Murdoch moves on from derby row

Pars keeper puts dispute over Falkirk penalty well and truly behind him

Sean Murdoch has moved on from the derby day bust-up that dominated Dunfermline’s last clash with Falkirk.

Protecting a 1-0 lead early in the second-half back in April, the Pars keeper was adjudged to have brought down Myles Hippolyte for a penalty that sparked Falkirk’s comeback in their 2-1 victory.

TV footage proved Hippolyte’s somersault out of the challenge had been a dive, and he was banned for two games by the SFA.

The incident sparked a war of words, Murdoch accusing the Falkirk attacker of conning referee Gavin Duncan.

Dunfermline’s official Twitter feed also used a ‘diving’ emoji in posting a video of the penalty decision, and Bairns boss Peter Houston replied by slamming the Fifers for “unprofessionalism” and for “greeting like babies”.

However, Murdoch is adamant there will be no hangover from that explosive game when the teams meet at East End Park this afternoon as far as the players are concerned.

The former Hamilton Accies and Hibs goalie said: “In the last game we played against them last season the penalty was a big changer.

“It could even have changed our season, who knows?

“You get some decisions and others go against you. What comes around goes around. They were just unfortunate circumstances to lose in.

“Personally, it doesn’t affect me going into this game.

“It doesn’t give me any extra motivation,” he said. “It’s a game of football. “If it had happened for us we would probably have been claiming for a penalty as well. It’s just one of those things.

“It’s a new season and new players on both teams, and hopefully we can go out and get the win.”

Dunfermline have been beaten just once in eight games so far this season, a 6-0 hammering from Rangers at Ibrox in the Betfred Cup.

But they recovered instantly from that disappointment to rout Inverness Caley Thistle 5-1 in the league last weekend.

Murdoch is enjoying watching the action in front of him and, after taking just a point from four derbies last season, is hoping it all comes together again this afternoon.

Picture: SNS. Sean Murdoch says the penalty for Falkirk was a “big changer”.