Dunfermline Vs Queen Of The South, Match Preview by Andy Irvine

Dunfermline Host Queen of the South in their first home game of the 2008/09 season. After a disappointing result last week at Partick thistle, the Fifers are hoping to get some points under their belt. The Men from the borders however, have 1 point after they drew 0-0 at home to 1^st division newcomers, Airdrie United.

Last season Dunfermline were the only team that the Queens failed to beat so manager, Gordon Chisholm feels ‘we owe them one’ 

Chisholm also said – ‘Jim McIntyre has let a few of his boys go but, by the same token, has introduced a lot of new faces. We’ll need to be on top form to win as we made ‘heavy weather’ of our two visits to East End Park last season. They’ll be full of determination and must be among the favourites for promotion even though they lost at Firhill on Saturday. It will certainly be one of our harder games and, as it’s their first home league match of he new season, they’ll be going all out to impress their fans.  
 
“Obviously I was disappointed we didn’t beat Airdrie at the week-end but they came intent on a draw and, all credit to them, they got what they wanted. I felt only two of our players earned pass marks and they’ll be some changes this Saturday. Jim Thomson is suspended but both Bobby Harris and Jamie Adams could be back. Every game is a new game so we must learn from our mistakes and concentrate on each match as it comes. It’s going to be a busy, busy August so we want every member of our squad fit and fully focussed on the task in hand”. 

The pars have not won their first home game of the season for six years now, but it has been 18 years since Queen on the South have defeated the Fifers at East End Park; When They won 1-2 in the Scottish cup. 

Pars boss Jim McIntyre wants his home fans to get right behind the pars on Saturday, “It’ll be nice to get back in front of the home fans for the first league game at home,” he told Courier Sport. “We’re looking for them to get right behind us as they have done in the opening couple of games. If they can keep that up, and we can keep putting on a performance they can be happy about, then that’ll do”. With both Steven bell and Greg Ross returning to full training this week (although neither will feature in this weeks squad) things are looking brighter in Fife. “They trained with the team today but they’ll need a couple of weeks before they’re ready,” added McIntyre.