Dunfermline 1-1 Kilmarnock: Andy Kirk rescues point but Dunfermline still in bottom spot

Published on Tuesday 7 February 2012 22:17

KILMARNOCK missed the opportunity to return to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League’s top six as Dunfermline claimed a valuable point in their battle against relegation last night.

James Fowler’s deflected shot after 21 minutes put Killie ahead as the visitors sought to avenge the 3-0 loss to the Pars on 21 January and return to the top half of the table. Andy Kirk equalised after 44 minutes and, although Dunfermline’s search for a first home victory of the season goes on, the Pars moved level on points with Hibernian at the foot of the standings, while Killie moved seventh.

Former Rangers duo Jordan McMillan and Kyle Hutton made their debuts as Dunfermline made four changes from the side which lost 1-0 away at Aberdeen in their last SPL match, with McMillan and Hutton joined in the side by midfielder Paul Burns and Northern Ireland striker Andy Kirk.

A fifth Pars change was enforced as on-loan Preston goalkeeper Iain Turner suffered a back problem in the warm-up, with Chris Smith coming into the side at the last minute.

Defender Michael Nelson was fit to start after shaking off an ankle injury as Killie made one change from the side which began the 1-0 Scottish Cup loss at Hibernian on Saturday, with Lewis Toshney starting.

After 14 minutes where neither side could string together a meaningful passage of play, Kirk tried his luck from the right channel, 25 yards out, firing off target. Another opportunity for the hosts came swiftly, but no-one was in the box to take advantage of Liam Buchanan’s good work on the right and fine low cross.

After 21 minutes, Killie took the lead. Dunfermline failed to clear Toshney’s cross from the right and the ball fell for Fowler to net a deflected shot in the centre of the goal.

Dean Shiels had an effort saved before a poor Smith clearance presented Liam Kelly with a shooting chance, but the ball went wide.

Killie were beginning to show the greater quality on the ball, only for Hutton and Mark Kerr to offer some protection for the Pars defence.

Shiels almost set up a chance for Paul Heffernan, but Alex Keddie managed to get in front of the Killie striker and Smith collected.

Smith was then equal to a left-footed Shiels shot on the turn and that contribution proved decisive as Dunfermline equalised after 44 minutes. David Graham burst through the centre of the field and prodded the ball forward to Kirk, who beat the offside trap. With Cammy Bell advancing from his line, Kirk shot early into the bottom corner.

After the break, the Kilmarnock defence delayed over a clearance and a Kerr challenge saw the ball break for Buchanan, who stole in behind Toshney, but his effort across goal went outside the far post.

Shiels failed to direct a header from Ben Gordon’s cross on target as Killie threatened before Dunfermline were almost undone by their own defending. A Kirk pass-back fell for Heffernan, who prodded goalwards, but Smith managed to spread himself and save well.

He then saved low to his right from Garry Hay and Liam Kelly shot over from the edge of the area as the visitors continued to look the more likely to take the lead. Toshney was bundled over on the edge of the area but nothing was given, and Van Tornhout’s heavy touch saw Kirk go clear at the other end, only to flash a shot wide.

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34

Baldrick

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:38 PM

The big problem imo is how to attract future generations to this "product" The results are so predictable and the vitriol associated with the "product", mainly but not solely from our Glasgow friends, is another huge negative. Blanket TV coverage is another. I have no idea what the answers are but I do think that if the OF were out of the scene it would help rather than hinder.

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33

boozy

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:11 PM

# A lot of good points, they should at least give summer football a try, before they kill all us old yins off. It would surely help not to be playing in direct competition with the Epl, good points about getting more teams into the SPL and give them a bite of the money cherry, there is to much greed and I'm alright Jack attitude.

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32

media4one

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:12 AM

HellHammer: Thank you for your response. I must challenge you on your opinions as I do not believe they are based on rational thought process and I trust you will embellish upon them please. For instance; when you say the EPL is as boring as the SPL are you being serious? Are you openly suggesting that a Motherwell vs Kilmarnock game is more exciting than say Aston Villa vs Everton? In Scotland there is very little chance of the bottom 5 causing upset but in England it is often the case that the bottom teams cause upset because the league is littered with talent from top to bottom. The difference between the SPL and the other leagues in Europe is that in other nations the authorities at least CARE about their product. They embrace it, they live it, they breathe it, they look for solutions, they market it, they try new things, they are dedicated to making it better so as to increase their nations potential, this is not the case in Scotland where the game is left to rot. I have no interest in visiting any parliament to watch the politicians perform, but I do have a valid opinion on politics. My opinion on Scottish football may have no validity to you, but at least it is true, Scottish football is dire and getting worse year on year because of a lack of passion and dedication.

