Despite a valiant effort to salvage at least a point, for the first time since April 2022 Dunfermline Athletic lost a game from a winning position.

The host’s manager Simo Valakari named an unchanged starting eleven while Neil Lennon made two changes to the team that started against Arbroath. Andrew Tod was on the bench and Rory Macleod stepped in for his Pars starting debut. John Tod dropped to the bench beside his brother with Ewan Otoo taking his place. The two managers played against each other as Lennon’s Leicester City defeated Valakari’s Derby County 2-1 back in October 2000, could the Irishman come out on top again as they meet as managers?

It was a fine evening in Perth, conditions were perfect and the pitch looked in good condition. The match was live on BBC Scotland but still nearly 1500 Dunfermline fans made the trip up the M90 to support their team and they filled McDiarmid Park with an atmosphere to stir the most passive onlooker.

When the match got underway the home side set a blistering pace. Kai Fotheringham broke down the left and teed up Josh McPake for a cross into the Dunfermline goalmouth. With just 90 seconds on the clock Jonathan Svedberg could only divert the ball wide of the near post. Next a Mason Munn ball out to Kyle Benedictus put the Pars skipper under pressure and McPake robbed him of possession to close in on Munn’s goal but the big Northern Irishman beat the ball away.

Then in seventh minute the home crowd were screaming for a penalty as the two skippers clashed in the box. No foul on Jason Holt deemed referee Matthew MacDermid but the Fifers found themselves having to defend doggedly and uncomfortably for a period. Munn pulled off another good save from McPake in 13 minutes before a stoppage for him to receive treatment from the physio. On resumption another Saints corner from the 26 year old Swede, Svedberg from the left was glanced wide by Cheick Diabete.

Dunfermline took 18 minutes to create a threat. Zak Rudden sent Shea Kearney into the right side of the home box. His cross was met by Rudden but his header went straight into the hands of Toby Steward. It looked like the storm had been ridden as the Fifers looked better although the two Kearney shots did not bother the keeper on-loan from Portsmouth.

A 26th minute free kick from the left touchline allowed Saints to turn the screw again and this time it was Fotheringham’s shot that was stopped by Otoo. Neil Lennon was forced into making a first half substitution after Zak Rudden was forced to retire with an injury. Substitute in 34 minutes was Andrew Tod who came on to a big welcome from the travelling support.

The away fans roared again when Macleod fired a Robbie Fraser cross on target. The block dropped for Amade but his follow up was diverted for a corner. That was taken deep to Fraser but his cross was headed away by the defence. Back at the other end Munn kept out a Diabate header but it was Dunfermline who found the net in 43rd minute. Jefferson CÃ ¡ceres made ground swiftly down the left and his cross was perfect for MACLEOD to run on to and smash past Steward with a slight touch off the back off Matty Foulds. 0-1

Dunfermline saw the half out to go in with the lead, one that would have St Johnstone pondering just how did that happen? The home side had forced corner after corner, ten to the visitors one, with 59% first half possession but it is goals that count.

Half Time: St Johnstone 0 Dunfermline 1

St Johnstone made one change before they kicked the second half off â€" Haiti born Jannie Wanner replacing Jonathan Svedberg. It took just six minutes for the Perth side to get back on level terms. The Fifers conceded a soft corner and when the sub swung in the cross, Adama Sidibeh rose to head the ball downwards and on target. Munn pulled off a great save but the ball was swept home by FOTHERINGHAM 1-1.

There immediately followed a good chance created by McPake but Munn got down to his right to keep the fierce attempt out. St Johnstone made a double substitution on the hour Jamie Gullan and Uche Ikepeazu coming on for Fotheringham and Sidibeh. CÃ ¡ceres won and took a 64th minute free kick on the left but that was glanced away for a corner. The defence snuffed out a short taken Pars setplay.

Play was interrupted as Gilmour and then CÃ ¡ceres went down and on resumption Fraser got a hit on the corner from the right but his first time effort was well wide. It was the home side who would score next with what turned out to be the winner. Sub Gullan lofted a high ball from the right to beyond the far post and Munn left the ball possibly not noticing McPAKE ghosting in to slip the ball into the net. 83 minutes and it was 2-1.

The Pars final throw of the dice in 88 minutes was to throw on Josh Cooper and Chris Kane. As the four added minutes ran down a Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen run was halted by Jason Holt earning him a yellow card and the Pars a free kick on the edge of the box. From the setpiece Tod evaded the four man wall but Steward got a touch on the shot, maybe just enough to turn it on to the left upright. The ball broke right across goal, Cooper smashed it back and Forrester cleared. Tod’s left foot then returned the ball on target with Steward pushing the ball over his bar. Cooper delivered the 95th minute corner and Chilokoa-Mullen rose to force a great one handed save down to his left to earn the Perth Saints three points. That was quite a finale with Dunfermline denied three times.

A hugely disappointing outcome to lose from a winning position, yes Dunfermline were fortunate to lead at half time but in the end they lost out to a setpiece and a goalkeeping mistake,

ST JOHNSTONE: Toby Steward: Adam Forrester, Cheick Diabate, Matty Foulds (Morgan Boyes 74), Jack Baird, Jason Holt (c): Jonathan Svedberg (Jannie Wanner HT), Josh McPake (Sven Sprangler 88), Reece McAlear, Adama Sidibeh (Jamie Gullan 60), Kai Fotheringham (Uche Ikepeazu 60)
SUBS NOT USED: Reghan Tumilty, Victor Griffiths, Fran Franczak, Ross Sinclair (GK)
SCORERS: Fotheringham (51), McPake (83)
YELLOW CARD: Holt (90+4)

DUNFERMLINE: Mason Munn: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Kyle Benedictus (c), Ewan Otoo: Shea Kearney, Charlie Gilmour, Alfons Amade (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 70), Robbie Fraser (Josh Cooper 88): Jefferson CÃ ¡ceres (Chris Kane 88): Rory Macleod (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 70), Zak Rudden (Andrew Tod 34)
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Hamilton, Nurudeen Abdulai, John Tod, Billy Terrell (GK)
SCORER: Macleod (43)
YELLOW CARD: Macleod (35), A Tod (83)

REFEREE: Matthew MacDermid
ATTENDANCE: 6232
WEATHER: Cloudy 15 °C

NEXT MATCH: (home) v Ayr United, Tuesday 23rd September 2025, kick off 7.45pm at KDM Group East End Park.