Dunfermline vs Airdrie United preview - Shankland set to start for Pars

Posted Friday, January 17, 2014 by PA

On-loan Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland could make his first start for Dunfermline when they host Airdrie as Faissal El Bakhtoui is suspended and Ryan Thomson is doubtful with a knee injury.

Kerr Young is also banned, but the Pars are strengthened with the return of Alex Whittle and Callum Morris from injury.

Boss Jim Jefferies is asking his men to ensure their standards do not slip and said: "We have beaten two promotion sides in tough games recently in Stenhousemuir and Stranraer but we cannot relax as Airdrie are at the bottom of the table.

"We need to keep standards high and keep winning."

Airdrie include goalkeeper Grant Adam at East End Park after the former Scotland Under-21 shot-stopper signed for the Diamonds for a third time.

Manager Gary Bollan is again without the injured Chris O'Neill (groin), Grant Drummond (knee), Grant Evans (ankle), Martin Hardie (calf) and John Boyle (knee).

Bollan is looking for an improvement from his men after an insipid 3-0 defeat to Ayr last weekend. He said: "This is a really tough fixture and Dunfermline will put us under pressure but the players know they have to do better than they did at Somerset Park regardless of that.

"We need to keep making progress, not slipping back."