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31

Hellhammer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:59 AM

Media4One - You really don't get it do you. I, and I'm sure many other posters are the same, like football. However, Spanish, Italian, German football, pretty as it may be does not hold any great interest for me. The EPL has more money thrown at it than any other league in the world and may attract a lot of the most talented players but it's just as boring as the SPL, possibly more, because realistically it will be won by the same old 2 or 3 teams. In fact, it is more boring this year because my preferred English team is playing in the Championship this season, and doing well. Yes I'm a football fan but first and foremost I support my local team, watch games involving our direct opponents on occasion and take an interest in their results. How many great goals Real Madrid or Barcelona put past Valladolid or Mallorca does not interest me. And if you don't have an interest in Scottish football you have no valid opinion.

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MrHibs07-1973

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:19 AM

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29

MrHibs07-1973

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:17 AM

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28

media4one

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:57 AM

Dood: If the authorities are not prepared to make changes in order to make the product better then too bad, the game goes bankrupt. If your insurance company is not offering you the best service you look for another insurer and the belief that football is different is nonsense. Football is a business and if the authorities and club owners are not committed to making positive change then sorry I am not buying your product. If that happens it is back to basics and when it re-emerges it comes back better than it did before, often the 10 paces back to get 30 paces forward approach is the best solution

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27

Dood

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:50 AM

#24 - You're partially right. The authorities are doing nothing and the sad thing is that the answer is staring us right in the face - we cannot coach players properly anymore in this country. We think we can. We think that Largs is the epicentre of world football coaching. It's not. Take SK Maribor - a team from Slovenia, a previously referred to part of the world as a 'footballing backwater'. Maribor thrashed Hibs in Europe last season. The way they played football was the way football should be played. Technically, they were miles ahead of anything the SPL could front up. This season, they did Rangers legs. They don't have the cash that we have, they don't have the resources, They do, however, know how to coach football players. Passing and movement are priorities. Until we grasp something along these lines, I can only see the Maribors and other previous 'backwaters' opening a gap on us. However - I don't have the answers on how you go about that. Your answer of boycotting games will only bankrupt our National Game and is grossly implausible - I'm afraid it's the verdict of an armchair punter.

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26

media4one

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:46 AM

Rudolph: The changes I would like to see are not really relevant, what is important is that the authorities are engaging with the fans, the referees, the managers, the players and together coming up with effective change aimed at making the product better for all concerned. Personally I believe the game itself should be placed above all other issues. That way the game comes first and the money comes second which means in time the game will become better and the money will come as a result of the game being better.Why should a Cowdenbeath or Morton fan not be permitted to see their team playing the likes of Aberdeen, Hibs,Hearts, Celtic and Rangers? By increasing the size of the league you are taking the game to more people and you are re-energising previously disadvantaged clubs by ensuring them a place at the highest football table in the land. Locals can get serious about their teams again and local people can sell more product to more people and travelling fans can invest in more areas than they are currently investing - the game becomes the most important aspect not the money - As I said my wish list could be wrong but someone in authority needs to do something because as it stands there is no passion or care

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25

Rudolf Hucker

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:34 AM

#24...so what changes would you like to see?

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24

media4one

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:29 AM

Rudolph: You are missing the point, I am not saying you must not watch your team. I am saying that in Scotland the authorities are doing nothing to alter the course of history. Therefore, until such time as the clubs force the issue and until such time as the decision makers can prove they are making positive changes and committing to a plan of action it pointless.

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23

Rudolf Hucker

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:23 AM

#20...so why don't all other teams in the world not bother and we'll constantly watch the 10 best teams play each other. I'm not saying I wouldn't watch the likes of Barca etc., but if Hibs were playing Cowdenbeath at the same time as Man U and Barca on the tv I would go and watch Hibs.

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22

Rudolf Hucker

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:18 AM

#19...the cavalry have arrived. Cheeri

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21

Rudolf Hucker

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:16 AM

#17...the few times when Scotland have been decent on the world stage most of the players were playing at the top tier of English football. Nowadays most are in at best the second tier. If you're waiting for a resurgent Scotland team don't hold your breath. Maybe you should change your nationality.

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20

media4one

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:13 AM

Hen Broon: That you would rather watch Hearts FC than Barca is absolute nonsense. That is akin to suggesting that you would sooner eat shlt than toast. If you love football you look forward to watching the very best play it which is why real football fans the world over look forward to watching Brazil at the WC finals. We want to see Messi and Xavi because they are artists of the game. Hearts, like Rangers, Killie, Celtic and Hibs are a dire, they offer you no return on investment and never will. Time to pull the finger out me thinks.

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