Dunfermline aim for normality when hosting Falkirk

Dunfermline will look to keep things as normal as possible when they host Falkirk despite yesterday’s announcement that they are applying to go into administration.

The Pars have yet to defeat the Bairns this season and in fact their last win over their Kincardineshire neighbours was when they were presented with the First Division trophy in May 2011. The mood at East End Park tonight will be very different to that day with assistant manager Gerry McCabe looking for the players to find some respite among all the negativity.

McCabe said: “The situation has been dragging on for months and it has affected everyone. The situation is clearer now and I hope that can lead to the players going out on the park and finding some escape from it all.”

Elsewhere, Dumbarton will look to build on Saturday’s 4-3 success over Dunfermline by seeing off Raith Rovers at the Bet Butler Stadium to move 11 points clear of bottom side Airdrie and ensure that their visitors cannot relax just yet.

Player/manager Ian Murray said: “A win could lift us up a place and it would also keep Raith Rovers in our sights as we look to climb the table. It would also pull us to within four points of Raith and drag them into the relegation fight so we have plenty of incentives to win.”

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald is looking to build on a “great weekend” by taking the Jags to the top of the table for the first time in 2013 by seeing off hosts Cowdenbeath at Central Park tonight.

Archibald was given the Firhill job on a permanent basis on Friday and his players showed what they thought of the appointment by defeating Livingston 6-1 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Livingston’s newly appointed management team of Richie Burke and Mark Burchill are looking to defeat Hamilton Accies tonight but it is more about getting Saturday’s 6-1 defeat by Partick Thistle out of their system than getting their time in charge of the Lions off to a flyer.

Burke said: “It would be great to get my time in permanent charge off to a win but first and foremost I want us to make up for the performance and score at Partick Thistle.”

Accies go looking for their second away win in a row and move closer to mid-table respectability four days after winning 2-0 at the Falkirk Stadium.

New Douglas Park boss Billy Reid said: “We fully deserved that win and it would be great to make it two in a row and keep heading up the way in what is a very exciting and competitive First Division.”