The first leg draw at EEP on Tuesday perfectly sets up the return game at Tannadice tomorrow evening, with the home side desperate for a return to the Premiership and Dunfermline aiming to play top division football for the first time since 2012. Although we have not defeated Dundee United in recent seasons, the gap between the teams has now disappeared and we can go into the game with confidence. After the events of Tuesday - coping with a harsh red card and seeing United's keeper make 3 exceptional saves - we can take encouragement from the tie still being level. It may go all the way to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.

THE OPPOSITION: DUNDEE UNITED
Last 6 games:
​WWWLWD

United's well-documented financial problems mean that Premiership football is a necessity for them, which in a self-defeating cycle only adds unhelpful pressure to the team to succeed. They have the stature of a top flight club but the hiring and firing of a succession of managers (in itself a costly exercise) and the departure of unpopular chairman Stephen Thompson have only added to the instability and lack of continuity within their set-up. Their last yearly accounts revealed an annual loss of £1 million (to June 2017), with revenue 24% down and unlikely to have improved in the months since after another season in the Championship. New chairman Mike Martin commented: "While we remain in the Championship we will continue to incur losses."
On the pitch, manager Csaba Laszlo has continued to insist that Dunfermline remain favourites to progress to the play-off semi final, in a poor attempt to play mind games. Speaking after the first leg, Laszlo said: “Still I think Dunfermline are favourite and it will be a very difficult game on Friday evening. But we didn’t concede a goal so let’s see if we can go to Tannadice and score goals.”

DUNFERMLINE
​​Last 6 games:
WWWDWD

Dunfermline have lodged an appeal against the red card given to Lee Ashcroft during the first leg on Tuesday, with the appeal not being heard until next week, thus freeing up Ashcroft to play on Friday. The appeal itself is entirely legitimate - Ashcroft should not have been ordered off - and is not a case of a club making sure their player can take part in the next game by making a spurious appeal. If overturned, Ashcroft would also be available for the play-off semi final games, should we qualify.
The performance of United keeper Deniz Mehmet ensured that the game remained goalless on Tuesday and sets up the prospect of another closely fought contest tomorrow. Pars keeper Lee Robinson also had an excellent game on Tuesday but if Dunfermline can test the United keeper again, it can only be hoped that he fails to pull off at least one of the handful of miraculous saves that he made at EEP. It would also be helpful to have a referee who does not make a game-changing incorrect decision, aided by play-acting from the opposition.

The Pars team should line up with 10 of Tuesday's starting 11 - Andy Ryan looks like missing out through injury and will be replaced by Declan McManus. Ryan Williamson will be fit after going off injured late in the game after suffering a gash on his leg. No other changes are required, although it was noticeable on Tuesday that Nat Wedderburn's physicality and strength in midfield were making a difference during his 12 minute substitute appearance. 
The belief and spirit that carried us through our current 11 game unbeaten run, that included salvaging a precious point at Inverness, and ending unbeaten runs by Falkirk and Livingston, can once again help us achieve a positive result tomorrow. Despite the United manager's comments about Dunfermline still being favourites to progress - a failed attempt at trying to take pressure off his own players - we will go into the game as slight underdogs, a situation that will allow us to play without fear and give us a more than decent chance of winning through to the semi final against Livingston. Come On Ye Pars!

Match report/opinion will be posted around 11.30pm Friday evening

The play-offs begin with 2 games against a Dundee United side who finished two points and one place above us in the Championship table. It has been well documented that Dunfermline have not won against United since 2011 but recent games against Csaba Laszlo's team have seen the Pars leave behind the apparent inferiority complex that often seemed to follow them into games between the teams. The last meeting, at Tannadice last month, should have resulted in a Dunfermline win but for a freak equaliser. 
A big crowd is set to witness the 11th meeting between the clubs in all competitions over the past 2 seasons, with the return leg due at Tannadice on Friday evening. 

