Oli Anderson previews today’s match against St. Johnstone.

A great midweek result against Brechin City has left us with an opportunity to progress into the last 16 of the Premier Sports cup. Our objective is clear, we must win against St Johnstone. With Alloa beating the Saints on Tuesday, it is the Wasps who top the group ahead of the final gameday.

The League Cup Fixtures

Saturday 13/07: East Fife 3-0 Greenock Morton @ MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

Tuesday 16/07: Alloa Athletic 0-0 (5-3 on penalties) East Fife @ The Indodrill Stadium.

Tuesday 23/07: East Fife 4-0 Brechin @ MGM Timber Bayview Stadium

Saturday 27/07: St Johnstone vs East Fife @ McDiarmid Park

Group F’s Standings

The Form

The Fifers

The League Cup campaign has brought three excellent performances so far, though results have been mixed.

The first game was against championship outfit Greenock Morton, which saw the Methil Milan recording a 3-0 win over the second-tier side. The Fifers found their rhythm ten minutes into the game and never looked back, having an exemplary five minutes which led to a 2-0 lead at half time. This trend continued into the second half, both going forward, as well as at the back, with Trouten scoring an absolute stunner at one end, and Slattery and McFarlane both contributing to great blocks and saves, keeping the clean sheet intact.

The second fixture came against Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park. Despite a valiant fight against another higher tier opponent, we could not capitalise on chances created and the game was forced to a penalty shootout. Munro stepped up first for Fife and had his effort saved, before all eight of the following penalties were converted, which ended up reading a 5-3 scoreline in favour of the Wasps, giving our opponents the bonus point on the day.

Most recently, the Fifers ran out 4-0 winners over Highland League runners-up Brechin City. An even quarter of an hour blew wide open when Liam Newton opened the scoring with a great header. Nathan Austin showed his striker’s instincts five minutes later to pounce on Reis Peggie’s cross that was possibly already goal bound. Just before the break, Scott Shepherd capitalised on some nervy goalkeeping to round the goalie and slot home for the Fifers. Within 60 seconds of the start of the second half Austin grabbed his brace, following some fantastic work on the left-hand side from Healy and Newton. The performance matched the result and it arguable could’ve been more on the day.

Our Opponents

St Johnstone’s form has been varied throughout the League Cup where they have lacked the cutting edge at times. Their first game was against Brechin City, and it took a 47th minute penalty to open the scoring. From there, Kyle Cameron made it two in the second half, before Brechin pinned the Premiership outfit back in the dying embers.

Their second game against Greenock Morton was slightly more convincing. A first half brace from Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Ten-man St Johnstone failed to hold strong against Alloa on Tuesday, allowing the Wasps to take all three points at Recreation Park. The first half was goalless, before a flurry of action at the start of the second half saw both sides score, and the Saints’ Aaron Essel see red. The game was end-to-end from there, with the last ten minutes bringing plenty more action. Luke Rankin bagged a brace, which St Johnstone could not reply to. A 91st minute consolation was only that, and not enough to force a penalty shootout.

Previous Encounter

The last time the sides met in the Premier Sports cup was back in 2018. A goalless draw between the two sides forced a penalty shootout, which the Saints came out victorious in. It was a valiant effort from the Fifers, who came so close, but alas, it was not to be.

East Fife vs Scottish Premiership Side in the League Cup

We have faced each of the Scottish Premiership teams through the years in the League Cup with a varying outcomes. We will start with the most recent and look at the last time we faced each of the 12 teams, when they were in the Premiership.

2023- Motherwell 3-0 East Fife: The most recent result was far from ideal, with Miller and Wilkinson doing the damage in the first half. Callum Slattery made it three in the second period.

2022- Ross County 7-0 East Fife: Our worst result of the bunch came in 2022. Ross County ran riot in Dingwall, with Loturi, Purrington and Edwards among the many scorers.

2021- East Fife 0-1 Dundee United: A valiant effort from the Methil Milan caused all sorts of bother for the Arabs, though a Peter Pawlett goal shortly before half time saw Dundee United claim all three points.

