If you were to handpick the worst possible game for the Pars players to boost their confidence, then a trip to Ibrox would almost certainly be up there.
After the shambles that was the Pars performance against Third Division strugglers East Fife, Davie Hay’s side travel, injuries in tow, to a ground with has become somewhat of a slaughter-house for the Pars in recent years under Jimmy Calderwood – ironic then that slaughter-houses smell like shite aswell! Shipping six, four and four in the last three fixtures at Ibrox – the only place on earth quieter than the Celtic home crowd – respectively, it would be fair to assume that confidence will not exactly be brimming approaching Saturday’s fixture.
Any Pars fans willing to fork out the twenty quid which David Murray’s crew are charging – that’s right, twenty quid to watch a team containing Marvin Andrews! – for anyone to attend Saturday’s fixture at Castle Greyskull will also have the misfortune to witness a Pars side once again facing a number of injury worries. With long-term absentees Greg Shields, Ritchie Byrne, Simon Donnelly and Derek Young still someway off a first-team start, the Pars will almost certainly miss the services of promising striker Billy Mehmet who continues his recover from a trapped nerve in his foot. The Pars coaching staff will also oversee the fitness of Scott Thomson, Scott Wilson and Aaron Labonte over the course of the next few days, although three players are expected to make Saturday’s starting line-up.
After Saturday’s display against Jim Moffat’s men, the Pars line-up this Saturday should depend on the fitness of the aforementioned Thomson, Wilson and Labonte. Through Billy Kirkwood’s own admission, last Saturday’s starting eleven would have – with the obvious exception of Billy Mehmet – remained the same as the one which so confidently disposed of a lackluster Dundee side seven days earlier. As it were, Scott Wilson’s failure to make the starting line-up prompted the inclusion of Lee Makel, with Greig Ross adopting his more familiar right-back role. As for this Saturday’s defensive and midfield set-up, we shall wait with baited breath. In terms of the Pars forward line, it could well be the case that the twin tower forward partnership of Jesper Christiansen and Andy Tod could well retain their starting places due to the lack of physical presence in the Rangers rearguard since the departure of Jean-Alain Boumsong. With Danish striker Jesper Christiansen, by all accounts, looking the genuine article in training, a goal at Ibrox this Saturday would undoubtedly do the big man a world of good.
With the Pars recording only three victories at Ibrox in the whole of the glorious 120 year East End Park history – including a certain victory where a certain ‘Big Jim’ grabbed the winner – the odds would seem to be fairly stacked incredibly high against any sort of Pars victory this weekend…11/1 anyone? Yet take into account the fact that Big Eck’s Rangers side are certainly beatable – just ask AZ Alkmaar, Auxerre or just about any half-decent European outfit – and the fact that the Pars would almost certainly have beaten the Glasgow side back in October had it not been for a Boumsong goal out of the blue and the customary Rangers penalty – no doubt agreed upon in the Masonic lodge beforehand – then you begin to feel that the Pars will have hope going into Saturday’s encounter.
With the possibility of a Pars win possibly appearing ludicrous to some (aye…about as ludicrous as potential Premiership star Barry Ferguson even considering – let alone requesting – a move back to Castle Greyskull!) you just get the feeling that, with everything which has gone at the Pars this season, you would not at all put it past the Pars to grab a historic victory this Saturday…I knew I shouldn’t have had that tenth pint!!!