Season Review 2019-2020

The 2019-20 SPFL Ladbrokes Championship season has ended prematurely, after all 42 members clubs decided to terminate the campaigns of the `lower leagues`, with the Premiership term still under review, at time of writing.

For the Pars, this adversely affects them, with DAFC falling down a position to 6th in the second-tier. But, was it successful season for Stevie Crawford`s side?

At the end of the 2018-19 campaign, there was a sigh of relief around East End Park that Dunfermline Athletic had remained within the Championship. Then, it was announced that budget cuts would be made on the playing front, with a reduced pot of cash for Crawford, Dair and Shields to spend in the summer.

Around a dozen new recruits joined, the majority stepping up to full-time football – or in to the Championship – for the first time. Eye-Catching signings such as Kevin Nisbet, Euan Murray and Kyle Turner upped the belief levels as the Club dipped into the Transfer Market to secure some exciting new faces.

As we catch up the team of the year we can cast our mind back to May 2004 where Dunfermline met Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final. Dunfermline are perhaps in the Championship but that game was where Dunfermline almost had their hand on the Cup, if only the Ref had spotted the handball by Bobo Balde !. Where was VAR when you need it.

In the years that Dunfermline played Celtic in that cup final, the betting markets have changed a lot, why not try the latest sports bettings markets. Gert £5 in Free bets. You never got that 16 years ago.

Joined by experienced campaigners such as Paul Paton, Ryan Scully, Lee Ashcroft and Ryan Dow, there seemed to be a good blend within the squad as the campaign kicked-off. Early season form was promising – with a successful BetFred Cup campaign. One minor blip away to Edinburgh City aside, the Fifers impressed and were given their rewards with a trip to face `Treble-Treble` Scottish Champions, Celtic, at Parkhead.

Following a poor result in the Second Round of the BetFred Cup just two seasons earlier, away to Rangers at Ibrox, the hope was for a better trip to Glasgow on this occasion. Despite being knocked out, Neil Lennon`s side were through thanks to a deflected goal in extra-time, following one of the most memorable moments of the season, when Tom Beadling found the net to equalise for Athletic.

The other two cup competitions were slightly more disappointing overall, with defeats at the first time of asking to part-time sides; the biggest negative of the term, in most fans` opinion, was being knocked out away to League One bottom side Stranraer in the Scottish Cup. A difficult away fixture in difficult conditions, but Crawford and the players couldn`t argue with the criticism which came their way in the days to follow.

Furthermore, Alloa Athletic would continue to be a `bogey team` for Dunfermline, as they secured their passage through to the next round of the Tunnock`s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup with a 2-1 victory over the West Fife side: this competition may be seen as low priority by some, but the players would have wanted to progress against a side at the same level as them, but were undone once again by an Alan Trouten winner!

In the league, it was another inconsistent term with many peaks and troughs as is expected in Scotland`s second-tier. A bright, but winless, start with 2 points out of 6 against Dundee and Queen of the South continued the momentum built up during the BetFred Cup Group Stage, but, many poor runs of form would stop Athletic fully challenging at the top of the table.

Matches, such as Morton away, where a goal was conceded in the dying embers of added on time, and the (unexpected?) 2-0 win at home to Dundee United indicated that progress had been made to a degree, but this group of players may just have not been ready for that next step, just yet.

Overall, improvements have been made on and off the pitch – the fans have rallied round in the Clubs` time of need once again, to make sure no financial strains are placed upon DAFC unnecessarily, due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. Whilst, on the park, plenty players have shown the potential required to kick the Pars on to greater heights once the new campaign com
mences.

Baby steps have been made; boys became men; now, it is time for the mighty DA, to rise once again! Let`s stick right behind the team,

If you wish to watch the video review of Season 2019-2020 why not pop across to ParsTV and catch it there:

-- ParsTV Review 2019-2020

JB.
COME. ON. YE. PAAAAAAAAARS!!!

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