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Match Preview - Motherwell

Oli Anderson previews today’s final Viaplay Cup Group G match against Motherwell.

This weekend the Black and Gold have a winner takes all blockbuster against Scottish Premiership Side Motherwell, at Fir Park, to round up Group G of the Viaplay Cup. To guarantee qualification to the next stage the Fifers will have to overcome the Steelmen inside 90 minutes, though considering that there were around 25 teams in between the two clubs’ league finishes last year, it will be no easy task. With that being said, the Fifers continue their purple patch in the group stage, taking the bonus point at Palmerston Park on Tuesday Night after a goalless draw, whereas Motherwell’s last game came against Queen’s Park last weekend, where they won 1-0 through a Jon Obika goal in the first half. It was confirmed by the Steelmen earlier in the week that the scorer may be unavailable for the affair this afternoon.

Motherwell: A deep dive

Liam Kelly

When looking at the Motherwell side, it would be impossible not to talk about Liam Kelly. The former Fifer spent 4 years with Rangers before making loan moves to both Methil and then Livingston. The stopper made 16 appearances in 5 months for the Fifers and his quality was clear to see for all in the stand. He showed his leadership abilities too at such a young age, something he would continue to use at every club he has since travelled to. Playing at a consistently high level too in recent years, Kelly had jumped between QPR and Motherwell before settling down at the Claret and Amber in 2021. It will be a good sight for the Fife fans seeing the ‘keeper in action against the club that gave him a shot.

Conor Wilkinson

Obika’s strike partner last Saturday was new signing Conor Wilkinson who signed from Walsall this summer. A proven goal scorer in England, netting around once every 3 games at the aforementioned Walsall as well as Leyton Orient and Dagenham and Redbridge too. Looking like the potential Van Veen replacement, Wilkinson stands at 6’3 and has been used as a target forward for most of his career. The 28-year-old also boasts 9 caps for Republic of Ireland at youth level, 2 at U19 and 7 at U21, netting twice for the latter. Making a partnership with Obika in earlier fixtures caused him to look dangerous, so it will be interesting to see how he does potentially without the England International by his side.

Lennon Miller

This 16-year-old has bags of potential, already having made 8 appearances for the first time since the beginning of last season. He is also a regular starter for Scotland now, appearing on 8 occasions for the Scottish U17 side too. He has netted once for the Steelmen pushing through the midfield on numerous occasions. He has the ability to play all over and is a player who could be one to keep an eye on both on Saturday and in years to come.

East Fife: The stand outs

Scott Shepherd

Despite having raved about his hold up play since his arrival, he showed again his ability on Saturday as the Methil Dynamo ran the show up front against a strong QoS defence at Palmerston on Tuesday. His ability to pop a pass and find the run in behind helped massively too, giving the rest of the team a chance to create an opportunity. This was seen clear as day at the sending off, his pass and go made both centre halves lose him, giving them no choice but to bring him down on the edge of the area, resulting in the dismissal. We know that Shepherd’s game is about more than just the numbers, but Tuesday night went a long way to showing what he is going to be all about this season.

Allan Fleming

At the other end of the park, another man in fine form was Allan Fleming. The veteran has been playing like a teenager in recent weeks, only conceding once in competitive action so far in this campaign. He’s been put through the ringer as well, never getting the opportunity to rest when typically playing against a higher-level opposition. Flem has showed just how important he is to the squad, and another performance like we’ve seen so far could be the difference to push the Fifers into the second round.

Squad News

Ins: Trouten returns from suspension for the final group game.

Outs: Both Pat Slattery and Charlie Murray are unfortunately out of action for the clash due to injury.

Team Colours

East Fife will don the green and white Macon Resources-sponsored kit, matched with white socks and shorts today, while the goalkeeper will be clad in all blue for the tie.

Motherwell will wear their traditional amber and claret affair for the occasion, with amber in the shorts and socks and claret socks too. The goalkeeper will wear all red.

Match Tickets

Please find admission prices below for the game today. Tickets are available to buy online.

Adults - £12

Concessions (Over 65s/Disabled/U18) - £6

East Fife fans will be housed in the North Section of the Phil O’Donnell Stand (Main Stand) this afternoon.

Travel and Parking

Motherwell FC have advised us that there is currently roadworks on the M74 and recommend that supporters travelling to Fir Park from Fife use the M8 instead.

There is no dedicated car park for supporters at Fir Park however there is ample on street parking close to the stadium. Please take care not to block any of the driveways of the surrounding houses.

There is accessible parking available for supporters who require it.

Livestream

There is no PPV option for today’s game however overseas supporters can watch via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription.

Officials

The on-pitch official on Saturday will be Kevin Clancy while his assistants running the line are Alan Mulvanny and Paul McAvinue.

