Dunfermline Athletic

Dunfermline 0 Rangers 1

Sunday, 21st Jan 2007

A Charlie Adam goal in ninth minute separated the teams but Pars impress in defeat

For this very important SPL match against Rangers, Stephen Simmons was out injured, Darren Young out through suspension, Dorus de Vries returned in goal in place of Roddy McKenzie, Phil McGuire, Jim Hamilton and Gary Mason all were back following suspension meaning Owen Morrison dropped out. Bobby Ryan made his home debut but there was no room for new boy Adam Hammill from Liverpool so he was on the bench. Rangers brought in new signing David Weir and Nacho Novo replaced Dado Prso, otherwise no changes from the side that trounced Dundee United in their last match.

It was Dunfermline who kicked off through Stevie Crawford and Gary Mason, attacking the goal at the Cowdenbeath end. There was a fright for the Pars after just 75 seconds when Nacho Novo turned McGuire on the top of the box and de Vries had to come out and pull off a good save to keep it goalless. Despite that the Pars started pretty well with Greg Ross and Bobby Ryan enjoying possession and making an impression.

Hamilton`s fifth minute shot was deflected passed for a corner on the left and when Jim O`Brien whipped the ball across the goalmouth, Allan McGregor failed to connect and was a shade lucky to see the ball slip out beyond his left hand post. Jim Hamilton created the next chance three minutes later setting up Crawford for a shot from 20 yards that McGregor was at full stretch to save.

Play switched rapidly to the other end of the park and a strong run from Novo down the right saw him reach the byeline. Having left Scott Wilson in his wake, he then to sent a fine ball through the Dunfermline six yard box for Charlie ADAM to slot in at the far post. Dorus de Vries had little chance of saving as Greg Shields crashed into him on the goal line.

Another swift move down the right after quarter of an hour took Chris Burke passed two players to again pick out Adam in the box and his header down dropped for Ferguson to blast on target from 16 yards and de Vries had to pull off another great save. For Dunfermline, Ryan swung an inviting ball into the Rangers penalty box but Mason`s diving header went directly to McGregor.

At just one goal behind Stephen Kenny`s men continued to compete and the match was a close contest as the half progressed. In 28th minute Ross sent the ball right to O`Brien who had just switched sides with Ryan and the on loan Celt knocked a good delivery into the Gers box but none of the strikeforce could get near.

Three minutes later Hutton won the ball in midfield and a pass to Adam was placed into the path of Novo and he kept de Vries busy with another sharp shot on target from 20 yards out. A couple of defensive clearances; one from Morrison and then from Wilson set up something for the midfield but the chance that fell for Ross caught him in two minds. Instead of laying off to Hamilton he chose to shoot but to little effect.

A Scott Morrison free kick, awarded when Ferguson fouled Hamilton in the 42nd minute, was lofted deep into the Rangers box. Hamilton headed the ball across the box and Crawford drove the ball on target from six yards. The ball broke off the elbow of Karl Svensson as he turned his back on the shot, no penalty and from the corner Mason drove the ball into a ruck of defenders.

After losing the early goal Dunfermline gave Rangers as good as they got. Trailing by only goal there was plenty to play for in the second half.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Rangers 1

Young Adam Hammill was introduced for the second half taking the place of Ryan. With virtually his first touch the English U19 internationalist took on his man but was closed out on the edge of the box.

Rangers first opportunity of the second period came in 49th minute when Novo sprung the offside trap but Wilson got back to make a critical challenge on Adam as he looked to square the ball for Novo to score. Hemdani and Ferguson then combined to let the latter thrash a shot at de Vries but he beat it away.

Adam`s free kick in from the right was then deflected behind by Wilson as Boyd rushed in to convert and although de Vries held from the corner the Pars were certainly under intense pressure just ten minutes into the half. de Vries pulled off a wonderful one handed clearance when it looked as though Novo had chipped him from the right and then Kris Boyd headed narrowly wide of the left goalpost.

Adam Hamill demonstrated the touches that had obviously made Stephen Kenny keen to have him at East End Park but Dunfermline just could not make use of the impressive service. In 72 minutes Crawford turned provider for Hammill but Hutton blocked the shot at the top of his box.

Three minutes later Boyd looked offside as he ran in to fire at goal but De Vries pulled off another breathtaking save and Adam unbelievably shot wide right. Hutton broke through in 80th minute and Ferguson swept the ball across the face of de Vries` goal and it looked all over until Shields slipped in to get a crucial connection.

With Scott Muirhead on for O`Brien, Hammill was moved to the right and he fought off the challenge of Ian Murray to swing in a great ball to the far post but the in rushing Hamilton somehow managed to head the glorious 82nd minute chance over the crossbar.

In 89 minutes McGregor and McGuire went for a Scott Morrison free kick swung in high over from the right, the break of the ball left Muirhead with a shot at goal from just 8 yards but the block fell to Hamilton and his shot was desperately deflected away. Another chance was to come Jim McIntyre`s way but it was to be the seventh successive league match without a Pars goal.

No joy for the Pars yet again. They looked a very good side at times in this match, surely an SPL victory is just around the corner.

DUNFERMLINE: Dorus de Vries; Greg Shields (c), Phil McGuire, Scott Wilson, Scott Morrison; Bobby Ryan (Adam Hammill HT), Greg Ross Jim McIntyre 77), Gary Mason, Jim O`Brien (Scott Muirhead 77); Stevie Crawford, Jim Hamilton.
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie McCunnie, Calum Woods, Iain Williamson,Roddy McKenzie (GK)
YELLOW CARD: McGuire (44), Ross (59), Hamilton (59), O`Brien (76)

RANGERS: Allan McGregor; Alan Hutton, David Weir, Karl Svensson, Ian Murray; Chris Burke (Thomas Buffel 70), Barry Ferguson (c), Brahim Hemdani, Charlie Adam, Nacho Novo (Filip Sebo 92), Kris Boyd
SUBS NOT USED: Sasa Papac, Gavin Rae, Alan Lowing, Steven Lennon, Stefan Klos (GK)
SCORERS: Adam (9)
YELLOW CARD: Ferguson (42), Novo (63)

REFEREE: John Underhill
WEATHER: Rain 4°C
ATTENDANCE 7868

NEXT MATCH: SPL (away) v Dundee United, Saturday 27th January 2007

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