Dunfermline Athletic (SPFL Trust Trophy) - Matchday Programme 05

the gaffer

Good afternoon and welcome to Tannadice!

We’re in acton this afternoon against Dunfermline in what is a difficult Trust Trophy Third Round draw. There’s no competition we enter that we don’t want to win and we are certainly treating this trophy with respect. We’re on a good run and have momentum and confidence building in the group - we want to try and carry that on. There will be a couple of changes but the changes we do make will certainly not weaken the starting eleven.

DUNFERMLINE ARE A WELL-ORGANISED TEAM AND MADE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR US LAST TIME OUT AT TANNADICE. I THINK WE LACKED A LITTLE BIT OF RUTHLESSNESS AND THIS TIME WE WILL BE LOOKING TO PUT THEM ON THE BACK FOOT A LITTLE MORE.

We’ve made one new addition with Jordan Tillson signing on loan from Ross County. He’s an experienced player and he fits a position which we find ourselves a little bit light in at the minute. We’ve been working on it in the last couple of days and it was a great fit - so when he became available we moved quickly to get it over the line.

We’re missing a number of players who would certainly have been involved today through injury but also due to some of the squad being away on international duty. It’s an excellent opportunity for Jack, Archie and Rory to go away with the Scotland set-up and showcase their talent - everyone is delighted for them.

I hope you all enjoy the game and get right behind the team from the start!

- JIM GOODWIN

the skipper

Good afternoon and welcome back to Tannadice.

It’s great to be playing at home again following on from last week’s result. We faced a good Airdrie side who were difficult to play against and kept possession for large spells. Scoring early was massive for us and meant we could soak up the pressure at times without giving many chances away and create chances ourselves when we won the ball. We looked very solid for the majority of the game and that’s testament to the work rate from everyone who played. On another day we could’ve actually had a few more goals to make the game that bit more comfortable.

I sadly missed out again through injury. After coming through the Ayr Utd game ok, I pulled up in training on the Thursday and after getting a scan result it showed I’ve got a small injury to my hamstring. It’s gutting but I’ll be working tirelessly to get back onto the pitch as quickly as I can.

Everyone at the club was delighted to hear that the young supporter who took ill during last weekend’s match is fine and well. It’s never nice to see that in the stand but we’re all thankful that she is better and we’ve reached out to offer her a signed shirt.

I WANT TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ARCHIE MEEKISON, RORY MACLEOD AND JACK NEWMAN WHO’VE ALL BEEN CALLED UP FOR THEIR AGE GROUPS AT THE NATIONAL TEAM. EVERYONE WISHES THEM WELL AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THEY GET ON.

For this week’s cup game we welcome back Dunfermline. Having played them a few weeks back in a 1-1 draw, we know today will be a tough game. It offers the chance for a few changes and give boys an opportunity who’ve been working their socks off in training every day. We’re hoping to continue the momentum we’ve built over the last period which has seen us unbeaten in six matches and progress to the next round of the cup.

Enjoy the game today, all the best!

the visitors

Despite James McPake’s on-field, post-match attempts to suggest otherwise, Mathew Cudjoe’s 95th-minute equaliser in last month’s Championship encounter stung today’s visitors deeply. The dropping of those two points was followed up by a Fife derby defeat to Raith Rovers, with The Pars then requiring a late equaliser at rock-bottom Inverness Caledonian Thistle to salvage a point last weekend. As a result, today’s visitors find themselves sitting in lowly seventh place in the cinch Championship.

However, this afternoon’s SPFL Trust Trophy tie affords both sides the chance to rotate their squads and give fringe players some much-needed game time.

a much-changed squad

With this in mind, United fans may see the return of Deniz Mehmet to the Tannadice surface. Second choice since the arrival of Dundee’s Harrison Sharp on loan, the affable goalkeeper of Turkish descent made 27 appearances for United between 2017 and 2021 and was a popular character during his time here.

