Fourth plays second in tomorrow's Championship match at East End Park. As unlikely as it may have seemed 5 weeks ago, Dunfermline have the chance to move within 3 points of visitors United with a victory, and possibly draw level on points with Ayr United. The Pars will look to record a first home win over United since 2007. 
Here is the current Championship table; Inverness play leaders Ross County this evening.

Dunfermline team news, selection & preferred lineup
Last week's win at Alloa was the Pars' fifth consecutive win, all of which have come with clean sheets, closing in on a club record. Four of those wins have been with a 1-0 scoreline, with what has been perhaps lacking in excitement being more than made up for by a collective drive and togetherness in the team to secure the win and then move onto the next game. Manager Stevie Crawford has made this game-by-game approach clear: not looking too far ahead, preferring to concentrate on catching the team above us, which started over a month ago when Morton were our target. Since then, we have also by-passed Queen of the South and Inverness, although the latter have a game in hand. 

Missing through injury tomorrow will be Andy Ryan, Aidan Connolly and Lewis Martin, while Faissal El Bakhtaoui has returned to training but may not quite be ready to take part. Despite our run of excellent results, Bruce Anderson has often been isolated up front, and Faissal's eventual return should boost the team, as there was a clear understanding between the pair in the hour that they played together against Ross County last month. ​

In terms of team selection, I would revert to the team lineup I suggested last week, which involved James Vincent coming back into the starting lineup at the expense of Kallum Higginbotham. Higgy has worked hard but is not delivering goals or assists. Vincent would solidify the midfield further, which could be an important factor against one of our most difficult opponents. 
Preferred lineup, in a 4-1-3-1-1 formation:

Dundee United
After signing virtually a whole new team during the January transfer window, Dundee United went on a 4 game unbeaten run during February, before being knocked out of the Scottish Cup (a home defeat by Inverness) and then last week's loss to Partick Thistle in the Championship. They now sit 9 points behind leaders Ross County - who play this evening, a chance to extend their lead to 12 points - and look set for another attempt at returning to the top division via the promotion play-offs.
Manager Robbie Neilson spoke to the media during the week:
“We need to try to build momentum. We can’t give up. We’ve still got to play them (Ross County) twice so there’s still an opportunity to put pressure on them.
“We just need to get ourselves going. It was a tough, tough game on Saturday but we created chances, it’s just in those pressure games we need to make sure we do the right things and get results.
“Like the fans will be, we’re bitterly disappointed because it was an opportunity, we had chances, we get back in the game and we get the goal. We had three or four really good chances to score but we didn’t take them and they go up the other end and get the goal and it kills you but we have to keep trying to move forward.
“The boys are focused on Dunfermline, who are on a fantastic run.”

​Match odds (McBookie):
Dunfermline 8/5
Dundee United 17/10
Draw 9/4

The narrowness of Alloa's pitch should not be an issue for Dunfermline this weekend. We have largely played without much width for the past few weeks, with the exception of occasional overlapping runs from Ryan Williamson.  Our midfield, whether in a diamond formation or in the shape in the graphic below, has been compact and has restricted opposing teams from having space in the middle of the pitch. This has taken some pressure off our defence, who have been steady and no-nonsense, clearly intent on having no repeat of previous blunders. 

The return to fitness of Jackson Longridge could see him restored to the starting 11 at Alloa, with James Craigen - who had filled in at left back in the past 3 games to great effect - shifting back to right back. In midfield, James Vincent is now recovered from the injury which caused him to miss the past 2 games. I would select Vincent in the defensive midfield role that he is most suited to. Tom Beadling would then move to the right of a 3 man centre midfield, with Kallum Higginbotham  dropping to the bench. Aidan Connolly will miss tomorrow's game through injury and so Louis Longridge, a substitute last week, will probably start up front, playing behind Bruce Anderson.
Preferred starting 11, in a 4-1-3-1-1 formation:

