Dunfermline Athletic

Archives | Dunfermline 1 Livingston 0

An Ewan Otoo goal just before half time was enough to give Dunfermline a much needed win and three points in Neil Lennon`s first home game in charge.

KDM Group East End Park set the stage for a pivotal William Hill Championship encounter as Dunfermline Athletic welcomed Livingston for their sixth meeting of the season. The match marked the highly anticipated home debut for new Pars manager Neil Lennon.

The visitors arrive in formidable form, fresh from a commanding 5-0 victory over Queen`s Park in Sunday`s SPFL Trust Trophy final. Their recent triumph over promotion-chasing Falkirk served as a timely reminder of the challenge that awaited Neil Lennon`s men. The hosts desperately sought the fabled `˜new manager bounce` to arrest a concerning slide of just one victory from their previous nine outings. However, East End Park has proven something of a fortress for the Fifers, who boasted four wins and two draws from their last seven home league fixtures.

All eyes then were on the former Celtic and Hibernian boss as he took his place in the home dugout for the first time. Neil made three changes from the side that started at Ayr the previous Saturday `“ Tommy Fogarty, Craig Clay and Matty Todd starting in place of Chris Hamilton, Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Conner Young. Livi`s starting eleven showed two changes from Sunday, Cristian Montaño and Scott Pittman dropping to their bench to bring in Robbie Fraser and Daniel Finlayson.

It was Todd who kicked the match off and the home side showed great urgency from the start. Two Joe Chalmers free kicks within the first four minutes, one from either flank created mayhem in the visitors box but both times the ball was scrambled clear. A tenth minute free kick from half way, taken by Tobi Oluwayemi, had his Livi counterpart come out to try and fist away but Lewis McCann headed the ball on for Chris Kane but a defender`s clearance off the Pars striker could only lead to a goal kick.

A 14th minute free kick 30 yards out was slickly played into the path of Kane and his shot from the right side of the penalty box was well held low down at his left hand post by Jerome Prior. Fraser conceded the 24th minute that Todd fired into the six yard box but it dropped unluckily at the feet of Ryan McGowan and Livi cleared.

A burst from Ewan Otoo next threatened the visitors defence but as the ball broke into the penalty box Todd just failed to get a connection. Then in 31 minutes when Kane pressed on the left side of the box, the entire McCathie Stand appealed for a penalty. The fans clearly saw something from the far end of the pitch but nothing moved the officials.

Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen was forward to display great close control to create a shooting opportunity 15 yards but that was blocked. Livingston finished the half with more possession in the Dunfermline but some solid defending kept the ball away from Oluwayemi. I was just into the final minute of the half when East End Park erupted to cheer the opening goal. Todd had come close after running on to a sweeping Chalmers pass from just inside the Livi half. His well hit shot was beaten away by Prior, but Todd recovered the ball to set up Comrie to cross. Kane challenged but Finlayson headed the ball out to OTOO and he chested it down before crashing the ball home from 15 yards. 1-0

It had been a very positive first 45 from Dunfermline, much more attacking than the last home matches and a goal to celebrate to boot. Some fans were asking each other if they were watching the right team!

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Livingston 0

The visitors made two substitutions before the second half kicked off. Michael Nottingham and Scott Pittman coming on for Macaulay Tait and Stevie May. Muirhead tested Oluwayemi with a 50th minute free kick from the right and next Pittman, from close in, directed the ball wide right. Dunfermline came extremely close when Chilokoa-Mullen got on to a long ball from his keeper but Prior kept him out and Kane thrashed the loose ball narrowly wide left.

Chris Hamilton was the Pars first sub as Craig Clay was given an ovation for his performance on his first start since November. Livingston captain Jamie Brandon had been yellow carded in 56 minute and was very lucky not receive another just six minutes later when cutting down Kane another time. Clearly his manager saw the danger and subbed him minutes later for Andrew Shinnie. Great appreciation was shown to Matty Todd who went off during the same stoppage. It has been a fantastic return to action for him after missing nine games with a hamstring injury.

It took a brilliant save by Oluwayemi to deny a powerful header from Tete Yengi at the midpoint of the second half as he met a dangerous cross from the left by Montaño. Ephraim Yeboah who had come on for Chris Kane made a powerful run to receive a pass from Stevens as he broke up the right but unfortunately the defence snuffed him out. Oluwayemi clipped the ball off the head of Finlayson and Muirhead pumped a corner from the right through the Pars box.

Chilokoa-Mullen got in behind the Livi defence but his cut back was swept clear. There was some sterling defending to do but the Fifers saw out the 90+6 minutes to record a well earned double over Livingston. The three points took them into eighth place one point above their next opponents, Hamilton.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), Tommy Fogarty, Joe Chalmers: Aaron Comrie, Craig Clay (Chris Hamilton 58), Ewan Otoo: Matty Todd (Archie Stevens 63), Chris Kane (Ephraim Yeboah 74), Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Andrew Tod, Owen Hampson, Josh Cooper, Omar Taylor-Clarke, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: Otoo (45)
YELLOW CARDS: Yeboah (79), Otoo (83), McCann (90+2)

LIVINGSTON: Jerome Prior: Dan Finlayson, Danny Wilson, Ryan McGowan, Robbie Fraser (Cristian Montaño 59): Jamie Brandon (c)(Andrew Shinnie 63), Macaulay Tait (Scott Pittman HT), Stephen Kelly, Teti Yengi, Robbie Muirhead, Stevie May (Michael Nottingham HT).
SUBS NOT USED: Matthew Clarke, Lewis Smith, Reece McAlear, Meshack Ubochioma, Jack Hamilton (GK)
YELLOW CARDS: Brandon (55), Muirhead (72), Prior (79), Montaño (82)

REFEREE: Grant Irvine
ATTENDANCE: 4890 inc 210 Livingston fans
WEATHER: Fine 11°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Scottish Championship (home) v Hamilton Academical, Saturday 5th April 2025, kick off 3.00pm



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