Pars drag Steelmen into relegation fight

By: Ian Rose | May 7th, 2007

Say one thing for Dunfermline - they aren’t dying easy. They may have looked awful for most of the season. They may have gone ten SPL matches without scoring a goal. They may have been kept alive exclusively by their keeper. But they are making life very nervous indeed for their relegation competition down the stretch. After an impressive 4-1 win over Motherwell, they have dragged that side into what has seemed for months to be a two-team relegation fight - Pars versus St. Mirren. Pars now sit one point below St. Mirren, though with a five goal differential deficit, and now only five points below Motherwell, who are still not safe with only two league games remaining. St. Mirren probably has the easier schedule, facing Motherwell away and Inverness at home. Dunfermline faces Inverness away and then Falkirk, the top team in the bottom half. Inverness Caley Thistle, the side I support for honesty’s sake, gets both of the bottom teams in the next two weeks, but have been much stronger at home than on the road of late. However, the last time Dunfermline went to Caledonian Stadium, they beat Caley, their first of two away wins for the entire season, and they have a newfound hunger and confidence.

My money is still on Pars to go down - I think they’ll lose or draw to Inverness and St. Mirren will beat Motherwell. Then the season will come down to the last game, and I think both could very well lose their last games to leave the Pars in the hole. Though Motherwell is statistically still in trouble, I really don’t think the other relegation teams will be able to win out and force them out at this point.

PS - a belated congratulations to Gretna, who will be taking the Premier League spot one of these teams vacates. Their amazing rise through the Scottish ranks just goes to show what dedication, hard work and a rich benefactor can do for a football club. Support your local club, especially if happen to be bloody loaded.