Alloa
The Wasps have proved to be difficult opponents for Dunfermline this season, knocking the Pars out of the Irn Bru Cup in a penalty shoot-out after a draw over 90 minutes. They have also recorded two further draws at East End Park in the League - the second of which, in January, lead to Allan Johnston being sacked following a last minute Alloa equaliser. The only game between the sides at Alloa's ground saw Dunfermline win 1-0 thanks to Jackson Longridge's thunderous strike.
The main threat to Dunfermline's defence tomorrow will come from veteran attacking midfielder Alan Trouten, who has scored 4 times against us this season. Trouten has an impressive total of 155 career goals, including 17 in 34 appearances this season.
The Wasps' win last time out at Queen of the South ended a run of 4 consecutive defeats; prior to that disappointing period, they had gone six games undefeated in the Championship. Manager Jim Goodwin had this to say when he spoke to the media this week:
''They are all massive games from now until the end of the season. Dunfermline are one of the form teams in the league and will come into the game with confidence.
''We now have ten cup finals to play for and just need to pick up as many wins as we can to keep ourselves in the league. We will still try to make it to fifth place as there is not a lot between the teams.
"Dunfermline have shown what can happen if you can find a bit of form. We want to build on an excellent performance in Dumfries and see how high that can take us up the table''

​Match odds (McBookie):
Alloa 7/2
Dunfermline 3/4
Draw 11/4

​Dunfermline team news, selection & preferred lineup
The turnaround in Dunfermline's results continued on Tuesday with a resounding 3-0 win over Partick Thistle, echoing the resurgence of last season's final dozen games that saw the team gain a promotion play-off place. There is nothing to prevent a similar outcome this season - we are now only 2 points behind fourth placed Inverness and with 10 games remaining have a great chance to complete what would be a remarkable transformation in what was at one point a forgettable season. Credit must go to the new management team - the change in players such as Danny Devine has been one of the biggest plus points to emerge in the past few weeks, while the January arrivals - Bruce Anderson and Ryan Blair, both on loan, plus the signing of goalkeeper Ryan Scully, have all contributed to the team's improvement.

James Vincent and Myles Hippolyte both missed the Partick Thistle game through injury, while Jackson Longridge, withdrawn from the starting lineup minutes before the Ayr United game last weekend, also missed the midweek match. Stevie Crawford confirmed that all 3 players will be given fitness tests in advance of tomorrow's game but definitely missing out is Faissal El Bakhtaoui, whose recovery from a calf injury is taking longer than initially anticipated.  We will have to wait a little longer to see the return of the Faissal and Bruce Anderson partnership that looked so promising in the hour they played together, in the game against Ross County last month. 

Queen of the South
After being on the edges of the top 4 for most of the season, Queens have now lost their last 5 League games and have achieved just 3 wins in the Championship since the start of December. They now occupy 7th place, and are in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle during the remaining weeks of the season. Talisman Stephen Dobbie, with 38 goals in all competitions this season, is their obvious threat. Dobbie has averaged a goal every 79 minutes this season, confirming what an outstanding player and goalscorer he is, even in the veteran stage of his career.
Queens manager Gary Naysmith spoke to the media after the loss at Morton on Tuesday:
''We are all hurting. Due to our recent results - not performances, but results - the players are lacking a little bit in confidence. 
''It's about us - as a group of players and the management - delivering as a team, making sure that we're organised and trying to get that victory. I'm sure when that victory comes we'll go on a run. At this moment in time, it's not going for us. We've already shown on several occasions that we're capable of beating any team in this league. Confidence is down a little bit but it's up to me as manager to try to pick them up and make sure that they believe that we're going to turn the corner. I believe we will. 
''We'll be giving it our all to make sure on Saturday we'll be going home with a smile on our face.''

​Match odds (McBookie):
Dunfermline 17/20
Queen of the South 14/5
Draw 14/5

Fifth plays tenth in tomorrow's Championship match at East End Park, with Dunfermline looking for a third consecutive win and visitors Thistle aiming to recover from a second half collapse against Ross County at the weekend. The division is so tight that 3 points for either team could be hugely significant come the end of the season, as we approach the final quarter with only 6 points separating 6 clubs. 
​Here is the current Championship table:

​Dunfermline team news, selection & preferred lineup
Six points and two clean sheets from games against Inverness and Ayr United is a superb return for Stevie Crawford's Dunfermline. Backbone has now been added to the team's performances, built on a solid defence that takes no risks and has been able to avoid the type of needless errors that blighted much of our season. New coach Callum Davidson, interviewed soon after joining the club 2 weeks ago, said that he had told several of the team's more senior players - naming them as Lee Ashcroft, Danny Devine and James Craigen - that they had to show more leadership on the pitch. That was evident at Ayr on Saturday, with Devine in particular very vocal and driving the team on in difficult weather conditions against opponents currently second in the division.

