An early change for Dunfermline - it looks like they've picked up another injury in this injury-hit season.

Ben Summers goes down innocuously. Lewis McCann - Dunfermline's top scorer - is the man to replace him.

Well, there's another yellow card as Tony Watt and Chris Hamilton clash in a 50-50 with the United striker going into Colin Steven's book.

"Mental" and "nonsense", says Michael Stewart - and I'm inclined to agree. Watt looks as perplexed as I do.

Michael Stewart
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportscene

It's a good opening by Dunfermline. James McPake will be very happy. The ludicrous nature of the Championship is he'll look at this game and the run-in and have his sights on the play-offs.

There's a lot of teams around them, but three points tonight propels them right into the mix.

Ohhhh my that was close. Alex Jakubiak picks up on the edge of the box, takes one touch, and then fires the ball into the side netting.

He looks fired up tonight.

Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at East End Park

Well, well, well - we have a ball game on our hands, don’t we?

What is that Dundee United defending all about? Jackie Mac and Faddy shakin’ their heids at it.

Sure a few in the away end had a glorious view of it too…

Dunfermline work the ball to Alex Jakubiak and his drive from the edge of the area deflects off Declan Gallagher to go behind.

United are rocked, but the corner comes to nothing.

Despite that booking, it's definitely Dunfermline who have made the brighter start. They've gotten down the left with Josh Edwards a few times, while Alex Jakubiak is working hard up top.

Yet to test Jack Walton in the United goal, though.

That's a very, very early yellow card.

Craig Sibbald puts the ball between Chris Hamilton's legs, and the Dunfermline vice-captain pulls him back.

Probably a foul he needed to make, but he's got a long, long time to walk that tight-rope.

Image source, SNS

And we are under way at East End Park!

Remember, the game is live on BBC Scotland and can also be watched at the top of this page. Al Lamont is your commentator, and he's joined by Michael Stewart.

Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at East End Park

If ever a side epitomised the madness of the Championship, I think Dunfermline Athletic are that side.

You’ll get a sore neck following their league positions throughout the campaign. One minute they’re eyeing up the promotion play-offs, next, they’re peering over their shoulder glancing at the dreaded relegation spot.

It’s been far from plain-sailing on their return to the second tier, which of course includes those Fife Derby defeats, the latest one being dealt last week.

Dundee United are probably the last team they’d want to face in an attempt to bounce back. And as you’ve said, Andrew, James McPake certainly wouldn’t have wanted to face them - you’d think - given his own record against them…

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Sport Scotland: "We just want them to stay nice and calm, and focus on the job in hand. We aren't thinking too far ahead.

"The three previous fixtures with Dunfermline have all been close games. We're expecting another close, difficult game. Okay they've lost their last couple, but for large periods against Raith they were the better team.

"We have to be wary of their threat."

Dunfermline Athletic captain Kyle Benedictus tells BBC Scotland: "You can see by the league itself, a couple wins your looking up the way, a couple losses you're looking down. We need to take each game as it comes, and go into every game looking for three points.

"Them and Raith have gone toe-to-toe this season. Past performance have been tight games and that gives us confidence. We're a match for any team in this division.

Image source, SNS

Dunfermline Athletic manager James McPake told BBC Sport Scotland: "The atmosphere should be good. We need to use that, get our crowd involved as much as we can, and go out and be ourselves.

"Yes we can focus on United and where they are, the key players they've got - we never hide from that - but we've got those players too. We just need to go out and carry out the game plan.

"If everything goes well, that should be enough. Over the course of the three games, we've deserved to win one so hopefully tonight is the night."

No. Dunfermline boss James McPake has never beaten Dundee United as a manager.

Not at the Pars and crucially, not when he managed the club a few hundred yards from Tannadice.

In nine meetings, he's drawn four and lost five. Can he end that run tonight?

Image source, SNS

After a four game unbeaten run stabilised the Pars' survival chances, they've lost the last two to drag them back down into the quagmire.

United have been their usual inconsistent selves, but have won their last two games back-to-back - the first time they've done that since 2 January.

The sides have met four times this season, with United coming out on top twice and the last game ending in a 0-0 draw. Hopefully not the case tonight.

With the form guide and the head-to-head going in United's favour, can we give Pars' fans some hope with our next stat?

Image source, SNS

A special mention to Matty Todd - a 'future Ballon d'Or winner', one excited Dunfermline fan once told me - who makes his 100th Pars appearance this evening.

"Matty, Matty Todd... Matty, Matty Todd" cry the home fans.

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Despite a 4-0 win over Arbroath last weekend, Jim Goodwin opts to change it round a bit - and it looks like a change of shape as well.

Jordan Tillson is one of two changes, alongside St Mirren loanee Alex Greive.

It looks like Tillson is part of a three-man midfield, with Greive part of a three-pronged attack. Miller Thomson remains at right-back.

Image source, SNS