Scottish Championship Clash: St Johnstone vs. Dunfermline Athletic
Scottish Championship: St Johnstone vs. Dunfermline Athletic
Date: Friday, 19 September Location: McDiarmid Park, Perth Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Available on BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport app, and website.
St Johnstone, the leaders of the Scottish Championship, have been showcasing their strength early in the season. However, their upcoming opponents, Dunfermline Athletic, may be peaking at the right moment to challenge them.
Dunfermline recently dominated in-form Arbroath with a remarkable 5-0 victory at Gayfield, highlighted by 19-year-old forward Andy Tod, who netted his first senior hat-trick, bringing his season tally to seven goals in seven matches.
Despite his impressive performance, Tod's availability for the trip to Perth is uncertain after he limped off towards the end of the match, which would be a significant loss for Dunfermline.
There is considerable excitement at East End Park surrounding both Tod and his younger brother John, an 18-year-old central defender who also scored in a 2-0 win over Airdrieonians in August. The brothers, sons of former Dunfermline defender Andy Tod, add a youthful, home-grown element to the team amidst the buzz surrounding new investors and high-profile manager Neil Lennon.
Lennon described the victory over Arbroath as “the perfect day,” but emphasized the need to build momentum, which will be a challenge against the unbeaten league leaders.
McPake Shining for St Johnstone
St Johnstone enters this match following a solid 2-0 away victory against Raith Rovers. Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring, but much of the excitement has centered around winger and attacking midfielder Josh McPake, who scored the second goal.
At 24, McPake has been a highly regarded prospect since emerging from Rangers' youth ranks. After facing challenges in recent years, he seems to have found his stride at McDiarmid Park, having scored six goals in ten matches. Arbroath midfielder Ryan Flynn has noted McPake's standout performances this season.
“It’s the player Josh McPake that everyone has taken notice of,” Flynn stated during a discussion on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast. “Their attacking style of play is evident, and they aim to dominate in every match.”
St Johnstone's only setbacks this season include a draw against Morton, where a stunning goal from Eamonn Brophy salvaged a point for Morton, and a narrow defeat to Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup during extra time.
Manager Simo Valakari has made his attacking intentions clear, especially after St Johnstone's challenging attempt to remain in the Premiership last season. Although it didn’t yield immediate success in the top tier, the team has gained serious momentum in the second tier. Valakari will be aware that Dunfermline poses a significant threat as they look to disrupt their hosts under the Friday night lights.