Is betting on Dunfermline a good prospect this season?
Date: Wednesday, 4th Sep 2019Dunfermline Athletic have endured a tough start to the new campaign and already in a bitter battle to avoid relegation back to Scottish League One. Stevie Crawford did just enough last term to save the club from the drop, although a poor end to the campaign almost resulted in relegation.
Dunfermline lost seven out of their last eight games, and were only spared relegation by the form of Queen of the South and Falkirk. The Pars brought in several players during the summer, including Kevin Nisbet and Euan Murray from Raith Rovers. However, first-team regulars Jackson Longridge, Louis Longridge, Myles Hippolyte and Faissal El Bakhtaoui were among the names that departed.
DONE DEAL! Kevin Nisbet joins Dunfermline to become second signing of the day https://t.co/iAktDrj9wx pic.twitter.com/MVmBRgxmlz
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) June 13, 2019
As a result, it would take a brave Dunfermline fan to back their side to win promotion from the Scottish Championship given the amount of turnover in the squad. Their slow start to the current term has seen their value shift to in and around 20/1 to win the league. A bold bettor could be intrigued by the odds, particularly if you know where to get the most for your money. The best betting sites according to onlinesportsbettingsites.uk, include 888Sport, Betway and Unibet that provide bonuses that could make a punt on the Pars worthwhile.
Something To Build On?
There’s not a great deal to be excited about at the moment, although a lot will hinge on whether Crawford is able to create a winning formula. Dunfermline boasted one of the best backlines in the Championship in the 2018/19 term. Only league champions Ross County and fourth-place Ayr United had a better defensive record over the course of the campaign.
However, the problems came at the other end of the pitch where the Pars managed only 33 goals in their 36 matches – a staggering level of inefficiency. It comes as no surprise that in their poor run towards the end of last season, they failed to score in six of the seven defeats.
Crawford will have known the challenge ahead was going to be a tough one and it has proven to be the case at the start of the new campaign. He will have been devising ways to improve his team’s prowess in the final third without losing the stoic defensive play that kept them in the division. However, it has not proven to the case in the opening four matches of the Scottish Championship.
The Pars have conceded six goals in their four games, failing to keep a clean sheet in the process. It has with the club still to get off the mark with a victory in the new season. The pressure is well and truly on, although the club did enjoy a good run in the Scottish League Cup, qualifying for the second round.
Dunfermline were handed the toughest of draws against Celtic at Parkhead, but put forward a fine account of themselves as Tom Beadling cancelled out Mikey Johnston’s opener. Crawford’s men took the game to extra-time, only to be undone six minutes before penalties by James Forrest’s strike. The performance against Celtic and the achievement of reaching the second round of the competition suggest that there is hope for the Pars to haul themselves out of trouble, although it will take a huge effort for them to compete at the right end of the table.
strong>Hope For The Future?
Scottish Championship 2019/20 Preview - Dunfermline Athletic. Can a batch of youngsters do the business for Stevie Crawford this season? #ThePars #SPFL https://t.co/7H2uvOZVEr pic.twitter.com/fZFTlfTM1A
— Not Siggi Jonsson (@PerennialUnder) August 1, 2019
The form of Nisbet will be crucial as he has proven that he can find the back of the net, having scored 29 goals for Raith last season. He struck in the opener against Dundee United, although Dunfermline allowed a two-goal lead to slip in their draw at East End Park. Nisbet has been quiet since, although it may take him time to adjust to competing at a higher level. If he can break into double figures it will be a major step forward for the Pars, whose top scorer in the Championship last season Bruce Anderson managed only five strikes.
An open style of play could help Dunfermline become more of a threat in the final third, but it could create problems in the defensive areas of the pitch. They’ve already been exposed in their defeats to Arbroath and Dundee United, becoming one of the victims of Lawrence Shankland’s prolific start to the season in their loss to the latter. Danny Devine and Lee Ashcroft formed a strong defensive partnership last term, while the addition of Murray should provide security.
However, it may take time to overcome the departure of Longridge, which may hurt the cohesion of the unit. If they’re unable to regain their stoic nature it will put further pressure on the players in the attacking third and could put them in jeopardy at the bottom of the table. Crawford has to figure it out soon, otherwise, he could pay the price, while the club may not avoid relegation this time around.
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