With Kyle Benedictus picking up a foot injury last weekend, it would be a surprise to see him risked today meaning that defensive midfielder Chris Hamilton may operate at the back today like he did for the final twenty minutes last Saturday. The 22-year-old former Hearts youth scored the equaliser that secured the draw in Inverness, his third for the club since joining last summer.

With limited defensive options available it’s possible that Rhys Breen may also start in the back three. Sent off on the opening day of the Championship season against Airdrie, the 23-year-old ex-Rangers youth will be keen to force himself back into the starting eleven having been a regular last term.

Either the ever-present Sam Fisher or former Celtic B team player Ewan Otoo are likely to complete the back three. Fisher spent the first half of last term on loan at East End Park before returning to feature for parent club Dundee. Otoo, who spent the second half of the season on loan before making the move permanent in the summer after some outstanding performances, can also operate in midfield when required.

In midfield, Kane Ritchie-Hosler seems certain to feature having returned to the matchday squad last weekend for the first time since recovering from a serious ankle injury. A tricky wide midfielder/ winger, the 21-year-old is blessed with outstanding pace with a fantastic attitude to the game.

Nineteen-year-old midfielder Ben Summers joined on loan from Celtic last month and made his Pars debut as a second-half substitute in the aforementioned 1-1 draw here four weeks ago. The Hamilton-born U21 international, who offers creativity and a drive from the centre of the park, made his first start last week and is likely to continue in the side today.

If regular midfielders Joshua Edwards and Joe Chalmers are rotated this afternoon, then 17-year-old Andy Tod and Paul Allan may find themselves starting.

Tod has featured six times this season, including a substitute appearance here last month. A product of the SFA Performance School programme, he also spent time in the Hibernian youth set-up and played seven times whilst on loan at Elgin City last season.

Twenty-three-year-old Allan has been in and out of the side since making his debut back in 2018. As well as appearing 41 times for Dunfermline, he has featured for Stenhousemuir, Brechin City and Albion Rovers on loan.

In attack, Michael O’Halloran has featured least frequently of the three main strikers and is likely to see game time today. Without a goal to his name since September 2021, the former St Johnstone and Rangers player has struggled recently with a hamstring injury and will be looking to establish himself following his summer move to Fife.

Lewis McCann missed last month’s clash between the sides due to injury but his breakthrough last season was one of the high points at the club. At 6’2”, the pacy striker is a real aerial threat but is so much more than just a target man. The former U19 Northern Ireland cap scored 10 times last season and is a real goal threat.

On target in each of his last three matches against United, Craig Wighton hit the net 20 times last season and was the main reason Dunfermline lifted the League One title.

ONE TO WATCH

OWEN MOFFAT

Brought in on loan from Blackpool last Friday, the 21-year-old made his debut from the bench last weekend and is likely to start this afternoon. A product of the Celtic youth set-up, the winger offers energy, pace and the ability to go past his marker on a regular basis. Add in the danger he possesses in shooting from long range and it’s easy to see why he was brought to East End Park for the season. Despite featuring only three times for Celtic’s first team, the youngster has a League Cup winners medal to his name courtesy of a late substitute appearance in the 2021/22 Hampden victory over Hibernian.

Words by Ryan Haldane

PLAYED FOR BOTH

paul Kinnaird

‘Have club will travel’ might well have been Paul Kinnaird’s motto.

The enigmatic winger served no less than 12 clubs in four different countries, so could have easily featured here in three different programmes this season because in addition to the Pars, Ayr United and Partick Thistle appear on his CV.

An apprentice with Norwich City, Glasgow-born Paul failed to make a first-team appearance for the Canaries before returning to Scotland in 1985. After a short loan spell with United, the 19-year-old winger was signed on a permanent deal two weeks later. After impressing in the reserves, he made his first team start in a Forfarshire Cup tie against Forfar Athletic in October 1986, and four days later made his competitive debut against Clydebank.

As a wide attacking player, he faced tough competition from established players such as Paul Sturrock, Eamonn Bannon, Ralph Milne and the emerging Kevin Gallacher, and, consequently, spent most of his two years in the reserves. Throughout that season he was used occasionally as the team faced a gruelling schedule as they progressed through the UEFA Cup and Scottish Cup, with Paul coming on as a substitute against Barcelona at Tannadice.

