Dunfermline 0
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

The re-arranged match with Dunfermline at East End Park had arisen because Airdrie, our scheduled opponents, were on Scottish Cup duty. The game afforded midfielder Grant Johnson his first team debut as he came in for Ray McKinnon who was on the bench after nursing a slight calf strain during the week. Although this was the only change in personnel from the side which had defeated Falkirk, there was a tactical switch in defence where Maurice Malpas teamed up with Brian Welsh in central defence and Freddy van der Hoorn moved to left back. We created the early scoring opportunities with first Rhodes tipping over a Darren Jackson shot and shortly afterwards Dave Bowman had a close range effort blocked within the opening six minutes. However, it was Dunfermline, in the shape of Hamish French, who went closest to scoring in the first half. The former Tannadice striker saw Alan Main tip his shot on to the post and Shannon's follow up effort was blocked. Our best chance of that opening period came midway through the half when Duncan Ferguson flicked on a Brian Welsh cross to Victor Ferreyra who volleyed over right in front of goal only 8 yards out.

The rain of the first half had given way to watery sunshine after the interval as we stepped up our efforts and pushed Dunfermline further and further back on their heels and twice Rhodes saved from Victor Ferreyra, only comfortably to hold a shot on the turn and then the Pars keeper was at full stretch to save another effort from Victor with his foot. Brian Welsh had a great chance to put us ahead after he ran on to Victor Ferreyra's through pass, but Rhodes came out to halt his progress just inside the penalty area. The goal which had been on the cards finally arrived in the 64th minute when Duncan Ferguson's header from a free kick was lashed past Rhodes on the volley with the hint of a deflection from McCathie by Ray McKinnon who had replaced Darren Jackson only minutes earlier. Once we had edged in front, it only looked a question of time before we added to our total and we certainly would have done had Rhodes not saved a Mixu Paatelainen shot in mid-air and then kept out a header from Duncan Ferguson. Apart from a spirited, but very short spell of resistance by the Pars near the end, we ran out much more comfortable winners than the narrow winning margin. Defeat for Dunfermline means they are almost certainly doomed to relegation. This was their fifth successive home match in which they have failed to find the net. The crowd of just over 3,000 was the Pars lowest of the season and only boosted by the sizeable United support.