​There is clearly no need to change much, if anything, about the team or the formation for tomorrow's game. Jackson Longridge's fitness must still be in question after pulling out of the lineup during the pre-match warm up at Somerset Park. James Craigen could continue at leftback - his versatility is a great benefit to the team - while in midfield I would move James Vincent to the defensive end of the diamond. Vincent was used as the attacking tip of the diamond on Saturday but has little instinct to attack, and is better utilised as a defensive midfielder. Joe Thomson would seem to be the best option in the attacking role, with Vincent as DM, and Tom Beadling and Ryan Blair in the middle. 
Up front, it could be time for Louis Longridge to start after two appearances from the bench following his 4 month injury absence. I would have no issue with Aidan Connolly continuing in attack if Longridge is not quick ready to start a game.
A win tomorrow could put the Pars within 2 points of fourth place Inverness. It was at this point last season that the team began an unbeaten run that pushed them into the promotion play-offs and a repeat of that this season is entirely possible if their current form and apparent resurgence in self-belief can be maintained.
​Preferred starting 11:

Partick Thistle
The wheels came off Partick's recent upturn in form on Saturday when, 2-0 up at half time at home to Ross County, they conceded 4 second half goals to find themselves once again at the bottom of the division, although still within touching distance of the clubs immediately above them. Their January recruitment brought in 8 new players to the club, including ex-Pars winger Joe Cardle, who after making a bright start to his Thistle career with 2 goals in his first 4 appearances, suffered an injury and has missed the past 4 games.
Thistle went into their game at the weekend on a 6 game unbeaten run but after starting promisingly, with first half goals from Aidan Fitzpatrick and Christie Elliott, lost a goal 2 minutes after the re-start and went onto lose a further 3 goals to the Championship leaders. Thistle defender Steven Anderson had this to say after the game:''It’s not good enough. We should see the game out, simple as that. Professionals should know how to see games out. We were good first half and we get that but we need to be cute during games.
''We need to be nasty, really, and if they’re on top we need to slow it down and understand that putting in a challenge will get us up the park. The pressure was there and we couldn’t deal with it. It’s not good enough. We were just soft.''

Match odds (McBookie):
Dunfermline 20/21
Partick Thistle 14/5
Draw 5/2

Dunfermline team news, selection & preferred lineup
Joe Thomson's 47th minute strike against Inverness last weekend gave Stevie Crawford his first win as Pars boss and the team their first home victory in the Championship since December 1st. Despite being without Faissal El Bakhtaoui - who had begun to form a promising partnership up front with Bruce Anderson, and who is likely to miss out again tomorrow through injury - the Pars team more than stood up to their physical opponents, none more so than Faissal's replacement, the diminutive Aidan Connolly, who battled against opponents almost a foot taller than him. Playing with a compact midfield, the team more than deserved their victory and will hopefully build on this tomorrow.

​Another positive were appearances from the bench by Louis Longridge and Mark Durnan, both long-term injury absentees. Durnan will provide competition in central defence while Longridge's adaptability will give Stevie Crawford options in midfield, out wide and in attack. Definitely out tomorrow are Faissal and Lewis Martin. 

