Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0
Saturday, 8th Apr 2017Ladbrokes Championship: Rhys McCabe starts in place of suspended John Herron. Kallum Higginbotham (49 pen.) 1-0
Dunfermline made one enforced change for the visit of Raith Rovers, Rhys McCabe coming in for the suspended John Herron. For the Rovers manager John Hughes made three changes, Kyle Benedictus, Declan McManus and Ross Callachan making way for Jason Thomson, Rudi Skacel and Daniel Handling.
In search of very necessary points, the Rovers kicked off in fine April sunshine attacking the goal at the McCathie Stand end. It was the Pars who pushed up early but it was fairly open for the first ten minutes. A Kallum Higginbotham cross from the right almost got Paul McMullan a chance but his shot was blocked then Jean Yves-Mvoto headed clear another Higginbotham delivery.
The Pars defence was alert when Ryan Hardie threatened to break through the middle but Callum Morris did a great recovery job. Raith kept up their interest with a Kevin McHattie cross through the six yard box that Hardie just missed to connect as he slid in.
Former Par Jason Thomson was fortunate it was just a yellow that he received for a hefty challenge on Jason Talbot right in front of the North West Stand after quarter of an hour.
Raith`s best chance of the half came in 19th minute when McHattie fired a cross across Murdoch`s goal. Dunfermline showed better build up play and slicker passes. McMullan, Clark and Higginbotham display good control to set up another chance but failed to get a shot away. A low cross from Geggan was cleared by Mvoto and when Moffat blocked a Penska clearance his cut back to Clark was hit high over the bar.
A 28th minute free kick was pumped from the halfway line by Geggan in the direction of Higginbotham but he could prevent it going behind for a bye kick. At the other end Morris cleared a Thomson cross.
Four minutes later after Talbot had made ground down the left, Clark and Moffat exchanged passes on the edge of the Rovers box when Clark shot it was blocked. Then from the right McCabe curled a shot beyond the far post.
Craig Barr defended a 36th minute corner sent in by Higginbotham from the right and when Rovers broke they forced their first corner of the game on the right but Nat Wedderburn blocked Rudi Skacel`s effort.
Geggan cross blocked and then back flicked by Moffat but the defence sent that out for a throw on the left that McCabe through deep towards Lee Ashcroft but he could only head the ball wide. Then a Chris Johnston free kick was missed by Hardie and then headed by Skacel into Sean Murdoch`s hands.
In the final minute of the half a Higginbotham corner was picked by Clark but Mvoto prevented a shot and eventually it was McMullan who got in an attempt but deflected off Thomson for another corner that did not change anything.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0
The second half started well with the Pars being awarded a penalty within three minutes. A Moffat pass let McMullan chase into the Raith box and when he was taken down by Jason Thomson, referee Andrew Dallas pointed to the spot. HIGGINBOTHAM used the same run up as against Hibs the previous week but stuck the ball away to the keeper`s left. 1-0
A 53rd minute shot from Skacel was held by Murdoch diving down to hold at his left post.
Moffat`s run made a 55th minute corner but Mvoto powered that away. McCabe cross from the left met by Geggan but pushed over the bar by Penska. From the corner McCabe got a strike on target but Handling deflected the ball over for another corner.
A Higginbotham free kick from the right was perfect for Moffat but McHattie managed to turn the ball over the bar when a second goal looked more likely. Again the Rovers defended the corner as the travelling support chanted for the introduction of Bobby Barr.
Jordan Thompson sent a half chance over the bar in 62 minutes before the clash of the Jasons earned Talbot a yellow and the Rovers full back a sore head. Dunfermline defended the resultant free kick.
The visitors were looking for a penalty when Jason Thomson went over McMullan`s outstretched leg just inside the box on the right. No penalty, the Pars broke and were unlucky not to net a second. Higginbotham`s cross from deep left was nicely met by Clark but his on target header was held by the keeper.
