Ryan joins Pars and scores double on swift cup debut

Lichties boss angry over sending-off after Ryan fires debut double at East End Park

DUNFERMLINE 2 ARBROATH 0

It was already a daunting task for League One Arbroath as they faced high-flying, high-scoring Dunfermline on their own patch last night, but a controversial red card for defender Ricky Little made it Mission Impossible for the visitors, who played two-thirds of last night’s Irn Bru Cup tie with only 10 men.

Referee Euan Anderson did not rush his decision, although many felt Little’s clumsy attempt to halt striker David Hopkirk was worthy of a yellow card rather than a red.

“That was never ever a sending-off in my opinion and it totally wasted the game,” blasted Arbroath manager Dick Campbell.

“It was impossible for the striker to get to the ball and I think he’s fouled Ricky.

“I expected it to be a free-kick to us, but what really bothered me was that the referee took so long to make his decision. Never in a million years was that a red card and I told the referee that in no uncertain terms.”

With Little gone, a repetition of the 6-1 League Cup thrashing at Hibs was very much on the cards after Championship Dunfermline went two-up by half-time through an Andy Ryan double.

Ryan’s left-foot volley and free header put the Fifers firmly in control and they had banged in 16 goals in their previous three home games, but with Campbell using all of his considerable experience to shore up his depleted team, Arbroath managed to avoid another humiliation.

“We lost the place a wee bit after the red card and I was very, very angry at half-time, but I got the response I wanted,” said Campbell.

“We had five or six chances in the second half and it was clearly a penalty for Omar Kader at the end, but the referee played advantage.”

Things might have got interesting in the 58th minute when lone striker Steven Doris broke free of his markers and chipped onrushing keeper Sean Murdoch, but the ball bounced just the wrong side of the post.

Gavin Swankie went equally close with a late free-kick and Danny Denholm rattled the crossbar in stoppage-time after Dunfermline’s Conner Duthie had also been sent off, but there was to be no comeback from the Lichties.

They at least left with their pride intact and can now focus on consolidating their League One status following promotion last season.

Pictures: Craig Brown. Andy Ryan, top, celebrates his debut goal for Dunfermline, while Ricky Little, above, sends David Hopkirk tumbling and is red-carded.