Speaking to the media yesterday, Stevie Crawford did hint that there could be changes to the team as certain players had impressed in training. The back 4 will probably be unchanged - Ryan Williamson's substitute appearance last week was in right midfield and not at fullback, suggesting that James Craigen is very much the preferred option at right back.  The midfield of James Vincent, Ryan Blair, Joe Thomson and Tom Beadling all performed well against Inverness and there are no clear contenders to replace any of the quartet, unless a change of formation brings Kallum Higginbotham back in to provide more width. Up front, Louis Longridge could replace Aidan Connolly but may lack match fitness to start the game. Connolly's display last week also merits another start tomorrow. 
The game tomorrow provides us with a chance to record a win that would not only be important in terms of league position - fourth place is still within reach, while we must still be wary of the progress being made by the teams below us - but also for squad morale. There is nothing to fear - we will be respectful of Ayr, but they are beatable. 
​Preferred starting 11, unchanged from last week:

Ayr United
In the top 2 from autumn onwards, Ayr have made an excellent return to the Championship after winning promotion from League 1 via the play-offs last season. With 6 ex-Pars in their squad - Chris Higgins, Steven Bell, Mark Kerr, Andy Geggan, Michael Moffat and Lawrence Shankland - they are familiar opponents in more ways than one. Ayr manager Ian McCall is, of course, another former Dunfermline player. After a drop-off in form and results during Shankland's recent injury absence, which included the defeat to Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup, Ayr picked up 4 points from 2 away games at Alloa and Morton in their last pair of League fixtures. Shankland's penalty at Alloa was his 30th goal of the season, in his 30th appearance of 2018/19. In total, he has scored 59 goals for Ayr in 62 games. 
Shankland's partner in attack, Michael Moffat, remains one of the division's best footballers, more of a creative source than out and out goalscorer these days. A relatively late arrival to the senior game, the Moff joined Ayr a month before his 26th birthday in 2011 after playing in Ayrshire Junior football for Girvan since 2005. He has scored 10 goals this season to take his tally over two spells at Ayr and a 3 season spell with Dunfermline to 115 goals in 309 starts, plus a further 38 appearances as a substitute.
Match odds (McBookie):
Ayr 6/5
Dunfermline 21/10
Draw 13/5

Seventh plays fourth in tomorrow's Championship match at East End Park, with Dunfermline looking for a much-needed victory to prevent dropping into the bottom 2 in the division. Opponents Inverness are the Championship's draw specialists and are clinging onto a top 4 place that now seems out of the Pars' reach. 
​Here is the current Championship table:

Dunfermline team news, selection & preferred lineup
Tuesday's reserve game away to Ross County saw a Pars team that was a mixture of youth plus first team squad players including Myles Hippolyte, Robbie Muirhead, Callum Smith and Louis Longridge, the latter making his return from a 4 month injury absence. Mark Durnan was not involved, although Stevie Crawford, talking to the club's website yesterday, mentioned the defender had returned to training this week. Definitely available is Tom Beadling, who missed the most recent first team game through injury. No word on Lewis Martin, who has had a series of injuries this season. 
Taking into account Durnan's lack of match fitness, and Longridge only having just played 45 minutes of one reserve game, neither player will be in contention to start tomorrow's match. There are clear lack of options in central defence, with Durnan and Martin unavailable and no other challengers to Danny Devine and/or Lee Ashcroft. In midfield the manager has more players to choose from and a decision to make on the formation, having fluctuated between a midfield 4 with 2 wide players, a diamond, and a sitting midfielder behind a compact 3 man central midfield throughout his month in charge.  
The back 4 almost selects itself. I would make one change from our last game - James Craigen, who played in his natural midfield position, could be once again utilised at right back. Ryan Williamson was unimpressive defensively against Ross County and Craigen is a more solid option, despite not actually being a right back. The other defensive positions remain as per the last few months. Changes would be made in central defence if there were any viable alternatives to the current pairing.

Inverness
The Highlanders' latest draw - their fourteenth in all competitions this season - came on Tuesday when they conceded a late equaliser in their Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Ross County. The replay will take place on Tuesday - manager John Robertson will hope it will not be a distraction to his players going into tomorrow's League game. 
Inverness have won just one game more in the Championship this season than Dunfermline but have lost only 4, compared to the 10 defeats suffered by the Pars. Inverness have also scored 10 more goals than ourselves in the League, with former Pars youth team striker Jordan White their top scorer with 11 goals. They added 3 players to their squad during the January transfer window - defender Kevin McHattie, midfielder Darren McCauley and on-loan Hearts teenager Anthony McDonald.
Match odds (McBookie):
Dunfermline 6/5
Inverness 23/10
Draw 12/5