New Partnership with MKM Building Supplies

We’re delighted to announce a new commercial partnership with MKM Building Supplies.

MKM Building Supplies is the UK’s largest independent builder’s merchants with over 70 branches across England and Scotland. MKM Kirkcaldy always aim to go the extra mile with their extensive product knowledge and many years of experience. Open to trade and DIYers, MKM Kirkcaldy have everything you need for your next project including building materials, plumbing and heating, timber, kitchens and bathrooms, landscaping supplies and more!

Lee Gillies - Commercial Executive said: “We’re delighted to have onboarded MKM, another renowned nationwide company, who jumped at the chance to back the Fife. James is a big football man and was excited at what we’re trying to build here and hope he enjoyed the first many trips to the stadium”.

James Smith from MKM added: “We’re delighted to be supporting East Fife in the upcoming season. Although based in Kirkcaldy, we firmly believe in backing the local community and we’re excited at the start for a successful partnership with East Fife FC”.

Match Report - Queen of the South

Queen of the South 0-0 East Fife (3-5 pens), Viaplay Cup Group G MD4

Tuesday 25^th July 2023, Palmerston Park

East Fife have taken another step closer to the second round of the Viaplay Cup after another penalty win against higher tier opposition. Palmerston Park hosted a fiery contest on Tuesday Night which panned out in a similar fashion to that of the opening game of the group stage against Queen’s Park. The Fifers soaked up a tremendous amount of pressure and tried to hit the Dumfries side on the break, although they were not effective enough in front of goal to break the deadlock.

The majority of the first half was played in the middle of the park with very little chances to show for the action on display, though it was the Queens who took control of the match early on. The midfield battle was much tighter than most may have expected however, and the Fifers held their own for the entire contest. The first chance still fell for the opposition however, as Connolly’s pace allowed him to float a ball into the box from the by-line, but Gavin Reilly’s header was well over, causing no trouble for Fleming in between the sticks. Shortly after, Liam Newton had a wayward strike of his own which similar to the Reilly’s did not hassle the goalkeeper in the slightest.

The next chance for either team once again came to the hosts, as Mimnaugh played a fantastic switch over to Walker, just after the half an hour mark, who cut in from the wing and has his shot deflected wide for a corner. Other than a Queen’s booking late in the proceedings, that was all the action that the first half had to offer.

In the second period, the Fifers started to bed themselves into the game a bit more and create some better chances of their own, rather than the lopsided affair which we originally seen in the first 45. The first of these came from a great challenge by Pat Slattery who lashed the ball out to Schiavone on the wing, allowing him to have a crack at the full back. He beat him for pace and slid a ball into the box, but fantastic goalkeeping from Botterill meant that he beat Shepherd to the tap-in.

Shepherd then, with 10 minutes left, made a fantastic run in behind and found himself one on one with Botterill before he was hauled down by freshly subbed McGuffie. As he was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, the Queen’s player was sent packing, giving East Fife the last 10 minutes with a man advantage. They almost capitalised as well in the 88th minute when Shepherd made another great run into the box. Walls broke away from his defender, but his cross was well over hit, sailing out for a goal-kick, calling on penalties to decide the bonus point.

McManus scored Fife’s opening penalty, to put the underdogs ahead in the tie. This was unable to be matched by Reilly though who’s spot kick was saved by a diving Fleming. Despite Queen of the South going on to score their next three, conversions from Shepherd, Murdoch, Walls and Newton were enough to bring the bonus point back into the Kingdom for the second time in this league cup campaign.

All roads now lead to Saturday where the Fifers face their toughest task yet, Premiership opposition Motherwell on their own patch, Fir Park. 3 points for the Fifers will guarantee us top of the group and a second-round tie in the Viaplay Cup, whereas a penalty shootout whether it be the bonus point or not could be enough for us to sneak through as group runners up depending on other results.

As it stands

Should East Fife lose, results in the group elsewhere could prevent East Fife from finishing in the top two, however, should both East Fife and Queen of the South win, Motherwell too could fall out of the qualifying positions. It is really all to play for on the Final Matchday in Group G of the first stage of the Viaplay Cup.

Mon the Fife!

Report by Oli Anderson

Queen of the South – Botterill, Houston, McKay, Logan, Ambrose, McKechnie, Todd, Mimnaugh, Walker (McGuffie 60’), Reilly, Connelly (Irving 75’). Subs not used: Johnson, Johnstone, Burns, Currie, Frame, Foster, Mendy

East Fife – Fleming, Page, Docherty, Easton, Newton, Millar (McManus 68’), Slattery (Murdoch 81’), Healy (Nicol 60’), Walls, Schiavone (Philp 69’), Austin (Shepherd 45’). Subs not used: Cunningham, Hambrook, Beveridge, Comerford

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 1,101