He was used sparingly the following season, with impressive performances against Rangers at Tannadice and Celtic at Parkhead, setting up Iain Ferguson for winning goals in both games. However, he wasn’t seen in the first team beyond November, and in March 1988 after 24 appearances in tangerine, he accepted a move to Motherwell for a reported fee of £20,000.

After a short spell at Fir Park, he moved on to St Mirren, and over the next ten years he played for a host of different clubs, including Partick Thistle, Shrewsbury, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Ayr United, Stranraer, Ross County, Queen of the South, Brechin City and Clydebank, helping many of those clubs win promotion. He also had spells with Derry City, Leiftur in Iceland, and Shrewsbury Town and Scarborough in England.

After a spell in junior football with Muirkirk Juniors, he retired in 2003, becoming a fitness coach with Ayr United.

His spell at Dunfermline came in the mid-nineties, arriving at East End Park, from Partick Thistle, at the beginning of season 1995/96. He started promisingly making 14 appearances, but lost his place after injury, and moved on to Scarborough before the year was out.

we’ve met before

Today is the third meeting between the clubs in the Scottish League Challenge Cup, a competition that has been running since 1990 but is one that – for obvious reasons - neither United nor Dunfermline want to be involved in!

For what it’s worth, on each occasion that the two met in the League Challenge Cup United won and went on to the final, lifting the trophy in 2016-17. They were unsuccessful in 1995-96, while the Pars were beaten finalists in 2007-08.

Dunfermline: Guido van de Kamp, Ivo den Bieman, Derek Fleming, Andy Tod, Paul Fenwick (Norrie McCathie), Paul Smith, Mark McCulloch (Gerry Farrell), Craig Robertson, Greg Shaw, Stewart Petrie, Paul Kinnaird. Manager: Bert Paton

Dundee United: Kelham O’Hanlon, Mark Perry, Brian Welsh, Maurice Malpas, Rab Shannon, Dale Gray, Grant Johnson, Sandy Robertson, Christian Dailly, Andy McLaren (Paul Walker), Robbie Winters. Manager: Billy Kirkwood

The clubs were involved in the First Division promotion race, and both would ultimately be successful. But on this occasion, five weeks after losing a league encounter 3-0 at East End Park, the Tangerines were dominant from the start and had the tie won by half-time.

But not so in the final, in which United were unable to find the net in 120 minutes against Second Division Stenhousemuir, then lost the penalty shoot-out.

12 November 2016 | East End Park | Quarter-Final | Attendance: 2,576

dunfermline dundee united

0 1 Durnan

Dunfermline: Sean Murdoch, Jason Talbot, Lewis Martin, Lee Ashcroft, John Herron, Andy Geggan, Rhys McCabe, Nicky Clark (Paul McMullan), Michael Moffat (Farid El Alagui), Joe Cardle (Callum Fordyce), Kallum Higginbotham. Manager: Allan Johnston

Dundee United: Luis Zwick, Seán Dillon, Coll Donaldson, Mark Durnan, Lewis Toshney (Stewart Murdoch), Jamie Robson, Brad Smith, Blair Spittal, Nick van der Velden, Cammy Smith (Graham Taylor), Simon Murray (Ali Coote). Manager: Ray McKinnon

Remarkably, this was already the fifth meeting of the clubs that season, with United having won all the previous ones (three in the Championship and one in the League Cup).

So, it wasn’t exactly unexpected when Ray McKinnon’s men took an early lead, although Dunfermline were the more impressive side from that point and should have equalised in the final minute of the first half when Moffat hit the bar.

The Pars were left facing an uphill task when Martin was sent off ten minutes into the second half and it proved to be a blow from which they were unable to recover.

United went on to beat St Mirren in the final in March of what was then the Irn-Bru Cup.

the tangerine files ROSS GRAHAM

Do you have any pre-match superstitions?