THE OPPOSITION: DUNDEE UNITED
Last 6 League results:
LWWWLW

United were pre-season title favourites and topped the table until a defeat at St Mirren in November was followed by a miserable run of just 3 wins in 13 games, including a 6-1 defeat at Falkirk. In danger of missing out on a top 4 place, they finished the season with improved results, winning 4 of the last 5 games to secure third place. Doubts remain about their form despite these recent victories. 
Looking ahead to the play-offs, Laszlo commented: “The play-offs are completely different. It is like a tournament. When you play away, you try not to concede first. It’s clear, if you play away, you have to try to avoid conceding goals and try to score maybe one or two to give you the advantage. At the moment, I don’t think that will be very relevant, how many home matches we’ve won or away games we’ve lost.
“We have all suffered at some point during this season when it hasn’t always been easy. But now we have this wonderful chance to try and progress and we really do want to take it. We are happy to finish third and now we have to get our minds ready for Tuesday night.
“We now have two difficult games coming up with Dunfermline and then after that we will see what happens."

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
​WWWWDW

A ten game unbeaten run provides the perfect platform in which to enter the promotion play-offs, with the Pars team showing a togetherness and a desire to prolong the season by a further 6 games, into the play-off final games in May. Defensive solidity (keeper Lee Robinson has 10 clean sheets in his 19 games for Dunfermline since joining in January) and goals coming from various sources, not solely reliant on strikers, has seen the Pars end unbeaten runs by opponents Falkirk and Livingston over the past month and also secure a precious point at Inverness with a late equaliser, a goal that ultimately won the right to compete in the play-offs. 

​Match report/opinion will be posted tomorrow evening.

Two teams with similar objectives but wildly different circumstances meet at EEP tomorrow. Dunfermline need a point to qualify for the play-offs at the top end of the division, and can even qualify with a defeat should Inverness fail to win at Morton. The Pars team will have only a victory in mind, against a team we have an excellent recent record against, and who are already looking past this game to their own play-off battle, to remain in the Championship.  
Here is the current Championship table:

THE OPPOSITION: DUMBARTON
Last 6 League games:
LWLLLL

Dumbarton face a game tomorrow that they would happily not have to play, with a depleted squad and a play-off semi-final on Tuesday against Alloa or Arbroath from League 1. As one of only two part time sides in the Championship (already-relegated Brechin being the other), Dumbarton have endured a poor run of results and form in the past few months. At one point ahead of Falkirk, they are now isolated in ninth position, having won just 3 of their last 20 League games (two of those victories coming against Brechin) and currently on a run of 7 defeats in their past 8 games. They also have no clean sheets in 9 games. 
Not surprisingly, Dumbarton manager Stephen Aitken chose to look ahead to the play-offs in his comments this week, saying: "Saturday's game is meaningless. Our big game is on Tuesday and that's what we have to be ready for. We've played 9 games in the space of a month and it's killed us. I have 5 full backs at the club and they are all injured. I'm sure the players can come off the canvas again and give one big effort to try and keep us in this division."

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League games:
DWWWWD

The dramatic end to last week's game at Inverness has set up tomorrow's game almost perfectly for Dunfermline. Had Nicky Clark not scored the 95th minute equaliser, Inverness would have gone into their midweek game against Livingston knowing that a win would have moved them ahead of the Pars, with the final round of games to play this weekend. Inverness did get the win they needed at Livi, but still need to win at Morton tomorrow and hope that Dunfermline lose to a team that are on a dreadful run, and who have injury problems and almost zero interest in their final league game, preferring, naturally, to focus on their play-off games next week. 

