Match Preview: Dunfermline Athletic v Queen’s Park – sat 20 Apr 24
Queen’s Park head to Dunfermline on Saturday for the fourth meeting between the teams this season with Dunfermline winning at Hampden and Queen’s winning at Hampden and at the KDM Group East End Park.
The objective for The Spiders is a simple one and that is repeat their fine win in Fife in February!
The first game between the clubs in this campaign was Queen’s Park’s initial game back at The National Stadium at Hampden in September however there was no happy homecoming as The Pars racked up a 2-0 with Lewis McCann netting a double.
After a couple of postponements in December the second game was also at Hampden on January 5 with Queen’s Park, with Paul Nuijten in charge, winning live on BBC Scotland 2-1 as Ruari Paton and Dom Thomas netted before Ben Summers pulled a goal back.
The sides faced each other again five weeks later with Queen’s Park scoring three good goals in the second half to defeat their injury hit hosts 3-0. Jack Turner glanced home a Stuart McKinstry cross to open the scoring with Dom Thomas curling home a delightful second goal before Mackenzie Carse rolled the third into the far corner.
Doing likewise again would be welcome!
Pre-Match Interviews
Queen’s Park’s Head Coach Callum Davidson spoke to QPTV about the trip to Fife and gave an insight into the team’s preparation and a ‘touch and go’ update on the fitness of a key member of the squad.
– Being Positive
– Friday Night Games
– Last time out @ Dunfermline Athletic
– Impact of injuries
– The fans.
The cinch Championship so far:
Queen’s Park travel to Dunfermline with the aim of avoiding a Play-off spot with James McPake’s side having the opposite aim, and that is to put together a run that secures a play-off spot despite the odds being against them.
The Spiders dropped to ninth last weekend after going down 1-0 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle with Dunfermline’s defeat to Airdrie leaving them nine points behind four placed Airdrieonians with three games to go.
There is also a goal difference of 11 in the Diamonds favour however no-one in Queen’s Park colours would be surprised if their hosts come out in determined fashion and look to put some pressure on Airdrie in their game at Partick Thistle.
Dunfermline’s first season back in the Championship has largely been a positive one with a 3-1 win over Morton in September taking them up to fourth.
One win in their next five games kept them in a play-off place however it allowed a pack of clubs to eat into their points advantage.
A lengthy injury list led to a dip in form and results and when Queen’s left with the three points in February Dunfermline had slipped to ninth however a live TV win over Partick Thistle 13 days later kick-started a revival that has seen Dunfermline defeat Ayr United, Dundee United, Morton and Arbroath.
Defeat at Airdrieonians last weekend took fourth place a bit further out of touch however Queen’s need to guard against being a springboard whilst looking to win the points for their own objectives.
Queen’s Park’s top goalscorer this season is Ruari Paton who has found the net 21 times including a fine goal against Dunfermline in January with McCann leading the way for Dunfermline with seven.
Remaining games
Dunfermline – Queen’s Park (A)
Arbroath – Queen’s Park (A)
Queen’s Park – Airdrieonians (H)
Squad News
There will be a late decision made on the fitness of skipper Dom Thomas with the injured trio of Ben McPherson, Patrick Jarrett and Grant Savoury remaining out.
Click HERE to buy tickets for the game.
Last Time Out
Dunfermline Athletic 0 Queen’s Park 3
cinch Championship,
February 10, 2024.
Teams
Queen’s Park – Calum Ferrie, Ben McPherson (Zach Mauchin 80), Alex Bannon, Will Tizzard, Joshua Scott, Jack Thomson, Sean Welsh, Dom Thomas, Jack Turner (Louis Longridge 73), Stuart McKinstry (Mackenzie Carse 73), Ruari Paton.
Unused substitutes – Sam Kane (G/k), Tommy Robson, Cameron Bruce, Scott Williamson, Lewis Reid.
Dunfermline Athletic – Deniz Mehmet, Aaron Comrie, Josh Edwards, Chris Hamilton, Ewan Otoo, Joe Chalmers, Lewis McCann (Bradley Homes 67), Ben Summers (Owen Moffat 57), Paul Allan, Michael O’Halloran (Taylor Sutherland 80), Xavier Benjamin.
Unused substitutes – Max Little (GK), Miller Fenton, Sam Young, Jake Sutherland.
Read the Match Report HERE
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