Put my left boot on before my right boot.

What would you be if you weren’t a footballer?

A golfer.

Best stadium you’ve played at?

Hampden Park.

Best player you have played with?

Steven Fletcher.

Best player you have played against?

Kyogo.

Who is the best player of all time?

Lionel Messi.

Best game you’ve ever watched?

Scotland 2-2 England. A rollercoaster of emotions that day!

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

You don’t have to prove yourself to anybody but yourself.

Who is the dressing room joker?

Tony Watt.

Who is the best dressed in the United squad?

Craig Sibbald.

Who is the worst dressed in the United squad?

Chris Mochrie.

Which one player would you take on a holiday with you?

Kieran Freeman.

What do you do in your spare time?

Play golf and relax.

Favourite TV show?

Suits.

Favourite band?

Oasis.

ross’ ultimate 5 a side team

1914

- DUNDEE HIBERNIAN 1-1 DUNDEE | FRIENDLY (IN AID OF PRINCE OF WALES RELIEF FUND.)

The Courier report described the game as a meeting of the old-time rivals, yet Hibs had only been in existence for five years! The derby was in aid of charity - the weather was not the best and in consequence, there was not a large crowd present, drawings only amounting to £8. Referee Mr George Moon had charge of the following players:

Dundee Hibs: Grieve; Spence and Forbes; Knowles (Brechin City), Henderson (North End), and MacDonald; Low, Cavanagh, Miller (North End), Linn, and Cheyne.

Dundee: Masterton; Strachan and Aitken; A Smith, G Smith, and Lamb; Fisher, Adams, Millar, Adamson, and Cargill.

The game was only ten minutes old when Millar opened the scoring for Dundee. This reverse seemed to put new life into the Hibs, for they repeatedly raided the Dundee goal. Their finishing was lamentable. They were bent on a goal, however. And their turn came, Miller netting from a scrimmage in the goalmouth. The Hibs pressed practically the whole of the second period but try as they might they could not get the ball past Masterton.

1922 - DUNDEE HIBS 0-2 HEARTS ‘A’ | SCOTTISH ALLIANCE

The lack of bite up front was what led to this defeat to Hearts Reserves. Except for that all-important factor, they were as good as their opponents for whom their centre-forward Leslie struck twice.

1950 - DUMBARTON 1-1 DUNDEE UTD | LEAGUE (B DIVISION)

As United got their league campaign underway, it looked as though they were set to lay their Boghead bogie to rest when they got off to a great start through Peter McKay, scoring inside the first minute. It was a soft one for the Sons to concede and before long the home side had buckled down and were making a better fist of it. United remained the aggressors though and were it not for resolute defending from Dumbarton and several outstanding saves from George Paton, the visitors would have enjoyed a much healthier lead come the break. Having found it hard going in the first half, the Boghead men got back on level terms in the second, eventually pulling a goal back through Jimmy Parlane who finished after a neat side-step from Tommy Irwin.

1964 - DUNDEE UTD 8-0 HAMILTON | LEAGUE CUP (QUARTER FINAL 1ST LEG)

This two-legged affair was effectively done and dusted by the interval of this first meeting. At that point, United had rammed seven goals past a porous Accies defence. Frannie Munro, Ian Mitchell and Jim McManus had all bagged braces with Lewis Thom the odd man out. However, in an understandably low-key second period, Thom added the eighth with four minutes remaining. The second leg a week later finished just 2-1 in United’s favour courtesy of yet another double, this time Johnny Graham was the marksman.

1997 - RANGERS 0-1 DUNDEE UTD | LEAGUE CUP (QUARTER FINAL)

A quite astonishing strike by Gary McSwegan halfway through the first period of extra time carried United into the semi-finals of The Coca-Cola Cup. It was also sweet revenge after the 5-1 mauling in the league game 17 days earlier with United’s disciplined performance being the bedrock for this first-ever League Cup success over the Ibrox Club.

The striker’s spectacular volley earned United victory over his former club.

LIAM GRIMSHAW