Joint League 1 table-toppers Dunfermline Athletic and Airdrieonians played out a pulsating draw that ended in controversy.
This could be some rivalry across the season if these sides hit this sort of form ahead of future meetings.
Throw in Falkirk – a point behind – and the potential for one or two others, and the division is already shaping up to be an exciting one.
Courier Sport takes a look at the main talking points from Saturday’s 1-1 draw.
🎥 Watch the goals from yesterday's 1-1 draw with Airdrieonians.
Full Highlights Later! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/2uV2I2K0EG
— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) August 27, 2022
Team selection worked
James McPake made three changes to the side, switching to a back three.
One of those, Kyle Macdonald, picked up the sponsor’s man of the match after a number of dangerous balls into the area from wingback.
Afterwards, the utility player said he probably should have finished his chance and could have done better to prevent Airdrie’s goal.
That did not take away too much from an excellent performance from the 22-year-old.
If the Pars had taken a couple of their first-half chances they likely wouldn’t have been reliant on the referee making the correct call in the final minutes.
The goal, and the disallowed one, both came from Josh Edwards’ long throws, something the management team has been working on.
Defence tested
This was by far the biggest challenge the Dunfermline backline has faced so far in League 1.
The Diamonds had a number of good spells in the match, hit the bar, had the ball cleared off the line and forced Deniz Mehmet into being busier than he has been all season.
Airdrie’s goal could have been prevented, but it was a fantastic finish from Adam Frizzell.
It was the first goal Dunfermline have conceded in League 1 this season but came against one of the best, if not the best, attack they will face in the division.
Assistant manager Dave Mackay praised the response of his side following the goal.
Activity in coming week?
The transfer deadline looms and while there is still room to bring in loans and free agents after that, fans will be hoping there is more added to the Pars squad.
In the absence of Craig Wighton, McPake again named fewer substitutes than his opposite number, two of whom were teenagers without a senior league minute to their name.
One of those, 16-year-old Taylor Sutherland, has yet to make his senior debut – full stop.
Other than substitute goalkeeper Max Little, the only first-team players available from the bench were Joe Chalmers, Lewis McCann and Sam Fisher.
Disallowed goal
The main talking point was definitely the last-minute decision from referee Grant Irvine.
Footage from behind the goal appears to show that the contact McCann makes on the goalkeeper is harshly judged as a foul.
— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) August 28, 2022
The Pars assistant said afterwards that when he spoke to the referee, Irvine’s reply was that “he had to make a decision”.
An injustice? Yes.
But the visitors were still well worth a point and Dunfermline again missed many chances to make it a comfortable afternoon.
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