Mawene braced for tough trip as Dunfermline seek revenge

The Dons swept to a one-sided 4-0 Pittodrie win over the East End Park side in September, but head to Fife trailing their opponents by a point in the bottom three of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. The form book suggests a tight encounter, with Dunfermline looking for their first home win and Aberdeen aiming to add to their solitary away goal – and Mawene agrees.

“That was probably our most convincing performance this season,” the Frenchman said. “We have not scored many goals but in that game we created many chances and managed to take them. They will be looking for revenge and it could be tight.”

Aberdeen followed that win with three points against Dundee United but have since suffered narrow defeats by the top three.

“It is a crucial game,” Mawene said. “The defeat by Motherwell last week means we have to get stuck in and get three points. We have dropped too many points at home, so we are going to have to catch up somewhere on the road.”

Meanwhile, Dunfermline midfielder Nick Phinn is praying his injury troubles are behind him as he prepares for a potential first game of the season.

Sidelined by a recurring hamstring problem, the 23-year-old last played a competitive game when he scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Falkirk as Dunfermline celebrated winning the Irn-Bru First Division title - and that was his first start in over two months following a calf problem.

“It’s been very hard having to see the boys training day in, day out and you’re over at the gym,” said Phinn.

“I’ve been here before two or three times when I thought I was over the worst of it, and then a week or so down the line I’ve ended up being back on the treatment table. But, fingers-crossed that’s me over the worst of it.”