2019- East Fife 1-1 Hearts (East Fife win 7-6 on Penalties) Group Stage. An emphatic result for the Fifers contributed hugely to East Fife’s progression into the last 16 of the League Cup that season. A nail-biting sudden death penalty shootout went the Fifers way after what was a fantastic day at the office.

2019 Last 16 - East Fife 0-3 Rangers. After advancing into the knockout rounds of the League Cup, the Fifers were faced with a tough task, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side. A great fight was not enough unfortunately, though the performance from the Fifers was commendable. Jermaine Defoe and Joe Aribo did the damage on the day, along with an unfortunate own goal.

2018- St Johnstone 0-0 East Fife (St Johnstone won 5-4 on penalties). The last time the sides met in the League Cup was back in 2018. A goalless draw between the two sides forced a penalty shootout, which the Saints came out victorious in. It was a valiant effort from the Fifers, who came so close, but alas, it was not to be.

2016- East Fife 1-1 Dundee (East Fife won 4-2 on penalties). Another great showing for the Fifers grabbed the bonus point for the Methil Milan, as they overcame the Dees after a contentious ninety minutes. The East Fife goal via a brilliant free kick from skipper Kevin Smith.

2011 Last 16 - Aberdeen 3-3 East Fife (East Fife won 4-3 on penalties). A great game at Pittodrie for the Fifers saw the Fifers look destined to head to the quarter finals of the League Cup without penalties required, although the Dons found a way to get the ball into the back of the net in the 90th minute. This did not get the Methil Milan down though, as they continued on their track to win on penalties and reach the quarter finals. East Fife goal scorers on the day were Ryan Wallace, Matthew Park and Robert Sloan.

2011 Quarter Finals - Kilmarnock 2-0 East Fife. The Fifers fought for everything and worked their socks off against Killie. Unfortunately, an East Fife red card for Robert Ogleby just before half-time opened the door for Kilmarnock to bag twice in the last fifteen minutes.

2007 - St Mirren 0-1 East Fife. East Fife would go on to lift the Third Division title that season after an impressive showing at Love Street where Craig O’Reilly’s second half strike was enough to overcome the Saints.

1984 - Hibernian 1-0 East Fife. We have to go back forty years for our last League Cup clash with the Hibees, where we fell short 1-0 to the Leith outfit.

1972 - Celtic 1-1 East Fife. The two sides drew in the League Cup half a century ago, at Parkhead, which forced a replay at Bayview.

1972 Replay - East Fife 2-3 Celtic. It was not to be after the replay, where the Hoops were able to come out victorious over the Fifers.

Squad News

The Campbells have a full squad at their disposal once again, with Alan Trouten coming back into the fold, after missing Tuesday’s game with Brechin City.

Match Tickets

Please find match ticket prices below. Tickets can be purchased on St Johnstone’s website:

Adult- £15

Over 65s- £10

Under 16-£5

Ticket sales for this match are online only with exception of wheelchair tickets. Tickets will be sent in the form of e-tickets which can either be printed at home or presented at the turnstile on your smartphone.

East Fife supports will be housed in the North Stand this afternoon and should enter the stadium via turnstiles 5, 6 & 7.

Live Stream

For those who can’t make the game, a live stream is available to overseas supporters via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. Supporters in the UK can watch the match via Premier Sports

Club Colours

The Fifers will be in the MPH Group sponsored home kit this afternoon. They will wear the famous black and gold striped top with black shorts and socks. The Fife goalkeeper will wear orange for the tie.

St Johnstone will be in their traditional home strip, with their goalkeeper clad in yellow for the tie.

Officials

The referee this afternoon will be Don Robertson, with his assistants running the line being Chris Rae and Michael MacDonald.

Additional Info

Parking is available at McDiarmid Park for £5.

The Muirton Suite (located under the Main Stand) will be open from 12pm, where St Johnstone welcome us to join them prior to kick off.

A match programme is available priced at £3.50. These are available inside the turnstiles.

Mon the Fife!