Team news, how to watch and stats for Dunfermline v Dundee

Dundee come calling for their first - and only, unless there's a play-off meeting - visit to East End as the race for the top four hots up.

With every match, bar Alloa's 6-0 thumping at Hearts on Friday night, ending in a draw, five points separates the third top Dees and fifth-placed Pars.

Here are all the facts and figures about tonight's match.

What time is kick-off?

Tonight's game has the unusual early start time of 6pm.

Where can I watch it?

The game is live on the BBC Scotland channel, where coverage begins at 5.45pm. Pars TV will also be providing a stream, whilst Press Sport will be bringing live updates via our matchday blog.

Any other Championship fixtures?

Yes, Queen of the South - one place and one point beneath Dunfermline - host Raith Rovers, who are second, ahead of Dundee on goal difference. That one starts at 7pm.

How does the Championship stand?

Pretty much as you were after the weekend, with one big difference - Hearts are champions.

It was always a case of when rather than if, but victory for Robbie Neilson's team at Tynecastle, combined with Raith and Dundee failing to win against Arbroath and Greenock Morton respectively, confirmed the title for the Jam Tarts and an instant return to the Premiership.

Robbie Neilson has guided Hearts to the title and Premiership promotion.

Alloa, whilst not mathematically relegated, look League One bound. They are eight points adrift of Morton and Arbroath, in ninth and eighth, with just three games left.

Dunfermline have played a game fewer than Inverness, who sit fourth, and are two points behind the Highlanders. Victory tonight would take them back into fourth, and to within two points of Dundee.

A victory for the vistors who send them eight points clear of the Pars and, depending on Queens' result, could take them very close to securing a play-off place.

What has Dunfermline and Dundee's recent form been like?

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Ayr United halted a run of five successive away Championship losses for Dunfermline, but their form in 2021 has not been as consistent as they'd like.

Dunfermline were forced to settle for a draw at Ayr United on Saturday, despite Declan McManus giving them the lead. Photo courtesy of Alan Graham.

In 13 league matches since the turn of the year, they've picked up only 13 points - recording only three wins - and recorded six defeat.

Each of those wins - the last of which came against Morton on March 13 - have been at home, but they have now gone six games without victory in all competitions.

Dundee have fared a bit better recently.

Since losing at Hearts on March 6, James McPake's Dark Blues have won four of their last seven in all competitions, being defeated only by Ayr United at Dens, and by St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup.

Their last two away games - at Ayr and Alloa - have each yielded 3-0 wins.

Previous meetings this season?

Both games between the teams have been high scoring and featured dramatic comebacks - with mixed feelings for each team.

In December, goals from Charlie Adam, Osman Sow and Liam Fontaine had Dundee 3-0 up and cruising with 20 minutes to go.

But, after Paul Watson pulled one back for the Pars in 78 minutes, Declan McManus' penalty soon after made it 3-2 before, deep into stoppage time, his superb free-kick rescued a sensational draw.

Declan McManus completed a superb comeback in December.

Last month, however, the Dark Blues turned the tables in a clash also beamed live on BBC Scotland.

Kevin O'Hara's super strike, and Craig Wighton's delightful finish (below), had Dunfermline 2-0 up in just six minutes.

However, after Jason Cummings halved the deficit before the interval, Danny Mullen made it all-square nine minutes into the second half before, moments later, ex-Par Lee Ashcroft headed home Dundee's winner.

The meeting at East End had originally been due to take place on February 13, but was cancelled due to snow.

It was then rearranged for March 9 but, following a Covid transmission within the Pars camp, it was rescheduled again for this evening.

Out of the last 10 meetings between the teams at East End, Dunfermline hold the upper hand, with four wins to Dundee's two, with the other four ending in draws.

The last time they met in West Fife was in January last year, when goals from Ryan Dow handed the Pars a deserved victory.

That was the eighth successive home game in which they have avoided defeat against Dundee, whose last win along the Halbeath Road came in November 2008.

Mickael Antoine-Curier, who went on to have a spell with Athletic, grabbed the decisive goal in a 1-0 success.

Team news?

Long-term absentees Ryan Dow and Lewis Martin remain out for Dunfermline.

Scott Banks missed the Ayr match with a calf problem picked up against Hearts and is a doubt, as is Iain Wilson, who was absent with an Achilles issue.

Captain Euan Murray was also taken off at Ayr as he was "struggling a little bit" but, speaking afterwards, Crawford said it was too early to know whether he would be fit.

Craig Wighton, who began his career with Dundee, will be seeking to regain his place in the starting line-up after appearing from the bench at Somerset Park.

Three ex-Pars players - Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi, Shaun Byrne and Ashcroft - will all hope to feature against their old club for Dundee.

Lee Ashcroft grabbed the winner against his old club for Dundee last month.

After four years as a Dunfermline player, Ashcroft switched to Dens Park last summer after his contract was not renewed, and he has played 25 times for the Taysiders so far.

He netted their leveller on Saturday against Morton - his fourth goal in five games - and returns to East End for the first time as an opposition player.

He was quoted on Dundee's club website yesterday as saying: "Going to East End, it’s a good place to go and play. It’s one we are looking forward to and look to get a positive result out of it.

"I think tomorrow night is massive for us. If we go and get a positive result it puts us in a great position. Teams round us are playing each other but we need to concentrate on ourselves. We know if we turn up on our day we are capable of getting the result so we have to positive and hopefully keep our run going."

The referee for the match Kevin Clancy.