Preview Cowdenbeath

The club and its supporters to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Norrie McCathie’s tragic death.

Just four days after supporting Cowdenbeath to a 4-2 win over Ayr United, all Pars fans will be hoping to watch their side overcome Colin Nish's Cowdenbeath team. Cowdenbeath's midweek win lifted them to sixth in League One but the happier outcome for Dunfermline was that Ayr's game in hand was gone and as the old year goes out and the new one comes in, there remained a sixth point advantage at the top of League One.

The New Year Derby will see a very different Cowdenbeath side at East End Park to the one that lost 5-1 and 7-1 in two August visits. The Blue Brazil have won their last four matches, a cup tie at Arbroath followed by wins over Forfar, Airdrieonians and Ayr United.

In the Scottish League Cup First Round, Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Shaun Byrne scored twice, Ryan Wallace converted a penalty while Declan Hughes made the only reply for Cowdenbeath in the 5-1 win. Then in the first home league match of the season the Pars went two better scoring seven and allowing Cowden a late consolation. Pars scorers in the7-1 win were El Bakhtaoui two, Moffat, Cardle two, Hopkirk and Wallace 7-1.

After the goal feast there was a drought when the teams played out a 0-0 draw at Central Park at Halloween. 

Dunfermline's record against Cowdenbeath reveals 45 wins and 29 defeats with 18 draws. Dunfermline have won eight of the last twelve meetings, Cowdenbeath two and two have been drawn. All seven matches prior to those games were won by Dunfermline. Being a local derby and everybody knows history and the form book can go out the window. Apart from the disappointing 3-0 defeat to the Blue Brazil in the First Division play offs last seasons, Cowdenbeath's last East End Park win was in May 1993.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Forfar Athletic): Sean Murdoch; Shaun Rooney, Marc McAusland, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot; Michael Paton (David Hopkirk 67), Andy Geggan(c), Josh Falkingham, Joe Cardle; Michael Moffat (Ryan Wallace 67), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Shaun Byrne, Mickael Antoine-Curier, Rhys McCabe, Paul Joseph Crossan, David Hutton (GK).

COWDENBEATH (v Ayr United): Jamie Sneddon; Brad Donaldson, Pat Scullion, Kenny Adamson, Fraser Kerr; Dean Brett, Declan Hughes, Andy Murdoch, Liam Callaghan, Gordon Smith (Craig Johnston 91), Greig Spence
SUBS NOT USED: Ali El Zubaldi, Mo Yakub, Chris Kane, Lewis Milne, Luke Armstrong, Trialist (GK)

Referee for this Fife Derby will be Barry Cook

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