Nisbet on top in battle of hitmen
Crawf delighted as Kev ends United hoodoo
Stevie Crawford insists Kevin Nisbet lived up to his pre-match billing in the showdown of the league’s top hitmen.
The hotshot striker helped fire Dunfermline to their first home win against Dundee United in 13 years.
On-loan Celtic kid Jonathan Afolabi made sure of the win with his first goal for Pars.
In the build-up Dunfermline skipper Paul Paton had claimed that Nisbet was a better allround player than United star Lawrence Shankland.
And it was the Fifers’ top scorer who came out on top.
Nisy bagged the opener in the 26th minute and Afolabi added his killer second 14 minutes after the break.
Crawford said: “Kevin will get pats on the back for his display and he scored again.
“If he continues in that vein of form, and is willing to work back and do the defensive side like he is, he’s going to have a good future ahead of him.
“We’ve an opportunity now over the next three or four games to start looking up the way and at the play-offs.”
United were first to threaten after 20 minutes. Liam Smith’s cutback was perfect for Rakish Bingham but the new signing’s drilled effort fizzed over the bar.
And six minutes nutes later the Pars surged urged in front. Kyle Turner un picked
United defence ce with a stunning diagonal over the top and Nisbet looped a header over Benjamin Siegrist into the net.
Crawford said: “It was great vision for Kyle and Kevin showed he’s a natural scorer.”
The one time United worked Shankland into space the Scotland striker bounced a shot off his thigh and into the arms of Owain Fon Williams.
Nisbet proved he was in the mood again three minutes after the break.
The angle looked too tight but, high on confidence, the marksman hammered a shot off the near post.
And just short of the hour mark, the Pars doubled their advantage.
A quick-fire break released Dom Thomas down the right and the winger’s cross was knocked in at the back post by the unmarked Afolabi.
Late on Shankland headed over then was denied a tap-in by a Lee Ashcroft block. Robbie Neilson’sNeilsonscchampions elect haveh now just oneo win in sevensev games. He H said: “I d idn’t think we competed – we were secondsec to the bal ll,, weren’t aggressiveaggres and didn’t performp to levels I expect.” ex