Dunfermline FC’s Willie Gibson has revealed he had inside information on how to beat goalkeeper Rab Douglas from the penalty spot at Dens Park last Saturday courtesy of the Dundee match programme.
Gibson was flicking through it before the game when he spotted a photo which told him all he needed to know about where to place the first of his two penalties in the 2-2 draw.
“We always get programmes in the changing-room and I opened mine up and there was a picture from a previous match where Douglas had dived to his left to save a spot-kick,” said Gibson. “So, I thought to myself that if we got a penalty I would go to the opposite side.
“At the second one, I thought he would go to the side I had just hit so I changed my mind and went to the other one.”
Gibson admitted the Pars were fortunate to be handed two penalties.
“For me, one was a stonewaller and the other was a bit of a hit and miss, to be honest.
“That’s three penalties I have scored against Dundee this season. I have never scored two in one game before and I could not believe it when the referee pointed to the spot just three minutes after the first one.
“I am always confident, though, and there was no chance of me letting someone else take it.”‘Caved in’Gibson felt the Pars had “caved in” during the second half to throw away a 2-0 lead. However, he stressed that manager Jim McIntyre has not had to tell the players they have to improve their performance on Saturday against Stirling Albion as the squad have already taken themselves to task.
“The gaffer has not needed to ask us for a big improvement the players demand that of ourselves,” he said. “We were in a good position at 2-0 up at Dundee. We knew they would come back at us and we were a bit disappointed at the way we lost the goals.
“But that is in the past now and we just need to focus on this weekend. We are undefeated so far at East End Park and we want to continue that run. It will be a tricky game as Stirling have picked up a lot since we last played them.
“The 5-1 result down in Stirling earlier in the season flattered us a wee bit and I am sure it will be a completely different game on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Nick Phinn will almost certainly miss the Binos game. Manager Jim McIntyre said Phinn has picked up a calf injury which he’s struggling to shake off and hasn’t been able to train so far this week.
“Probably this weekend is too soon for him. He could need another week or so,” McIntyre said.