The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Jeers and boos as Pars demolished
DUNFERMLINE 0
ARBROATH 3
The sight of defender Colin Hamilton performing a skilful step-over followed swiftly by a cute back-heel from Nicky Low was lapped up by the Arbroath fans as their side revelled in a thrilling 3-0 victory at East End Park.
The travelling faithful from Angus were in fine voice throughout and helped to rub salt in their hapless hosts’ wounds with chants of “easy, easy” as their favourites confidently controlled possession with the clock ticking down on their biggest victory in the fixture since season 1983-84.
But in the yin and yang of football fortunes, they were moments that only served to tip the alreadyangry Dunfermline supporters over the edge.
Jeers were evident long before full-time but referee Mike Roncone’s whistle brought a cacophony of boos raining down on manager Peter Grant and his players.
It was not only a reaction to a third straight defeat – conceding 11 goals along the way – and their team’s shock position at the bottom of the Championship, but a worrying performance lacking guile, structure and belief.
It was also a response that defender Paul Watson has confessed came as no surprise to him. In fact, had he been a supporter rather than on the pitch, he admits he would have joined in as he gave a withering assessment of the fragile Fifers’ frailties.
“Arbroath fully deserved the three points,” admitted the former Dundee United stopper.
“I thought they outfought us and we are just really disappointed.
“I felt that we were just all over the place, really. I think that was clear to see.
“The booing was fully deserved – if I was in there I would have booed as well. It wasn’t good enough and, as I said, I just felt that the team was just all over the place.
“We are 11 points off the top with a game in hand. We were talking about winning the league but when you are that far behind you are giving yourself a lot to do even this early on.
“It is going to take a big turnaround to get that back. But we need to stick together and hopefully we can turn it around as a squad.”
While Grant was careful not to use it as an excuse, he revealed afterwards that Dunfermline had been hit by Covid-19 issues in the build-up to the match.
It is understood there were four players ruled out and defenders Leon Jones, Ross Graham and Rhys Breen were conspicuous by their absence.
Watson was candid enough to suggest he was not expecting to play before the plans changed, but is clear there are more fundamental problems at play with the Pars at the moment.
“I am probably lucky to be playing,” he added.
“I don’t think I was (originally) playing but I got into the team because of it.
“But I don’t think that affected us too much, the training was still the same. We prepared right for it but it’s just not working at the minute. I think that is clear to see.”
Arbroath kicked off full of belief but when they took the lead in the 12th minute it was down to another calamitous moment for Pars goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet.
The summer signing from Dundee United failed to cope with a 35-yard shot from Low and only pushed it out invitingly for Michael McKenna to knock into the empty net.
Kai Kennedy struck the post for the home side, who twice thought they had equalised only for the offside flag to deny Kevin O’Hara and then Nikolay Todorov to be adjudged to have impeded Derek Gaston challenging for a high ball.
Those moments proved pivotal as the Red Lichties doubled their advantage a minute from half-time. Scott Stewart was able to flash in a low cross from the right and David Gold reacted first to score from close range.
McKenna was magnificent throughout, joined by all of his teammates in out-performing their opponents, and he completed his second double in the space of a week when he converted a superb cross from the excellent Joel Nouble in the 67 th minute.
With the Gayfield men sitting fourth, number two Ian Campbell said: “We can’t lose when we’re good and that’s being well organised defensively and denying people space and getting in people’s faces.”