Cudjoe Believe It ?!

Saturday saw Dunfermline Athletic on the road for the first time in the SPFL cinch Championship during Season 2023-2024. Dundee United were the hosts at Tannadice Park, on Match-Day 2 in Scotland`s second-tier.

The Pars travelled to the City of Discovery without 5 first-team players; the long-term injured Deniz Mehmet, Kane Ritchie=Hosler and Matty Todd, plus the suspended Rhys Breen. Lewis McCann also missed out, due to a throat infection which didn`t clear up enough in time for the management team to deem the attacker fit enough to play.

However, Michael O`Halloran did return to the Match-Day squad and was rewarded with a start. The attacker was involved in the best moment of the first-half for Dunfermline, as Aaron Comrie`s shot was expertly saved by Jack Walton. At the other end, Harry Sharp was rarely troubled by Jim Goodwin`s side.

Into the second period and it was the visitors that remained in control. With just under 30 minutes to go, Josh Edwards and Ewan Otoo linked up down the left following a throw-in, with Edwards swinging in a cross which Craig Wighton glanced home to put James McPake`s men in front.

The hosts pushed and probed but couldn`t get through a sturdy Athletic backline. Sharp made one good save to deny Mathew Anim Cudjoe, who was the only player in Tangerine who looked like he had the capability of making something happen for the Champions Elect, who were not living up to their supporters` high expectations.

Unfortunately for the visitors, that notion would be proven true, come the 95th minute. With just seconds remaining, Goodwin`s side launched one final attack at Dunfermline Athletic, with the ball finding it`s way to Cudjoe at the edge of the box. The youngster unleashed a left-footed rasping drive, giving Sharp no chance in goals and salvaging a point for Dundee United.

The 900 away supporters – plus the thousands watching the scoreline come through from afar – may have thought “Cudjoe Believe It?!” when the ball hit the back of the net, but the equaliser didn`t represent the true story of the match. With a depleted squad, away to the side fancied by many pundits and journalists to run away with the division; in front of 8,000 home fans, in their first home league match of the season, the Pars showed bravery, team spirit, quality in and out of possession and the drive to succeed which has served us so well under McPake so far, during his tenure at KDM Group East End Park.

We were 10 seconds away from victory, but 4 points from 6 shouldn`t be sniffed at. What an encouraging start to the campaign. Bring on the Rovers...