Match Preview: Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic versus MORTON
Tuesday 21 November 2017
East End Park, Dunfermline
Kick-off 7.45pm
Match Preview
Last night’s Scottish Cup draw threw up one of those strange quirks of fate that occurs unusually frequently in football by pairing ourselves with Dunfermline just 24 hours before we were set to face off on league duty.
But this evening’s Ladbrokes Championship contest is much more than a dress rehearsal for January’s cup tie at the same venue.
The contest, expiditiously rearranged after the original fixture for Saturday 11 November was cancelled at the Pars’ request due to players being away with their countries, is both clubs’ bread and butter.
It represents an opportunity for both squads to get their respective campaigns back on track after a period of indifferent results, as well as an unwanted two-week hiatus for the Ton.
Although Allan Johnston’s men recorded an emphatic 4-1 win away at Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, they have won one of their last five league matches.
Morton, meanwhile, lost 2-1 at home to Queen of the South in their most recent outing, flipping a three-game unbeaten streak to a run of three matches without a league win.
This is something they will be hoping to address this evening aided by a timely boost in the shape of the returning Thomas O’Ware and new loan signing Luca Gasparotto.
Manager’s Thoughts
Team News
Lee Kilday, Connor McManus, who suffered a setback in a bounce game against Stenhousemuir, Michael Tidser, and Jai Quitongo are all likely to remain sidelined against the Pars.
However, Thomas O’Ware will be fit and available for selection again after recovering from the thigh injury that saw him miss out against Queen of the South, while Luca Gasparotto is line for a second Ton debut.
Current Connections
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.
Frontman Robert Thomson spent a short time with the Pars in the first half of the 2013/14 campaign, scoring one goal in seven starts and one substitute apperarance before joining Brechin City.
Dunfermline boast former Ton loan star Declan McManus amongst their ranks. McManus enjoyed three seperate stints at Cappielow, finishing as top scorer in the League One title winning season with 23 goals.
Recent Meetings
Sat 12 Dec 2016: Dunfermline Athletic 2-1 Morton (Championship)
Sat 25 Mar 2017: Morton 0-1 Dunfermline Athletic (Championship)
Sat 29 Apr 2017: Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 Morton (Championship)
Sat 9 Sep 2017: Morton 3-2 Dunfermline Athletic (Championship)
Last Time Out
An early Joe Cardle strike and a Kallum Higginbotham penalty seemingly had the Pars on easy street as they went in at the interval holding a two-goal advantage.
But Robert Thomson scored to ignite a sensational fightback that saw Gary Harkins equalise with a sublime free-kick before fellow sub Jai Quitongo sparked bedlam in the stands by scoring an injury-time winner.
Officials
Referee: Stephen Finnie
Assistant one: Kylie Cockburn
Assistant two: Calum Haswell
Supporters Notes
Entry is by ticket and these are available tonight at a pod situated at the away end of the stadium:
Adults: £18
Concessions (Over 60s, Under 18s, full-time students, disabled and unemployed*): £12
Child 12 and under: £5
*Please note that ID may be required for all concession tickets (valid matriculation cards, birth certificates, passport or official documentation.
Morton fans will be housed in the East Stand. There are six spaces available on a first come first served basis and access to stadium is via East Stand.
Fans under the influence of alcohol will not be admitted and all bags will be searched with random searches undertaken. Surfing flags are not permitted and any other flags will be checked to ensure they’re not offensive.
Travel
Travel by Road: East End Park, Dunfermline, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline, KY12 7RB.
A8/M8 – M80 – M876 over Kincardine Bridge – A985 – A994 – A907 Pittencrief Street/Carnegie Drive/Appin Crescent to Halbeath Road. There are no planned roadworks on the route but check the trafficscotland.org website prior to leaving.
Travel by Rail: Greenock – Dunfermline Town station via Glasgow Central, Queen Street, Haymarket, Edinburgh. Journey time varies from 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes. There is a 15-minute walk to the ground.
Parking
Car and coach parking: Main car park via Leys Park Road behind north stand. Prices are coaches: £7, cars: £2.
Travel Club Info
- The Gourock Morton Supporters’ bus to Dunfermline leaves the Royalle Club in Gourock at 5.15pm sharp and pick ups are available en-route. Costs are £10 for adults and £8 for concessions.
- Please note the bus is now FULL.
- The Greenock Morton Supporters Club bus to Paisley for tomorrow’s match leaves the club at 5pm with pick ups available en-route. Visitors costs are £10 for adults and £8 for concessions.
Image: David Bell