In 74 minutes Murdoch out fast to deny Hardie and then reverse back to hold Skacel`s chip. Craig Barr made little attempt top play the ball as he earned a yellow card for blocking Moffat`s run. The Pars then created another good opportunity when Higginbotham`s cut back for Clark brought a great save out of Penska.
Six minutes from the end Wedderburn was booked for hand ball 26 yards out and McHattie drove the free kick into the Pars wall. Unluckily Clark then gave away another foul just a yard further out and this one Handling lofted in only for Geggan to clear.
That was really the final chance to rob the Pars of a win and the home side saw the remaining minutes out to take all three points.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Williamson Michael Paton, Gavin Reilly, Lewis Martin, Lewis Spence, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Higginbotham (49 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Talbot (64), Higginbotham (67), Wedderburn (84)
RAITH ROVERS: Pavol Penska: Jason Thomson, Jean-Yves Mvoto, Craig Barr, Kevin McHattie: Rudi Skacel (Jonathan Court 86), Iain Davidson, Jordan Thompson (Bobby Barr 78), Chris Johnston, Daniel Handling, Ryan Hardie
SUBS NOT USED: Declan McManus, Scott Roberts, David McKay, Conor Brennan (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Thomson (15), Skacel (73), C Barr (75), Davidson (90)
REFEREE: Andrew Dallas
WEATHER: Sunny 15C
ATTENDANCE 4865
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship: (away) v Dundee United, Tuesday 11th April 2027, kick off 7.45pm at Tannadice
50/50 half time draw ticket no.95913 won £1000
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Preview Raith Rovers
Saturday, 8th Apr 2017Ladbrokes Championship: Saturday 8th April kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
Saturday will be just the second Raith Rovers visit to East End Park on league duty since 2nd January 2013. Every Derby match is important but this one will determine just how comfortable or otherwise the remaining four weeks of the season will be. . In mid season the Kirkcaldy club hit a torrid patch of form that saw them go 17 matches without a win. . Now they occupy eighth place in the league and are only two points clear of the relegation play off spot.
Although still looking upwards with ambitions to at the very least displace Queen of the South from fifth place, a home win would ease the pressure from below and leave the Pars six points ahead of the Rovers with a game in hand.
There have been 97 league meetings between these teams. . Dunfermline have won 40, Raith 33 and 24 matches have been drawn. The best result was a 6-0 win in September 1962 when George Peebles hit a hat trick, Charlie Dickson a double and Alex Edwards scored.
|
Milestones v Raith Rovers (home) |
|||
|
Last League Victory |
02/01/13 |
1-0 |
First Division |
|
Last League Defeat |
29/08/09 |
0-2 |
First Division |
|
Best League Victory |
08/09/62 |
6-0 |
Div One (old) |
|
Worst League Defeat |
1927/28 |
0-4 |
Div One (old) |
Raith`s 2-0 win over the Pars in August last year was their first in six meetings. Dunfermline have won six of the last dozen league meetings, Raith three and three ended all square.
| Last twelve league meetings | ||||
| 2016/2017 | ||||
| Championship | Raith Rovers | 0-2 | Dunfermline | 02/01/17 |
| Championship | Dunfermline | 0-0 | Raith Rovers | 05/11/16 |
| Championship | Raith Rovers | 2-0 | Dunfermline | 20/08/16 |
| 2012/2013 | ||||
| First Division | Raith Rovers | 1-1 | Dunfermline | 17/11/12 |
| First Division | Dunfermline | 1-0 | Raith Rovers | 02/01/13 |
| First Division | Raith Rovers | 1-3 | Dunfermline | 17/11/12 |
| First Division | Dunfermline | 3-1 | Raith Rovers | 01/09/12 |
| 2010/2011 | ||||
| First Division | Dunfermline | 2-1 | Raith Rovers | 23/04/11 |
| First Division | Raith Rovers | 2-1 | Dunfermline | 02/01/11 |
| First Division | Dunfermline | 2-2 | Raith Rovers | 13/11/10 |
| First Division | Raith Rovers | 2-0 | Dunfermline | 21/08/10 |
| 2009/2010 | ||||
| First Division | Raith Rovers | 1-2 | Dunfermline | 20/03/10 |
Between 2013 and 2016 the Rovers visited East End Park both times on League Cup business. The Kirkcaldy side won 2-0 in August 2013 while Dunfermline won 1-0 in August 2014. The Rovers last league win was seven league matches back on 29th August 2009.
