The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pars happy to fly under Championship radar
Captainhailsquality in the Dunfermline ranks as league race approaches
HEARTS 2 DUNFERMLINE 2 (DUNFERMLINE 3-1 ON PENS)
Dunfermline captain Callum Morris insists the Pars are happy to fly under the radar in the race for the Championship title after underlining their promise with a superb display against Hearts.
The Fifers capped a magnificent Betfred Cup group phase by drawing 2-2 in Gorgie before winning the subsequent penalty shoot-out to claim a bonus point and top their section.
It could have been even sweeter, with a last-gasp leveller required from Isma Goncalves required to rescue a point for the Jambos.
While a fine showing against Premiership opposition lays down a marker ahead of their league curtainraiser against St Mirren on Saturday, Allan Johnston’s men remain unfancied in the eyes of many, behind the likes of Dundee United, Falkirk and Inverness.
“If people want to write us off, that is okay by us,” said the Pars skipper.
“We will go about things quietly and improve week-by-week. You look around it and there are a number of players with top-level experience. Higginbotham has played up there, as have a few lads who have been at Rangers. I don’t see why we would be far off.
“It is fine with me if people think we are off the radar. We have put in four good performances now and finished top of the group, which is brilliant and we can take that momentum into the new season.”
Dunfermline posted an early signal of their intent when a swift counter-attack saw the precocious Connor Smith surge down the right flank. His fine cross was met by Cardle, who could only direct a tame effort into the arms of Jack Hamilton.
Hearts took the lead against the run of play in 20 minutes. Kyle Lafferty slipped a pass to Cowie and he fizzed a fine drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The Jambos’ lead proved fleeting due to the magic of Cardle. The wing wizard brought a Michael Paton cross under his spell before delightfully spinning away from John Souttar and curling a delightful drive beyond Hamilton.
The Pars claimed the lead after the break. Smith, a 17-year-old graduate of the Fife Elite Football Academy, was the architect, showing power and pace to shrug off Souttar and slip an incisive pass to McManus, who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Murdoch was on his mettle again to make a point-blank block from Lafferty as Ian Cathro’s side tried to hit back. Cardle and Nat Wedderburn were also forced to make goal-line clearances.
However, the black-and-white wall was finally breached on 86 minutes when a Malaury Martin free-kick caused havoc in the Pars box and, amid an ugly scramble, Isma Goncalves prodded the ball over the line.
Dunfermline won the penalty shootout 3-1, with Paton, Scott Lochhead and Nat Wedderburn converting, while Martin, Cowie and Jordan McGhee fired off target for the hosts.