Dunfermline Ath 0 - 0 St Mirren: Pars make a point on SPL return

THE Scottish Premier League returned to East End Park last night after an absence of four years, but it brought with it neither fever or thrills. What it did bring was a probably welcome point for both sides, although St Mirren rued a penalty miss four minutes before half-time from former Scotland internationalist Steven Thompson.

The visitors were frustrated by a solid performance in goal from Paul Gallacher, who only returned to Dunfermline from St Mirren this summer. He was allowed to deal rather too easily with Thompson's penalty kick, and though St Mirren asked most questions, Dunfermline remained resolute in defence. It was in attack where the newcomers will have to improve if they wish to stay in the SPL.

The Monday night scheduling could explain the lack of fervour, while fear of defeat on day one could be a reason for the absence of on-field excitement. New players were also bedding in wearing new colours. It took even devoted fans time to get used to their team's choice of kit. Dunfermline trotted out in yellow and blue, while St Mirren wore red and black stripes.

Further confusion was caused by the sight of Gallacher lining up for Dunfermline again, two years after he left the club for St Mirren. The team-sheet, meanwhile, listed two Steven Thompsons in the St Mirren side, which was almost true.

There is a Steven Thomson and a Steven Thompson. By mid-way through the second half there were three Thomsons on the field and one Thompson. Dunfermline's Jason, on loan from Hearts, started at right-back, while substitute Ryan added to the quota as the home side looked to break the deadlock. Not surprisingly, perhaps, it was a Thompson who featured in the game's most significant moment.

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Steven Thompson, partnering Nigel Hasselbaink in an all-new strikeforce which hinted at better things to come for St Mirren, made his debut for his hometown club. However, he would have preferred not to have introduced himself to the away supporters with a missed penalty.

Gary Teale was another former Scotland internationalist making his debut for St Mirren and he caught the eye on the left flank in the opening half. But try as St Mirren might, they could not make the breakthrough, even when presented with the ideal opportunity. The award of a penalty infuriated the home supporters, who were aghast when referee Stevie O'Reilly penalised and then booked Gary Mason for what looked an innocuous challenge on Teale as St Mirren broke down the left. It appeared as though Mason had done well to get back after a Dunfermline attack had broken down.Teale took the free-kick and O'Reilly again spotted something the home fans did not - a tug in the box on Thompson by former St Mirren man John Potter. Thompson took no time at all to grab the ball from Gallacher and he also had to shrug off an attempt by Paul McGowan to claim responsibility for taking the kick.

Thompson's willingness was admirable, though possibly misguided. His attempt lacked conviction, and Gallacher endeared himself to the East End Park fans all over again by beating the effort away to safety.

Gallacher's opposite number, Craig Samson, had already excelled himself at the other end when tipping a Martin Hardie free-kick over the bar, as Dunfermline sought to make their mark in the SPL. They had wasted the first chance of the game when David Graham blazed high over when presented with an early half-chance. But St Mirren's top-flight experience generally told, and Teale passed up a fine chance to open the scoring at the start of the second half, tapping wide inside the six-yard box after a Lee Mair knockdown.

Jim McIntyre attempted to re-energise the home team by making an early second-half change. The largely ineffectual Steven McDougall was replaced by Andy Barrowman after 56 minutes. However, the longer the game wore on, the more disjointed Dunfermline looked.

This was proving a tough re-introduction to life in the top tier against a side now hardened to the demands of a higher league. However, the addition of some extra quality in the likes of Thompson and Teale did not pay off.

Thompson endured further agony when he side-footed wide from just in front of goal after 68 minutes, meaning he had wasted the game's best two scoring opportunities.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Jason Thomson, Potter, Keddie, McCann, Graham (Burns 65), Mason, Hardie, Cardle, McDougall (Barrowman 56), Kirk (Ryan Thomson 73). Subs not used: Smith, Dowie, Willis, Young.

St Mirren: Samson, van Zanten, McGregor, Mair, Tesselaar, Thomson, Goodwin, McGowan, Teale, Thompson, Hasselbaink. Subs not used: McHugh, McAusland, McQuade, McLean, McKernon, McShane, Carey.