One

Last Meeting at Falkirk Stadium
Ladbrokes Championship, 7th April 2018
Falkirk 1 Dunfermline 2

Both teams were in good form going into this derby. The Bairns came in on the back of seven league games unbeaten and the Pars on six without defeat.

The visitors went ahead in 24 minutes. From his own half Higginbotham picked out Aird in the centre circle and he sent Clark chasing into the left side of the Falkirk box. The striker checked and fed the ball back to Martin who could not help responding to HIGGINBOTHAM’s cry for the ball and the former Bairn lashed out from 25 yards out. It took a deflection off Watson on the edge of the box and found the net to the left of the helpless 20 year old keeper. 0-1

The second half was in its third minute when James Craigen drove narrowly wide left. The Pars regained possession and Higginbotham forced his way in from the right, he got the break off his marker and fired the ball across the face of goal. McManus got close but failed to connect but that only meant AIRD had an easy finish at the far post. 0-2

With eleven minutes remaining MUIRHEAD stepped up and sent a 79th minute spot kick into the left side of the net. 1-2

FALKIRK: Conor Hazard: Paul Watson, Jordan McGhee, Aaron Muirhead, Peter Grant (Alex Harris 55), Sean Welsh (Lewis Kidd 75): Craig Sibbald, Louis Longridge, Tommy Robson: Alex Jakubiak, Andrew Nelson (Kevin O’Hara 89).
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Taiwo, Reghan Tumilty, Ryan Blair, Robbie Thomson (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham (Jean-Yves M’Voto 85), Tom Beadling (Joe Cardle 90+2), James Craigen, Fraser Aird (Nat Wedderburn 67): Declan McManus, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Andy Ryan, Dan Armstrong, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)

Form Last Six Matches

DUNFERMLINE
Partick Thistle (H) W 1-0
Morton (A) D 1-1
Alloa Athletic (H) D 0-0
Boreham Wood (A) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-3
Ayr United (A) L 1-4

FALKIRK
Alloa Athletic (A) W 2-0
Dundee United (H) L 0-2
Ayr United (A) L 2-3
Connah’s Quay (H) L 0-1
Ross County (A) L 2-0
Queen of the South (H) 0-3

League Form

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 8th
League Points: 8
League Record: P7 W2 D2 L3 GF7 GA13
Goal Difference: -6
Last Six League Match Form: LLLDDW

FALKIRK
League Position: 10th
League Points: 3
League Record: P7 W1 D0 L6 GF5 GA13
Goal Difference: -8
Last Six League Match Form: LLLLLW

Falkirk have still to score at home this league season. They have only found the net in one home match against Forfar Athletic in August.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Partick Thistle): Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Mark Durnan, Jackson Longridge: Louis Longridge, James Vincent, Malaury Martin, Aidan Connolly (Myles Hippolyte 90+2): Andy Ryan (Joe Thomson 80), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Tom Beadling, Ryan Williamson, Danny Devine, Robbie Muirhead Cammy Gill (GK)

FALKIRK (v Alloa Athletic): Leo Fasan: Aaron Muirhead, Tom Dallison, Scott Harrison, Patrick Brough, Paul Paton (Jordan McGhee 64), Deimantas Petravicius, Denton Lewis (Marcus Haber 81), Joe McKee, Andrew Irving, Zak Rudden
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Kidd, Tom Robson, Ruben Sammut, Cieran Dunne, David Mitchell (GK).

Ghanaian internationalist Prince Buaben signed for Falkirk this week, Ray McKinnon’s second signing following on the loan deal that took striker Zak Rudden from Rangers to Falkirk.

Referee for this derby match will be Bobby Madden, his third match this season in charge of a Dunfermline game (previously v Dundee and v Hearts).

Other Championship Fixtures
Ayr United v Dundee United
Inverness Caley Thistle v Morton
Partick Thistle v Ross County
Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic

Please note that Falkirk FC have advised that random searches will be carried out ahead of entry into the stadium.

Fans are also asked to arrive in plenty time.

Parking at the Falkirk Stadium is limited. Events at The Kelpies mean parking in the surrounding areas will be busy. Fans are advised to use Westmains Industrial Estate.

Related Stories

• Dunfermline 1 Partick Thistle 0
• Morton 1 Dunfermline 1
• Par graduates from SFA Performance School
• Wee Yin’s big impact
• 07/05/18: Falkirk 1 Dunfermline 2