NO SHIELS QUALMS FOR PARS MANAGER

DUNFERMLINE manager Allan Johnston insists he will have no qualms about pitching Dean Shiels into the cauldron of the Falkirk Stadium tomorrow when the fierce rivals cross swords for the first time since the game between the sides in January.

A small minority of Bairns fans disgraced themselves on their last visit to East End Park, lobbing fake eyeballs at Shiels, who was forced to have surgery to remove his right eye in 2006 due to a domestic accident when he was eight years old.

Falkirk apologised for the actions of an element of their travelling support.

It was the l atest ugly incident in a distasteful campaign in this rivalry, with Kevin O’Hara and Joe McKee banned for eight and four matches respectively for ‘excessive misconduct’ for mocking Shiels’ affliction during an Irn-Bru Cup fixture in O c t o b e r. T h e former Rangers and Hibs star was sent off for a lunge on McKee in injury-time.

Johnston, however, is hopeful tomorrow’s game will see fans and players alike express their passion in the right manner, and will have no hesitation to field Shiels if required.

“I think both clubs have moved on from that and it’s about the football,” he said.

“I’d have no qualms about playing Dean, he’ll be in the squad. He hasn’t been in the starting line-up of late, as we have a lot of options, but he is a valued member of the team.”