First trip to Firhill for Thrills in a while...

It has been a long time since Dunfermline visited Partick on league business, season 1988-89 to be precise. Nearly 30 years since the Pars lost there, surely that run can continue?

The man for Gary Dempsey to avoid....

1st April 1989 was the last league meeting between the sides in Glasgow, a dull 0-0 draw was the result as Dunfermline ground their way towards their first ever Divison 1 trophy.

Earlier that season, Dunfermline came from behind to win 2-1 at Firhill with Graeme Robertson and Ross Jack scoring the crucial goals in the opening game of that campaign.

Other than that, there are not too many games to report on! Andy Smith scored a double there in a Scottish Cup tie back in 1999 in another 2-1 win. That was the last game between the sides with Partick as hosts.

Going into this game, Dunfermline will be, perhaps unusually for them, favourites with the bookies. The form that has taken them to 3rd place in the league with 5 points to spare must continue, otherwise a potential "bananaskin" could trip us up.

Partick have played well in most of their games this year, taking a lot of teams by surprise. Whilst this often happens in the SPL, with promoted teams catching the lax opponents off guard, there can be no doubt that the likes of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock will still be smarting from their recent defeats to the self proclaimed "Maryhill Magyars"

Alex Burns scored a superb hat trick last week and will no doubt be the man to watch. However, at the East End Park game between the sides earlier this season, Partick showed little or no threat in the Dunfermline half for the 90 minutes, their penalty being the only chance they had to score.

Dunfermline can, and should, win this tie if they play anything near their capabilities. Dropping points to Partick will not be on the manager`s mind as he continues to quietly rack up the points whilst the media spotlights other teams.

Here is to a good game between the sides, with Dunfermline hopefully coming out on top of course!

`MON THE PARS!