PARS MAROONED

Dick Campbell said after the match that Dunfermline were not bottom of the league because of this match but because of what had happened throughout the season. Certainly there was nothing in this game to revive the hopes of salvage but Dick should at least realise that with performances like this we deserve to be bottom of the league. Now five points behind Dundee United it is going to take a minor miracle to escape relegation. Celtic at East End on Saturday but on the second half showing this team couldn’t beat Stahlybridge Celtic.

There are nine points at stake and only six would be needed if United failed against Killie, Hearts and Celtic. Only snag Dunfermline have to win two matches - something they have forgotten how to do.

Dunfermline paid for the first half chances that they squandered with Andy Smith being the main offender. Smithy’s headed effort from Jason Dair’s saved shot was abysmal. Scott Thomson had tested the keeper before Marc Millar’s deflected shot also ended up in Rousset’s hands. Sloppy play almost let Hearts score in the last minute of the first half but Butler saved well.

The second half started OK but in 54 minutes Colin Cameron got onto a deflected Darren Jackson cross to beat the keeper. Dunfermline then totally fell apart and never looked dangerous. Too many speculative balls forward, too many Andy Smith failures and no real urgency or football from a poor Dunfermline second half team.

Widescreen TV’s are the in thing but viewers on Sky TV would be looking for tallscreen TV’s as the ball got booted up and down the park by two ordinary bootball teams. Hearts are lucky that Dunfermline are there to be relegated ahead of them.

Cameron pounced again in the 81st minute but by this time the clock was already against the Fifers. Shaw had been brought on for Dair and Tod was thrown forward but the threat was low and the only probable outcome was likely to be another Hearts goal.

Hearts were a pretty poor team; lots of passes going astray; Dundee, Motherwell, St Johnstone, Aberdeen and United don’t look good but we are definitely worse than them all. Probably the turning point in fortunes was back at Dens on a cold October evening when we lost 1-0. Failures have followed with tedious regularity and not enough has changed to alter our destiny.

DUNFERMLINE Butler, Shields, Tod, Ireland, Dair (Shaw); Thomson, Millar, Dolan, Petrie (Graham); Smith, Coyle.
Subs not used: Hay, Squires, Ferguson
Yellow Cards: Petrie (52), Dolan

Referee Kenny Clark (Paisley)
Attendance 15176
League position 10th (5 behind Dundee United)

Next Match v Celtic (home) Saturday 9th May 1999