Dunfermline Vs Airdrie Preview


By Chris Mac
January 6 2006

This weeks question, can we make it by the third round of any of the two major league competitions, to do so we will have to get by second bottom of the Scottish Premier League Dunfermline?

 

Scottish Cup third Round
Preview For Saturday, 7th January 2006

Dunfermline

V

Airdrie

 Jim Leishman

 
Last Result
 

Sandy Stewart

Sandy Stewart is playing his cards close to his chest once again but I think every Airdrie fan knows the team that should be starting tomorrow. Last weeks experiment with Docherty in the middle as a replacement for Hardy didn't work in my opinion,

We have more or less a full squad to pick from, Garry Twigg has recovered from his ankle injury and only has to reach match fitness so this match will probably come to quickly for him.

Sandy in his interview on L107 says that the team are really looking forward to playing Dunfermline tomorrow and hope to show our strengths to the SPL.

In the Bells First division Airdrie have played 22 games won 8 lost 8 and drawn six scoring 34 goals on the way. On goals scored this only puts us second behind Hamilton. Our defensive record sees us with a deficit of 22 goals again giving us the third best defensive record in the league.

Tomorrows game is also going to have a little bit of an edge about it, this is the first time we have competed against Dunfermline in six years and an old rivalry seems to have raised it's head.

So who all remembers the Cup Semi final in 1992 then? In front of 10662 Airdrie were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties at Tynecastle in the semi finals a controversial match you tell me?

Match Preview by Chris Mac

 

 

Referee: Kevin Toner

 

 

 Airdrie Possible Line Up

 

 

 

Robertson
  McKenna, McManus,  McGowan,  Lovering
McDougall,  Hardie,   McKeown, McLaren
McPhee,  Prunty.

 

 

 

 Opponents News

Ah Jim Leishman any one remember any of his anecdotes from a few years ago when he was invited as the guest of the supporters trust? He did a great job for us but was left floundering in the wings.

Dunfermline have a number of players ruled out for tomorrow match their new striker Gardar Gunnlaugsson is ruled out with a groin strain, Scott Wilson and Greg Ross are also expected to be ruled out.

So who does that leave?

Mark Burchill, once Celtic world beater and Scottish Internationalist who has played 11 games and scored 6 goals in all competitions.

Simon Donnelly, Much like his team mate he left Celtic as the future of Scottish football and ended up in oblivion yes I do mean St Johnstone and Dunfermline.

Allan McGregor, is from the other side of the great divide and has been on loan from Rangers since the beginning of the season Many will remember McGregor as St Johnstones keeper last season.

Leishman says that he is not under rating us but expects to progress to the next round.

 

 

 Airdrie V Head To Heads

  As most of you know we have never played Dunfermline in our present form so blow is a look at the history between us.

Past Results

    Airdrie wins   draws   Dunfermline Athletic wins
League 33 24 30
FA Cup 5 2 1
League Cup 4 2 11
Total 42 28 42

 

 

Games: 14 Yellow Cards: 47 Red Cards: 2

 Ref Review   Kevin Toner

This Season Games: 11 Yellow Cards: 35 Red Cards: 2
Last Season Games: 26 Yellow Cards: 61 Red Cards: 4

Kevin Toner took charge of our match 3-2 away win against Dundee during the Christmas period a good guy toner who managed to book three Dundee players and no Airdrie players during this match.

 

 

 Prediction

I like everyone else hope we take this scalp tomorrow so I'm going for a 2 v1 win for Airdrie as my heart rules my head in this one.