When the fixtures were announced at the end of June, it would be fair to say that many Pars fans expected an encouraging start to the season from the Davie Hay's men.
And why wouldn't they! It wasn't the easiest of starts but it certainly wasn't the hardest! A few wins from the first few games would have set the team up nicely for the season.
After losing once again - this time to a poor Kilmarnock side - the Pars continue to languish at the bottom of the table after four league games and, with four straight defeats behind them, the Pars now find themselves in deep deep trouble.
With the Pars players - and fans - desperate to eradicate the painful memories of Thursday night's catastrophe, the Pars - backed by a fairly poor travelling support - lined-up in a straight-forward 4-4-2 formation with two notable changes to the side that lost to FH Hafnarfjordur. Out went Scott Wilson (injury) and Derek Young, making way for young forward Billy Mehmet and wantaway defender Ritchie Byrne. The inclusion of Byrne saw Scott Thomson move to centre half with the Irishman taking up his familiar left-back slot. However it was the selection of Billy Mehmet - making his first start of the season - that made way for yet another Davie Hay tactical 'masterstroke'. With Mehmet selected up-front alongside Brewster, Number 9 Noel Hunt was once again deployed as a right winger - a position the youngster didn't exactly grace on Thursday night.
With the memories of the 'European campaign' still fresh in the mind, the Pars aimed to hit Jim Jefferies side straight from the off - a 30-yard drive from Billy Mehmet in the opening seconds failing to trouble Alan Combe in the home side's goal. The Pars continued their early assault on Killie's goal with Brewster sending a 25-yard effort agonisingly wide of Combe's right-hand post.
However the home side were to respond with the ultimate reply in the 10th minute when Danny INVINCIBLE opened the scoring for Jefferie's men. The Australian showed good skill, after getting on the end of Combe kick out, to dribble past Skerla and Thomson before firing a low drive past Stillie into the net.
Having taken the lead the home side also took the ascendency, attacking what appeared to be a very nervy Pars defence. Gary Locke was next to trouble the Pars defence when his cross-cum-shot crashed off the bar with Derek Stillie helpless, Killie youngster Shaun Dillon striking the resulting rebound straight into the arms of the Pars keeper. All the Pars could muster as any sort of reply was a fairly tame Gary Dempsey effort in the 26th minute which was well-saved by Combe.
With the home side gaining more and more control of the match, and the Pars side all at sea, Gary McDonald saw his right-footed drive saved by Stillie in the 32nd minute of the match. With the Pars so obviously lacking confidence and organisation it came as a relief when referee Steve Conroy brought the first-half proceedings to a close.
With the need for change somewhat vital, Davie Hay choosing to replace Ritchie Byrne and - the very quiet - Noel Hunt with Aaron Labonte - making his first appearance of the season - and Derek Young. What was to follow was a much improved performance which saw the Pars gain control of the fixture in the second fourty-five. A 54th minute Craig Brewster free-kick, excellently saved by Alan Combe, signalling their intentions.
Although the Pars were constantly pressing the Killie defence, the home side were looking increasingly dangerous on the break. A 72nd minute Kilmarnock breakaway should have resulted in the a crucial second for the home side, only for Derek Stillie to produce an excellent save to deny Danny Invincible his second of the game.
With the seconds ticking away, Davie Hay - for the third game running - sent on centre-half Andy Tod as an emergancy striker. With ten minutes left, the plan was simple - Route One! It almost paid dividends with four minutes remaining when Tod got on the end of a hopeful long-ball. With the goal gaping, the big defender failed to find the composure needed in order to drag the Pars back level. With Mehmet and Shields both coming close in the final moments, the referee blew the final whistle amid desperate pleas from the home fans consinig the Pars to their FOURTH consecutive defeat.
Although a much improved performance, the result only goes to show how desperate the current situation has become for the Pars. Losing to a poor Kilmarnock side despite putting in a good performance is simply not good enough. This fixture should have been an almost guaranteed three points for the Pars - however that could realistically have been said for every fixture so far this season!
It pains me to say it but with the current managment team at the helm, a relegation battle beckons. Davie Hay and his 'dream team' continue to exert the long-ball philosophy onto the Pars players. With tactics like these who needs a midfield!
Hay's selection policy continues to baffle fans. Noel Hunt is not a winger! Plain and simple! So why has Hay selected the Irishman - at times anonomous against the Ayrshire side - as a winger for two consecutive games?! With Scott Wilson ruled out through injury, Hay's selection of Byrne pushed Scott Thomson into the centre of defence. With Thomson performing well at left back recently, would it not have made more sense to swap Scott Wilson for Andy Tod/Aaron Labonte - centre-half for centre-half, as opposed to playing Ritchie Byrne - a player with a strong desire to leave the Pars.
And what's happened to Derek Lyle?! With the team so desperate for goals - as Hay has so often stated - would it not be sensible to give the lad a run-out, he certainly couldn't do any worse than the current strikers!
Clutching at straws maybe but things have got to change! Something that looks very unlikely to happen under the current management team!
Anyone happen to have Sandy Clark or Stan Ternant's phone number?!
Man Of The Match - BILLY MEHMET - A tireless performance from the youngster. Definately a great prospect for the future.
PARS - Stillie 6, Shields 6, Byrne 4, (Labonte H/T) 7, Skerla 6, Thomson 6, Dempsey 5, Hunt 4, (Derek Young H/T) 5, Mason 5, (Andy Tod 82) 5, Darren Young 6, Brewster 6, Mehmet 8.
SUBS NOT USED - Langfield, Lyle, Donnelly, McKeown.