Dunfermline, in contrast to our opponents tomorrow, are unbeaten in 9, have the second best attacking and defensive records in the Championship and last failed to score 8 games ago. Complacency could be our biggest barrier, or nerves if the game remains level for a lengthy period. Manager Allan Johnston was keen to emphasise that nothing has been achieved yet in his preview of the game. With that in mind, the starting 11 will remain largely on familiar lines. I would bring in Callum Morris for Jean Yves M'Voto, with Big Jock not enjoying the best of games at Inverness last week. In midfield, Tom Beadling - now apparently recovered from the injury that has kept him out of the past 2 games - could return. I would also start with Joe Cardle on the left wing. There will be no wholesale changes - had we already qualified, the team would have looked much different, but it makes no sense to rest players for something that we have yet to actually qualify for.
The required result should be achieved, with a professional performance against a weak opponent who have more important matters to contend with.
The Pars have put themselves in a tremendous position to achieve a top 4 place. Nothing will be taken for granted but the team will be determined complete the job with the minimum of drama.

Match report/opinion will be posted tomorrow evening.

THE OPPOSITION: INVERNESS
Last 6 League results:
​DWWWWW

The 1-0 loss at EEP last month seemed to signal the end of any realistic chance that Inverness had of being involved in the promotion play-offs. It was their third consecutive defeat and saw them fall 12 points behind the top 4, albeit with games in hand. Since then, they have gone on an 8 match unbeaten run, winning their last 5, conceding just 1 goal in those past 5 matches. They have played 1 game less than Dunfermline and after Saturday have 2 away games, at Morton and Livingston, to complete their league campaign. 
Inverness go into tomorrow's game without the suspended Ian Vigurs and the injured Gary Warren, 2 of their most influential players. Vigurs' suspension was already confirmed before the midweek win at Dumbarton when he scored the only goal of the game, and it was a double blow for the Highlanders to lose Warren to injury during the game, with the player ruled out for tomorrow's game. 
Inverness manager John Robertson issued a plea to the club's fans to get behind his team against the Pars: "I appeal to all the Inverness fans who can get along to the game, to get right behind the team. We're trying hard to prove that we're worthy of your support. We're trying to recover as a club after the devastating effects of relegation. We'd really love for you to come along on Saturday because we need your help and we need your support."

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
WDWWWW

As noted above, a Pars win tomorrow would guarantee a play-off place with one game to spare. A draw would mean Dunfermline would maintain the current 5 point gap and would only have to avoid defeat at home to Dumbarton next week to finish fourth, unless Inverness were able to score enough goals while defeating Morton and Livi to wipe out Dunfermline's superior goal difference (currently 9 better than Inverness). 
During the Pars' recent winning run, opposition unbeaten runs have been ended with wins over Falkirk (7 games undefeated prior meeting Dunfermline) and Livingston (11 matches unbeaten, a run that ended with the Pars recording a 1-0 victory). A win tomorrow would be by far the most significant and most important 3 points of the final quarter and the season itself. Recent results have shown that we are more than capable of winning this game; to still have our fate in our own hands is all we could have hoped for. 

Last week's injured duo of Callum Morris and Tom Beadling are now fit and available. This provides Allan Johnston with an interesting selection dilemma: in defence, Morris might be expected to return, although Jean Yves M'Voto once again did well when required last week after the captain was injured in the pre-match warm up. It is the midfield where the manager has a big decision to make. For several games, the January signings Tom Beadling, James Vincent and James Craigen started, until Fraser Aird was brought into the team when Vincent was injured. Aird has kept his place ever since, deservedly so after some good performances. Beadling's absence last week saw Vincent start the game. Craigen has been an ever-present since joining the club. Tomorrow will be the first time that Beadling, Craigen and Vincent are all available since Aird came back into the starting line-up. Does the manager name the same midfield as last week, or bring back Beadling? And if so, will Vincent or Craigen then drop out? Aird (on the left) and Kallum Higginbotham (right wing) will almost certainly start. I would prefer to have Beadling and Vincent start in the centre of midfield. Craigen has done well but does not impact on games in the way that Beadling and Vincent have. 
​After the vital and morale-boosting win at Falkirk in the last away game, Dunfermline have the chance to record another big win that would ensure that the pre-season target of achieving a top 4 place is met. We will all make the journey up the A9 to get right behind the team for the whole 90 minutes. Someone can write their name into Pars folklore tomorrow - the scene is set for a great game in a Cup Final atmosphere.

