Match Preview: Dunfermline Athletic

Dunfermline Athletic versus MORTON

Saturday 10 December 2016

East End Park, Dunfermline

Kick-off 3pm

Match Preview

Morton return to Ladbrokes Championship action after a three-week hiatus with a match against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park today.

Despite having a strong team on paper, particularly in the forward area, the Pars find themselves in ninth place in the table, six points ahead of St Mirren.

However, Allan Johnston’s men have picked up in recent weeks with wins over the Saints and Buckie Thistle and a draw against Ayr United.

The Ton, meanwhile, are currently six games unbeaten in all competitions and seven on league duty. They also hold something of an Indian sign over the Pars having won their last five meetings – and they will hope to maintain that form this afternoon.

Manager’s Thoughts

Jim Duffy told gmfc.net: “We’re looking forward to the game today. It’s always a good venue and a difficult place to go, as they all are.

“By all accounts, Allan Johnston’s team have been playing very well but not really capitalising on their good play. In a couple of games they have missed penalties – they missed two against Ayr last weekend – and in this division one can be the difference.

“So if they are playing well they are going to be going into the game with a bit of confidence. But we’ve got a bit of belief at this moment in time and you want to sustain that as long as you possibly can.

“Last week was an awkward tie where the pitch and conditions could have been a factor and it could have been a game you fall flat on your face if you don’t approach it right, but the players’ attitude was spot on and our ability took care of the rest.

“If you have that attitude allied to your ability then there is always a chance you will win a football match. We did it in style – but we fully appreciate, without being disrespectful to Beith, it’s a totally proposition going to Dunfermline.

“But the thing is, we are competing against everyone in the division and we expect to do the same today. It doesn’t guarantee you wins, but it means teams have to earn the right to get points against us. We don’t intend to hand anything easily to the opposition.”

Team News

Conor Pepper suffered a major setback in his recovery from a long-standing knee injury and will go back to the drawing board in an attempt to solve the problem once and for all. Striker Thomas Orr remains sidelined by a medial ligament strain.

Current Connections

Midfield playmaker Ross Forbes made the switch from East End Park to Cappielow midway through the 2014/15 season in a deal that saw striker Andy Barrowman move in the opposite direction.

Amongst the Dunfermline ranks are Paul McMullan and David Hutton; the former spent the final two months of last term on loan here at Cappielow from Celtic, while the latter served as back-up goalkeeper to Derek Gaston during season 2012/13.

Recent Meetings

Sat 25 Oct 2014: Dunfermline Athletic 1-2 Morton (League One)

Sat 24 Jan 2015: Morton 2-0 Dunfermline Athletic (League One)

Sat 28 Mar 2015: Dunfermline Athletic 0-4 Morton (League One)

Sat 17 Sep 2016: Morton 2-1 Dunfermline Athletic (Championship)

Last Time Out

Jai Quitongo struck with six minutes remaining to fire Morton to a deserved 2-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic and their first three points of the season at Cappielow back in September.

The Ton were without a victory in their opening five Ladbrokes Championship fixtures and looked to be heading for a fourth draw after Nicky Clark had cancelled out Gary Oliver’s opener.

But 19-year-old hitman Quitongo rattled a fierce shot in off the bar in the 84th minute to send the supporters into raptures and end the wait for that first league triumph of the campaign.

Officials

Referee: Stephen Finnie

Assistant one: Andrew McWilliam

Assistant two: Chris Phillips

Supporters Notes

Entry is pay at the gate and admission prices are:

Adult – £17
Concession (Over 60 and 12 – 16 year olds) – £11
Child under 12  – £5

Image: David Bell