Dunfermline 0 Partick Thistle 0

Tuesday, 14th Dec 2010

Steven McDougall in for Pat Clarke and Joe Cardle takes place of suspended Wullie Gibson. 0-0 at half time

MATCH PICTURES
For this match re-arranged from ten days previous Manager Jim McIntyre made two changes from the side that took the Pars to the top of the league on Saturday.  Joe Cardle came in for the suspended Wullie Gibson and Steven McDougall was preferred up front beside Andy Kirk at the expense of Pat Clarke.

For Ian McCall`s Thistle Jackie McNamara returned, Conrad Balatoni replaced the suspended Alan Archibald and Liam Buchanan found himself on the bench.

The visitors kicked off attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. Within the first 90 seconds McDougall, Kirk and Cardle all had attempts to get crosses in.  Things continued to look good with David Graham collecting the ball in his own half, beating a couple of opponents and releasing Phinn to speed through the middle.  Alas he couldn`t get the shot in but then in fifth minute Cardle popped up on the right side of the penalty area to drill a low ball across that was intercepted by the defence.

Dunfermline got a rude awakening two minutes later when Bryan Hodge made ground down the left and his cross was rocketed wide left by Paul Paton. It took a deflection so Smith was called upon to hold the cross from the corner.  Thistle didn`t give up and their front men nearly took advantage of some indecision in the centre of defence.

In 11 minutes a Calum Woods ball to the far post was pulled back by Cardle to blast a shot at Scott Fox but the linesman had his flag up for a goal kick. Then four minutes later Graham created the opportunity to shoot from the right angle of the penalty box.  His cross-cum-shot dropped just over the bar to land on the roof of the net.

Partick countered and Smith was made to hold a Hodge header when he met a cross from the right.  Then in 22 minutes Hodge had a great chance but his cracking shot was deflected off Keddie. Woods had a nice try as he lifted the ball over the Thistle defence but unluckily Phinn just couldn`t get a touch before Fox grabbed it.

There were 36 minutes on the clock when Cardle was in the right channel to feed Gary Mason in the box. His cut back travelled through the defenders to where Cardle might have been had he not been doing the provider`s job. Before the break Phinn drove a low shot at Fox and Kirk had an inviting cross headed away.

There were appeals for a penalty when Kirk was eased out in his challenge on a Woods cross on the edge of the six yard box.  It was a first half that the Pars bossed without making too many chances or giving Fox much to save. Thistle had possibly as many shots at goal but had spent lengthy periods defending.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Partick Thistle 0

It was 52nd minute before the second half produced much to warm up the proceedings, skipper McCann getting to the byeline to centre a useful ball that the defence unfortunately got to first.  Cardle picked out Graham, albeit off the back of David Rowson and the Pars no.7 sent the ball wide right to Woods.  Woodsie beat his man and squared but McNamara got the ball away.

Then Cardle broke into the left side of the Partick box but skied his shot into the crowd behind the goal. Paton`s diagonal ball from the right was headed behind by Dowie to hand Thistle a corner but that turned out to be a poor attempt.  Jim McIntyre then made the double substitution of Pat Clarke and Paul Willis replacing Kirk and Cardle.

Willis won a corner on the right and then Graham another. His deliveries were dangerous but still the Jags defended well. Woods met a Graham cross from the left in 66 minutes but his effort went safely into the hands of the tangerine shirted keeper. It was a Willis ball into the six yard box that got the home fans singing two minutes later but the ball was whisked away from the striker.

There was a let off for the league leaders when sub Liam Buchanan made the break down the right.  Woods cut out the cross but Thistle got another bite at it and when Smith failed to take Dowie cleared off the line.

Kinniburgh was shown yellow when he dumped Willis and from the resultant free kick Nick Phinn drove the defended ball narrowly over the bar. Next a Willis cross was met by Clarke at the near post but the ball travelled past the right goalpost. Fox held another Willis effort but time was running out for Dunfermline when Graham sent his cross into the stand.

It all came to an end without the ball hitting the net. The point extends Athletic`s lead at the top but only due to Raith`s match at the Falkirk Stadium being a victim of the weather.

DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Andy Dowie, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); David Graham, Nick Phinn, Gary Mason, Joe Cardle (Paul Willis 59); Andy Kirk (Pat Clarke 59), Steven McDougall.
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Higgins, Neil McGregor, Kyle Allison (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Clarke (72)

PARTICK THISTLE: Scott Fox; Paul Paton, Willie Kinniburgh, Conrad Balatoni (Iain Flannigan 81), Paddy Boyle: Jackie McNamara (c); David Rowson, Paul Cairney; Bryan Hodge, Simon Donnelly (Kris Doolan 83), Chris Erskine (62).
SUBS NOT USED: Martin Grehan, Ryan Scully (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Kinniburgh (71)

REFEREE: Craig Thomson
WEATHER: Damp 3C
ATTENDANCE 1743

NEXT MATCH: SFL First Division v Ross County
Saturday 18th December 2010, kick off 3.00pm

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Preview Partick Thistle

Sunday, 12th Dec 2010

The last twelve league games v Thistle have seen Dunfermline win six, draw two and lose four. The Pars last victory over Ian McCall`s team was by 2-0 at Firhill in September this season.

Dunfermline v Thistle: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	For	Agst
At East End Park	38	19	12	7	70	52
At Firhill	37	14	8	16	46	58
Division One (up to 1975)	45	18	14	13	77	72
Premier Division (since 1975)	6	3	1	2	8	10
First Division (since 1975)	24	12	5	7	31	28
TOTALS	75	33	20	22	116	110

Dunfermline have an edge on the history in league competition against Partick Thistle with 33 wins to 22 losses in previous league meetings.

Partick Home Milestones

The Pars defeat to Thistle at East End Park in March this year was just the second away win for over 26 years. The 10-1 win in 1959 is one of the club`s most famous victories, as it prevented almost certain relegation.

Milestones Partick (home)
Last League Victory	14/11/09	3-1	SPL
Last League Defeat	23/03/10	1-2	First Div
Best League Victory	18/04/59	10-1	Div One*
Worst League Defeat	07/01/28	1-7	Div One*
*Pre league reconstruction

Last Twelve League matches

The last twelve league games have seen Dunfermline win six, draw two and lose four. The Pars last victory over Ian McCall`s team was by 2-0 at Firhill in September this season.

Last Twelve League Matches v Partick Thistle
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
25/09/10	A	2-0	[1-0] Clarke, [2-0] Kirk
23/03/10	H	1-2	[0-1] Buchanan, [1-1] McDougall, [1-2] Donnelly
23/01/10	A	4-1	[1-0] Cardle, [2-0] Cardle, [3-0], Cardle, [4-0] Woods, [4-1] Buchanan
14/11/09	H	3-1	[1-0] McDougall, [2-0] Gibson, [2-1] Cairney, [3-1] Gibson
19/09/09	A	0-2	[0-1] Cairney, [0-2] Donnelly
14/03/09	H	0-1	[0-1] Harkins
14/02/09	A	3-2	[0-1] Buchanan, [1-1] Bell, [2-1] Kirk, [2-2] Doolan, [3-2] Loy (pen)
18/10/08	H	1-0	[1-0] Kirk
02/08/08	A	0-1	[0-1] McKeown
05/04/08	A	1-0	[1-0] Crawford
16/02/08	H	1-1	[1-0] Crawford, [1-1] McKeown
15/12/07	A	1-1	[1-0] Burchill, [1-1] Buchanan

Recent Form

Dunfermline	Partick Thistle
Current League Position
1	8
Last Six Matches League Form
WDWLDW	WLWLDD
League Points
29	14
Goal Difference
+12	-9
Home / Away Record
P7, W6, D1, L0	P7, W1, D0, L6

Dunfermline got back to their winning ways on Saturday with their 1-0 win over Queen of the South and only Raith Rovers have managed to take any points away from East End Park this season. Thistle have taken some time to get going in this league campaign but are gaining points including three at Dingwall. 

Form last six home / away
Dunfermline  (home)				Partick Thistle (away)
Queen of the South	W	1-0		Stirling Albion	W	3-1
Raith Rovers	D	2-2		Dundee	L	1-2
Stirling Albion	W	3-0		Stirling Albion	L	2-4
Ross County	W	3-2		Ross County	D	2-2
Cowdenbeath	W	2-1		Ross County	W	2-0
Dundee	W	3-1		Queen of the South	L	1-2

Teams last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Queen of the South): Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Andy Dowie, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Wullie Gibson, Nick Phinn, Gary Mason, David Graham; Andy Kirk (Joe Cardle 86), Pat Clarke (Steven McDougall 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Higgins, Ryan Thomson, Kyle Allison (GK)

PARTICK THISTLE (v Ross County): Scott Fox; Alan Archibald, Patrick Boyle, Willie Kinniburgh, Simon Donnelly (Kris Doohan 69), David Rowson, Bryan Hodge, Chris Erskine (Flannigan 85), Paul Paton, Paul Cairney; Liam Buchanan (Conrad Balatoni 21)
SUBS NOT USED: Martin Grehan, Ryan Scully

Come on ye Pars!

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