​Match report/opinion will be posted on Saturday evening

Two teams with contrasting fortunes meet at EEP tomorrow with Dunfermline enjoying a 7 game unbeaten run that has reignited a promotion challenge that at one point seemed to be no more than wishful thinking. Brechin, meanwhile, were officially relegated 2 weeks ago and have one target for the remainder of the season: to record a first victory in the League this season, having drawn 4 and lost 28 of their 32 fixtures so far. 

THE OPPOSITION: BRECHIN CITY
Last 6 League results:
LLLLLL

Relegated and winless, Brechin have still retained a competitive edge to their game, which was evident again last weekend when they lost by a single goal to St Mirren - the third time this season they have lost by 1 goal to the Paisley team. That has been the story of Brechin's season - 14 of their defeats have been by a single goal and lack of attacking threat has often been their downfall. As one of only 2 part time teams in the division, and with the smallest budget by some distance, it was inevitable that this season would be a struggle. Manager Darren Dods commented last week that: "It has been a tough season for us where we have found the demands placed on the squad difficult. It's been a case of bows and arrows against machine guns."

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
DWDWWW

The boost from last week's win at Falkirk, which continued an impressive sequence of results over the past 7 games, should give Dunfermline belief that a promotion play-off place can be won, with the team's fate now in their own hands for the first time. Regardless of other team's results, if the Pars can win the remaining last 3 games, a top 4 place will be guaranteed. Two of those games are at home against the bottom 2 teams in the division, starting tomorrow. Complacency could be Dunfermline's only enemy now, having won in challenging games against Livingston and Falkirk, and ending both of those teams' unbeaten runs in the process. The players and management will ensure that they do not take a game against an already-relegated team easy; having overcome bigger hurdles on the way to the top 4, the same fierce will to win that has proved so effective recently will be taken into tomorrow's match.

The team will almost certainly remain unchanged for tomorrow's game, unless midfielder Tom Beadling’s minor injury from last weekend’s game against Falkirk carries over. There is strength in depth available through players such as Joe Cardle, Nat Wedderburn, James Vincent and Jason Talbot but the current starting 11 is our strongest and there is no need to change the team or formation.
The passion in the away stand at Falkirk will be needed to drive the team onto securing the top 4 place that was Allan Johnston's pre-season aim. This team are capable of making the end of this season memorable and returning the club to the top tier of Scottish football after a 6 year absence. Let's get behind them again tomorrow and record another important win.

Match report/opinion will be posted on Saturday evening

Third place Dunfermline travel to Falkirk with the home side still clinging onto faint promotion play-off hopes. Both teams are on unbeaten runs and with plenty to play for, in addition to the usual derby atmosphere, there is potential for a memorable match. ​Dunfermline are aiming to end a 7 year wait for a victory at the Falkirk Stadium. In the Pars' title winning season of 2010/11, Dunfermline defeated Falkirk 3 times and drew the other game. Between seasons 2012/13 and 2016/17, Falkirk were unbeaten in 10 games against Dunfermline but the 4 matches between the teams this season have seen Allan Johnston's team win twice at EEP and draw at Falkirk in the Championship and lose once, in an Irn Bru Cup game.
Here is the current Championship table:

