Preview Queen of the South

The Pars sit one point clear of Raith Rovers so before next weekend`s Fife Derby between first and second it is vital to take another three points from the Doonhamers.

Dunfermline welcome Queen of the South to East End Park this Saturday. The league leaders held their position despite having a weekend off as the Dumfries side played Ross County in the Challenge Cup Final.  Thankfully Raith Rovers dropped two points at home to Cowdenbeath so Dunfermline still sit top of the league after 32 games, one point clear of the Kirkcaldy club.  Queen of the South can have a big say in deciding the fate of the Fife contenders.  This is their second last away game of the season and they conclude their away schedule at Starks Park in a fortnight`s time.

Dunfermline have 33 league wins to 23 Queen of the South wins, 10 have been drawn.  Before Queens win in January 2009, their 2-0 victory in January 2009 was their first league win at East End Park in over 53 years!

The Pars have won eight of the last twelve league meetings including the last game at Palmerston in February and the last home game against Queens at East End Park in December.

Following their 4-1 defeat at home to Morton on Wednesday night, Queen of the South are now officially out of the title chase.  The Pars sit one point clear of Raith Rovers before next weekend`s Fife Derby between first and second it is vital to take another three points from the Doonhamers.

Back in August QOS knocked the Pars out of the Alba Challenge Cup after extra time and 6-5 on penalties.  That was the third successive season they had come to Fife and progressed to the next round of the Challenge Cup. Revenge has been enacted with six points taken out of nine but it is the next three at stake than mean everything.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Cowdenbeath): Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Martin Hardie, Andy Dowie, Alex Burke, Joe Cardle (David Graham, 77), Liam Buchanan (Steven McDougall,85), Jake Hyde (Pat Clarke 55), .
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Higgins, Greg Paterson (GK).

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (v Morton): Roddy McKenzie; Derek Lilley, Bob Harris, Ryan McGuffie; Paul Burns, Stephen McKenna, Allan Johnston, Willie McLaren, Danny Carmichael; Derek Holmes (Ryan Smillie 60), Steven Degnan (Ian McShane 89).
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Black, Jamie McGowan, David Hutton (GK)

Referee will be Alan Muir.

C`mon Ye Pars!