Saturday 18th August, 2012 at 8:50pm
It’s unlikely that tomorrow’s game with Dunfermline at East End Park will produce another nine goals, or produce as explosive a finish as Tuesday’s game with Queen’s Park did but it is still a fixture to look forward to.
The start that we have made to the season has been a very positive one, albeit three of our victories have come in cup competition. Our one league game played so far though produced an excellent 3-1 win over one of the pre-season favourites for the title, Falkirk. In what has been a tough opening to our league campaign, tomorrow in the shape of Dunfermline we face another side that manager Jackie McNamara expects to see challenging at the top of the league.
“Our first two league games this season have been against the two favourites for promotion. We started well with a win over Falkirk and if we can follow that up with victory at Dunfermline tomorrow it will do wonders for the players’ confidence. I’ve been saying this for some time, but if we play as well as we can then we needn’t fear anyone in the division. If our mental attitude is correct and if we can continue to show the desire and belief that we have been doing so far this season then we can keep our early season momentum going.”
As expected the manager will be making changes from the side that was involved in that dramatic match with Queen’s Park on Tuesday night.
“There were a few things in that game that I wasn’t happy about but a few that I was. I’ve watched the game back and it really was a bizarre match but we did at times move the ball about the pitch well and of course the lads did really well to come from 4-3 down to win 5-4. Overall it was a good exercise for us. It was important to give some players some game time and to make them feel part of the squad. It is important that all our players are as fit as possible should they need to come in to cover injury and suspensions. Tomorrow though those that missed out on Tuesday will come back in.”
The manager does, however, have some injury problems to content with
“David Rowson is still out with his back problem which doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Sean Welsh’s eye meantime is still closed. He’s had an x-ray and everything is okay but with his eye still closed we will need to keep our fingers crossed that he shows a remarkable recovery over the next 24 hours if he is to play this weekend. As things stand he has to be considered a major doubt. Having watched Tuesday’s game again it really was a horrendous challenge that led to his injury and it could have been much worse even if he does miss tomorrow’s game.”
Partick Thistle Stats
Season 2012-2013 So Far
W D L F A
4 0 0 11 5
Scorers Season 2012-2013
Kris Doolan 3
Chris Erskine 3
Steven Lawless 2
Stuart Bannigan 1
Christie Elliott 1
Aaron Sinclair 1
Last Game
Ramsdens Cup Second Round
Tuesday August 14th 2012
Partick Thistle 5, Queen’s Park 4
Dunfermline Athletic Stats
Season 2012-2013 So Far
W D L F A
1 0 1 6 3
Scorers Season 2012-2013
Andrew Barrowman 2
Ryan Thomson 2
Josh Falkingham 1
Ryan Wallace 1
Last Game
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday August 11th 2012
Cowdenbeath 0, Dunfermline Athletic 4
Last Meeting
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday March 26th 2011
Dunfermline Athletic 0, Partick Thistle 0
Teams
Dunfermline: Smith, Woods, McCann, Mason, Rutkiewicz, Keddie, McDougall, Burke, Buchanan, Hardie, Graham.
Thistle: Fox, Robertson, Boyle, McGowan, Balatoni, Archibald, Flannigan, Rowson, Doolan, Grehan (Donnelly), Erskine (Campbell).
Match Details
Irn-Bru Scottish League First Division
Saturday August 18th 2012
Dunfermline Athletic v Partick Thistle
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Prices
Adults £17
Concessions (under 18 and 60+) £11
Under 12s £5
Travel
By Supporters Bus
Supporters’ Bus information
By Car
Car Parking is available in a large car park adjoining the East End of the ground and there are also facilities in various side streets. Multi-storey car parking approximately 10 minutes walk from ground.
By Bus
Buses destined for Kelty, Perth, St. Andrews and Kirkcaldy all pass close to East End Park.
By Train
There is a regular train service from Edinburgh to either Dunfermline Town or Dunfermline Queen Margaret Stations. The ground is a 15 minute walk from either Station.
Match Officials
Referee: Iain Brines
Assistant Referees: Alastair Mathers and Mark Ainslie
Other First Division Fixtures
Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath
Falkirk v Raith Rovers
Hamilton Accies v Morton
Livingston v Airdrie United