THE OPPOSITION: FALKIRK
Last 6 League results:
WDWDWD

Falkirk remain in 8th place in the Championship despite a huge improvement in results in the second half of the season, including their current 7 match unbeaten run. Manager Paul Hartley has almost repeated the story of St Mirren boss Jack Ross from 12 months before - taking over a struggling side, not achieving instant success, then having a clear-out in the January transfer window which saw the team's fortunes improve. Falkirk brought in 7 players in January including 3 loan signings and extended the existing loan of another (Reghan Tumilty). They have lost just once since mid-January and pulled away from ninth place Dumbarton, who at one point were ahead of Falkirk but who are now 11 points behind. 
Paul Hartley has, not surprisingly, been full of praise for his team's displays, commenting after his team's draw at Queen of the South: ""We're trying to get as many points as we can - we've had a really good 2018. We remain positive. We are 7 undefeated and we have another really big game on Saturday and it's one that hopefully we can win. It's a big game, a derby, Dunfermline are going well, we've been strong at home and we expect a big crowd. Hopefully we can give our supporters a performance to remember." 

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
WDWDWW

After Tuesday's excellent and hard-fought win over Livingston, who had been on an 11 game unbeaten run prior to the match, tomorrow's derby gives Dunfermline a chance to gain 3 points that would go a long way to remaining in the top 4 and also end any lingering hopes Falkirk had of creeping into the play-off places after their games in hand have been played. A win at Falkirk is long overdue and while the Bairns are a different team in terms of personnel and form compared to their line-ups in their defeats at EEP this season, so too are the Pars: the January signings have freshened up a Dunfermline team that was sliding down the table and who are currently on their longest unbeaten run of the season. 

The team for tomorrow's game will almost certainly remain unchanged from the win over Livi, with Allan Johnston favouring continuity of selection and every player making a contribution on Tuesday evening. Even possible returns from injury by Joe Cardle, James Vincent and Jean Yves M'Voto will, at most, see changes to the subs bench. All 3 players have trained this week and will provide additional competition for places. Had it been possible to begin the season with this squad, I am confident that a sustained title challenge could have been made. Their efforts over the past few weeks, peaking with the will-to-win showed against Livi, deserve to see them be involved in the play-offs. 
A big Pars support will make the short trip through to Falkirk and will hope for a first victory there since Jim McIntyre led the Pars to the top division, in a team inspired by Martin Hardie. A new hero can emerge tomorrow with a match winning goal that would be recalled as fondly as Hardie's second goal against the Wee Team in 2011. Let's all get behind the team for our biggest game of the season and leave with a win that we are more than capable of achieving. 

Match report/opinion will be posted tomorrow evening at around 9pm

After being in danger of slipping out of the promotion race a few weeks ago, Dunfermline have put together a 5 match unbeaten run at exactly the right time and can move up a further place in the table, to third, with a win over second-place Livingston at EEP tomorrow evening. Livi are the surprise package of this season's Championship and are heavy favourites to finish second, barring a collapse in the final few games. 
​Here is the current Championship table:

THE OPPOSITION: LIVINGSTON
Last 6 League games:
WWDDDW

Last season's League 1 champions initially set their sights on survival in the second tier, but having long ago banished any worries of being in the wrong half of the table, are now in the midst of an 11 game unbeaten run in the League, with their last defeat coming back on 6 January. Since then, they have defeated leaders St Mirren and briefly narrowed the gap at the top to single digits before a recent spell of 3 draws allowed St Mirren to open up a 12 point lead. Livi have yet to defeat Dunfermline this season, with both games at the Tony Macaroni Arena ending in draws, and the Pars winning 3-1 in the meeting at EEP in October. 
Livi boss David Hopkin must be in the running for Manager of the Year given what he has achieved with far less resources than several teams that are below his team in the division. A good defensive record - the second best in the Championship, and having conceded the same number of goals as St Mirren - plus a decent goalscoring return (again, the second best record in the division) have elevated and kept Livi near the top of the table for months and will ensure that they will await the winner of the third v fourth play-off games in a few weeks to contest the right to progress through to a play-off final against the second bottom team in the Premiership. 