| Dunfermline | Raith Rovers |
| Current League Position | |
| 6 | 8 |
| League Results | |
| WDDLWD | LWLWDL |
| League Points | |
| 36 | 33 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -1 | -13 |
| League Record Home / Away | |
| P15, W4, D7, L4 | P15, W2, D4, L9 |
Last League Meeting at East End Park
Saturday 5th November 2016
Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0
Dunfermline were credited with 63% possession in the first half with 8 shots to Rovers none. In the second half Pars keeper Sean Murdoch made several crucial saves to make and the Rovers RossCallachan assisted by crashing the ball wide from 20 yards.
Towards the end there was much excitement and anticipation in the home stands as a Kallum Higginbotham shot was blocked and then Joe Cardle was presented with an opportunity on the left just ten yards out but his shot to the near post was held by the keeper.
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Andy Geggan (c), Lewis Martin, Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, John Herron, Nat Wedderburn, Joe Cardle: Nicky Clark, Farid El Alagui
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Moffat, Rhys McCabe, Michael Paton, Ryan Williamson, Callum Fordyce, Paul McMullan, David Hutton (GK)
RAITH ROVERS: Kevin Cuthbert: Iain Davidson, Jean-Yves Mvoto, Kyle Benedictus (c), Kevin McHattie: Ross Matthews, Jordan Thompson, Ross Callachan, Chris Johnston (Scott Roberts 77): Mark Stewart (Rudi Skacel 88), Declan McManus.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Vaughan, Joel Coustrain, Aaron Lennox, Robbie Crawford, Conor Brennan (GK).
| . . . . . . . Form last six matches | ||||||
| . . Dunfermline | . | . Raith Rovers | ||||
| . Hibernian (H) | D |
1-1 |
. Falkirk (A) | L | 0-1 | |
| . Morton (A) | W | 1-0 | . Queen of the South (H) | D | 1-1 | |
| . Ayr United (H) | .L |
.0-1 |
. Dundee United (H) | W | 2-1 | |
| . .St Mirren (A) | D | 0-0 | . Dumbarton (A) | L | 0-4 | |
| . Queen of South (H) | D | 1-1 | . St Mirren (H) | .W |
.2-0 |
|
| . Dumbarton (H) | W | .5-1 | . Ayr United (A) | L |
0-1 |
|
Raith won their first three Championship games but then failed to win in four. . Since 22nd October Raith have won only twice and that was also their last away win - 4-2 at Falkirk. The Rovers four remaining fixtures are at home to Morton and Ayr and away to Hibs and St Mirren, opponents who will probably all be going out for maximum points. So it would appear important to both these Fife clubs to pick up points now before nerves start to fray.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Hibernian): Sean Murdoch: Andy Geggan (c), Callum Morris, Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, Nat Wedderburn, John Herron (Rhys McCabe 80), Paul McMullan: Michael Moffat, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Williamson Michael Paton, Gavin Reilly, Joe Cardle, Lewis Martin, Cammy Gill (GK)
RAITH ROVERS (v Falkirk): Pavol Penska: Kyle Benedictus (Scott Roberts 80), Jean-Yves Mvoto, Craig Barr, Kevin McHattie: Iain Davidson, Jordan Thompson, Ross Callachan (Daniel Handling 45), Chris Johnston, Declan McManus, Ryan Hardie
SUBS NOT USED: Bobby Barr, Rudi Skacel, Jonathan Court, Conor Brennan (GK).
The referee will be Andrew Dallas.
Views : 7,307
