Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 0 Inverness CT

Both sides struggled to master the conditions on a bitterly cold day at East End Park; all the thrills were used up last week and the match finished goal-less.

Gibson crosses

The big news on the selection front was that Greg Paterson was being trusted to make his competitive debut in the number 1 shirt, Greg Fleming being fit enough for the bench. Fortunately Greg the younger had an experienced line-up in front of him with there being no other changes from last time – Ross, McGregor, Dowie and McCann along the back, Gibson, Bell, Burke and Graham in the middle, Kirk and McDougall up top. Even the outfield substitutes were the same: Woods, Phinn, Holmes and Cardle.

A pre-match blizzard had delayed the opening of the stadium, but the match never appeared to be in any real doubt, testament to the efficacy of the under soil heating and the hard work of the ground staff. There was plenty of white stuff still on the pitch at kick-off however, with some strange geometric shapes where the warm-ups had been conducted, and after a ball-boy had hastily retrieved a stray water-bottle from the penalty area the Pars kicked off defending the Norrie McCathie end. The initial thoughts were that the lemon-coloured ball wasn’t as distinct from the mixed green and white background as it might have been, before, in 70 seconds, more pressing matters took over, with Paterson called into his first action. Alex Burke hit a long pass back, but to the keeper’s left (and unfavoured) foot. Greg didn’t seem too fazed by the in-rushing Adam Rooney, calmly side-stepping the forward before clearing right-footed, an action that probably brought as much relief to the fans as to the debutant.

Underfoot conditions meant good football was at a premium, Kirk having the game’s first attempt in 7 minutes, a weak shot straight at the keeper after a good turn to create the chance in the first place. A minute later and McDougall’s pace nearly called the visitors a problem, but Esson rushed 30 yards from his goal to clear, albeit at the second attempt, when more bravery from the Par might have seen him come out on top.

Inverness were playing with only Rooney up front, but with Sanchez playing just off him, and Foran quick to supplement any attack from the left wing. In the middle of the park Duff was getting lots of time on the ball, and in 11 minutes his chip forward was nodded back by Foran but Rooney’s side-heel flick was off target. A minute later McGregor made a last ditch tackle as the Pars were again sliced open. The Pars passing was poor and the visitors were well on top at this stage, Paterson diving at the feet of Rooney before Bell had to block Munro’s effort 12 yards out.

David Graham had again been quiet but mid-way through the half he got the better of Proctor to feed McDougall wide in the box, but his shot was easy meat for Esson. Back came Caley Thistle, with three chances in five minutes, all for Rooney. Firstly McGregor’s well timed tackle was just in the nick of time as the number 10 was about to pull the trigger, then Ross and Dowie did just enough to make Irishman poke his shot wide, before finally Paterson made a good save at his near-post.

By now the Pars seemed to have worked out that mistakes were there waiting to be made, and that by applying a bit of pressure, things could be helped along. A Graham turn set up Gibson in 35 minutes but Esson beat away his shot, before Graham picked Hayes’s pocket from Esson’s throw, but Kirk couldn’t find the target. Then right on half-time Gibson won a corner. There had been no stoppages, yet referee McKendrick allowed the kick to be taken even though the 45 minutes were up and Gibson flighted the ball to the back post where Dowie headed over the bar.

Half time: Pars 0 Caley Thistle 0