DUNFERMLINE:
​​Last 6 League games:
LWDWDW

Momentum is building within a Dunfermline team that has gelled in the past few weeks, with the January signings now fully bedded in and contributing to the upturn in form and results. Goalkeeper Lee Robinson made 2 important saves on Saturday and together with his team mates has the best defensive record in the division over the past 2 months. In midfield, a problem area during the disappointing second quarter of the season, January arrivals James Vincent, Tom Beadling and James Craigen have all been effective in making the team a more solid unit. 

Up front, Nicky Clark now has 7 goals in his last 3 games and has reached the 20-goal mark for the season. Declan McManus is experiencing a goal drought but continues to be one of the hardest working players in the team. Fraser Aird, brought back into the starting 11 on Saturday, once again played well and should retain his place for the run-in; he has been massively under-used this season despite impressing in his limited game time. 
Barring any unexpected injuries, the team should line up the same as against Queen of the South. Although we have 3 games in a week, there is no need to rest any players, all of whom will be desperate to continue the recent good run and secure further wins to achieve a top 4 finish. There is a togetherness within this group of players and a clear desire to meet the pre-season target of being involved in the promotion play-offs. With 5 games remaining, and teams around us due to face each other, a repeat of the last 5 game sequence of results could be enough to finish in third or fourth place. Ultimately, winning is all that matters now. 

Match report will be posted at around 11pm tomorrow evening.

The Championship season now enters its final run, with much still to play for in terms of promotion play-off positions. The title will be St Mirren's, and Brechin were officially relegated last weekend. Dumbarton look set for ninth place and the play-offs at the wrong end of the table. Second placed Livingston have all but cemented a top 4 position, leaving up to 5 other teams - all the way down to Inverness, who have games in hand - to fight for third and fourth. Dunfermline and Queen of the South, in fifth and sixth places, have both played 30 games and both need to win the majority of their remaining games to push up the table.
​Here is the current Championship table:

THE OPPOSITION: QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
Last 6 League results:
DWLLWD

The last time Queen of the South visited East End Park they inflicted a heavy defeat on a ragged Dunfermline side, inspired by a hat trick and great all-round play from veteran striker Stephen Dobbie. Typical of the inconsistent form of many teams in this division, Queens did not capitalise on that win, with the following 14 games producing 4 wins and 16 points. Their home record has let them down, with just 18 points from 15 games, 6 points less than they have won away from home in the same number of games. However, they remain in contention largely due to their goalscoring form, and are the second top scorers in the division. Even without the injured Dobbie, they defeated Dundee United 3-2 at Tannadice on 20 March, and when the veteran striker returned for their most recent game, a 3-3 draw with Livingston, he was not among the scorers, proving that they do not rely solely on him for goals. 
Manager Gary Naysmith commented after the draw with Livingston: "We have a young team and their results mirror that. We're scoring goals but we're also conceding far too many, from free-kicks, from throw-ins. We can't afford to be making the same mistakes in every game. The next week will define our season - Dunfermline away, Falkirk at home and Inverness at home. Three big games."

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
DLWDWD

Improved results and performances in recent weeks have given Dunfermline a chance to secure a top 4 place that at one stage seemed to be slipping away. A period of 1 win in 7 games has now been followed by a 4 game unbeaten run, with the team having the best defensive record in the division over the past 6 weeks. Goals remain a challenge, with top scorer Nicky Clark (4 goals) and a free kick from midfielder James Craigen the only goals scored over the past 8 matches. 
A win over Queens would put Dunfermline into the top 4, regardless of the outcome of the game between Morton and Dundee United. A Morton win would see us leap-frog United with a win; a draw at Cappielow and a Pars win would put us above Morton on goal difference, as would a United win. It is Morton we have to target as they have played the same number of games as us (30). While other teams have at least 1 game in hand, they are also due to play each other. Our run-in does not involve games against St Mirren, Morton or Dundee United and 4 of our last 6 games are at home, starting tomorrow. ​

