Dunfermline's drive to Dens in Dundee.....

Can the Pars get back on track for a top 6 place this Wednesday night?

Moving very swiftly on from Saturday's result, we look ahead to the next match. Far more crucial in the bigger picture, Dunfermline travel up to Dangerous Dens in Dundee on Wednesday night hoping to avoid having to come home with sore heads.....

This crucial match had been postponed due to the ongoing weather problems which have seen Dundee's foreign 'stars' managing to avoid getting their footwear too muddy over the winter period. Unless the pitch floods once again, it will be all systems go this time round.

With Dunfermline only three points out of the top six (with this game in hand) Hearts will be looking over their shoulders at this result. Dundee themselves are way back in 10th spot, yet only two points behind us (with another game in hand!)

Yes it is pretty tight in the 'exciting' (copyright Rodger Mitchell) SPL. Sarcasm apart, this game will go a long way to deciding who makes it in the final furlongs of the chase to get into the money making top six.

Dunfermline's form going into this game is rather poor. After going on a season's best unbeaten run, heavy defeats to Rangers, Ayr and now Celtic have been painful. The 95th minute nonsense against the Jammy Jambos did nothing to aid Pars fan's minds.

Apart from that, Dunfermline must be hopeful of gaining all three points! At a similar stage last season, we travelled up to Dens for a midweek game that resulted in Barry Nicholson scoring the only goal of the game in a vital match. Granted it was not the best Dunfermline performance of the season and the shot took a wicked deflection, but I would certainly take the same again this time round!

Dundee continue to bemuse and stun everyone, including the bookies. No one can say with any great certainty how Dundee will fare going into each game. Full of international players (a bit like ourselves these days) Dundee can play good football at times. In true ying and yang style though, they can also be pretty dire. Partick Thistle deserved to win at Dens last midweek when grit was the order of the day, not dodgy diving.........

There have been some high scoring classics at Dens between the clubs in recent years (the 4-2 or 4-4 games anyone?) but I cannot see another this time round.

This looks like being a tight affair with two teams desperate not to lose. If Dundee do win this one, their game in hand could put them in a very tidy position indeed. Being the eternal optimist, I think Dunfermline will win this one. The players will be well aware of the stakes in this game and will no doubt be fired up for it.

Marco could be back between the sticks (keep your eyes peeled for team news nearer the time!) and Justin Skinner could well be back in position.

My prediction?

Tight game, won 2-1 by the Pars. Scorers? I don't care!