A Pars team containing recent substitutes and some younger players defeated a Manchester United Under 20s team 4-0 in a closed doors game during the week, with 2 goals from both Andy Ryan and Fraser Aird. I still feel that Aird has been greatly under-used this season but there is no case for changing the current starting 11. The re-emergence of the right wing combination of Ryan Williamson and Kallum Higginbotham, so effective earlier in the season, has been a positive factor over the past month. The midfield is an effective unit and, as he showed at Tannadice last week, Nat Wedderburn is more than capable of coming off the bench as part of a midfield 3. 
Hopefully the passion showed by the fired-up away support at Dundee United last week will be heard throughout the game tomorrow and can drive the team onto claiming 3 vital points. Four achievable home wins, plus avoiding defeat in the remaining 2 away games, should be enough to capture a top 4 place. It starts tomorrow. Come On Ye Pars!

Match report/opinion will be posted tomorrow evening.

It's been 7 years since Dunfermline last recorded a win at Tannadice, when a Paul Burns goal gave the Pars a 1-0 win in August 2011. Dundee United have the vastly superior record in this fixture in recent years, unbeaten in 12 games against the Pars. This is in stark contrast to the previous decade, during which (between April 2004 and April 2007), the teams met 14 times, with Dunfermline losing just once. 
United's current form - 1 win in 7 games - is mirrored by their off-field issues,  with turmoil in the boardroom following the resignation of long-time chairman Stephen Thompson earlier this month. Thompson had been due to stand down at the end of the season but his departure was brought forward by 2 months. The club also recorded a million pound loss in their latest annual accounts, released 2 weeks ago, which followed a £1.55 million loss announced in March last year.
Dunfermline have worked their way back into the promotion race with a strong defensive foundation. A first Tannadice win since Cher Lloyd (remember her?) was number 1 with "Swagger Jagger" could come tomorrow and give the Pars a huge boost for the final set of League games.
Here is the current Championship table: 

THE OPPOSITION: DUNDEE UNITED
Last 6 League results:
DLLWDL

With only 2 wins in the Championship in 2018, United's promotion challenge has now dissolved into holding onto a top 4 place that at one point seemed assured. After sacking manager Ray McKinnon in October after 2 consecutive defeats, falling 5 points behind leaders St Mirren, McKinnon's replacement Csaba Laszlo has a worse average points per game tally than his sacked predecessor. United are now 19 points behind St Mirren (although they have played 2 games less than the leaders). Laszlo has overseen results including a 6-1 hammering at Falkirk, and the midweek home loss to a Queen of the South team who were without their talisman Stephen Dobbie. 
Tomorrow's game could see the debut of ex-Rangers madman Bilel Mohsni, whose international clearance has now been received. Mohsni had a colourful period at Rangers between 2013-2015 which culminated in receiving a 7 match ban in his last game for the club after kicking and punching Motherwell's Lee Erwin after Rangers lost the play-off final. Pars fans will also remember Mohsni kissing the Rangers badge and gesturing to the crowd at EEP when leaving the pitch at the end of a game between the Pars and Rangers in League 1 in 2014.
United have recently brought in another defender, Anthony Ralston, on loan from Celtic, while yesterday they announced that legendary former player (and manager) Paul Sturrock has been appointed assistant manager. Sturrock, who has managed in the English lower leagues in recent years, and until this week was living in England, had taken on the role of chief scout for the club, with a remit to bring promising players from England to United. The decision to change Sturrock's job role to assistant manager could be seen as a precursor to the former striker being named as Laszlo's eventual replacement. 

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
DDLWDW

There is renewed hope for a late Pars promotion push after a trio of results in the past week and a half (7 points from 9) and a confidence returning to the team which seemed to be eroding over the past few months. With just 1 defeat in the last 6 games, Dunfermline look a more solid unit, with an excellent shut-out record as the foundation. Since goalkeeper Lee Robinson made his debut in the 2-0 win over Falkirk on 2 January, the team have kept 8 clean sheets in 11 games. Goalscoring has been an issue - only 2 goals were scored in a 6 game period between January and February - but there was an encouraging return to goalscoring form by Nicky Clark in the 3-0 win over Brechin on Tuesday. 

The team has a settled look to it, with Lewis Martin taking his chance at left back, keeping the previously-suspended Jason Talbot out of the starting 11. The midfield trio of James Vincent, James Craigen and Tom Beadling have now played together for the past 6 games, and while there are attacking and creative options from the bench - Andy Ryan, Dan Armstrong and Fraser Aird - the team that started against Brechin is our strongest 11, a combination of hard workers and technically skilful players who - on their day - can compete with any team in this division. Tomorrow represents a great chance to extend the current run of improved form, with this Dunfermline team more than capable of achieving a long overdue win at Tannadice.

Match report/opinion will be posted at around 9pm tomorrow. 

Dunfermline can move within a point of fourth place Morton with a win at Glebe Park this evening. With 8 League games remaining, anything other than a win over the division's last-placed team would be a potential season-ender - if not arithmetically, then certainly in terms of morale and with a trip to Tannadice scheduled for this weekend. 
Here is the current Championship table:

THE OPPOSITION: BRECHIN CITY
Last 6 League results:
​LLLLLL

Promoted to the Championship against the odds last season, after qualifying for the League 1 play-offs in fourth place, and defeating both the Wee Team and Alloa on penalties to win promotion, Brechin have had a weekly struggle this term. A return of 4 draws, no wins and 23 defeats from the first 3 quarters of their season could see them officially relegated within a week. Many of their defeats have come from a single goal, and defensively there have been far worse teams to be relegated. Lack of goals has cost Brechin, averaging just 0.7 goals per game. 
Manager Darren Dods has retained the backing of the club's directors despite the season the club have endured. Dods recently brought in on-loan Dundee defender Kosta Gadzhalov. In an incident that summed up a struggling team's luck, the player was injured last week and is now out for the rest of the season, with Dods commenting: “He’d only played one game for us, with all the call-offs. Then, five minutes into the match he gets a nudge from their striker, collides with our goalie and then the post and ends up with a dislocated shoulder. It’s a real blow for him and us. He’d been desperate to play first team football and was excellent in the one game he did play.”

DUNFERMLINE
Last 6 League results:
LDDLWD

A first League win since 6 January was achieved last Tuesday at home to Inverness but Dunfermline were unable to follow that up with another win at the weekend, drawing 0-0 with a remarkably unambitious Morton team at EEP. Still in contention for a play-off place - due to the good results from the first quarter of the season - the Pars go to Brechin tonight knowing that a win is essential. The lack of goals over the past few weeks (just 2 goals scored in 6 games) is a growing concern, and is in stark contrast to the start of the season when the team scored 21 goals in the opening 7 games. Defensively, there has been an improvement (6 clean sheets in the past 9 games) and while a good defensive record should not necessarily impact negatively on a team's attacking prowess, the fact remains that scoring has become an issue and something has to happen to change this in the final few weeks of the season. 

At the time of writing this preview, it is not known if either Joe Cardle or Andy Ryan will be fit enough to be in contention for a place in tonight's squad. Regardless of that, manager Allan Johnston will likely start with the same pairing up front, although both strikers are going through goal droughts: Nicky Clark and Declan McManus both have the same record of having scored just once in their last 10 games. 
Team selection
In an effort to inject more pace and direct attacking play into the team, the preferred line-up I have named below brings Fraser Aird and Dan Armstrong into the starting 11 at the expense of James Craigen and Kallum Higginbotham. Aird and Armstrong both featured as subs on Saturday and both players offer something different from the players they would replace. Craigen has been anonymous in open play - his set pieces are good but he has not impacted games in general. Higgy - who played well against Inverness - was frustrating against Morton and is still trying too many flicks that rarely come off. We need an injection of speed from the wide areas, with players who will put pressure on the opposition defence. 

A full match report will be posted here tomorrow morning.