Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 1
Tuesday, 26th Oct 2021cinch Championship: same again starting eleven named by Peter Grant. Dom Thomas (50) 1-0: Brad Spencer (88) 1-1
Raith Rovers arrived at East End Park sitting third in the league, five points off the top but 12 points clear of their hosts who still occupy tenth spot. Peter Grant’s side were full of hope that their recent resilience and improved performances could turn into a much sought after home win. For the second match running the Dunfermline Athletic manager named the same starting eleven.
Raith Rovers were without the injured Ethan Varian and Kyle Benedictus while Ross Matthews served suspension. All three subs used on Saturday against Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Tom Lang, Ethan Ross, Matej Poplatnik - started.
It was on to a blustery pitch that the teams emerged, Raith from the East Stand and the home side from the undercroft beneath the Norrie McCathie Stand. After a minute’s silence to respect former Rangers manager Walter Smith whose death was announced earlier in the day it was Dunfermline who kicked off attacking the goal at the home end.
The Pars looked lively from the off with Dom Thomas cutting in to release a shot that was blocked and Paul Allan and Dan Pybus enjoying possession but failing to penetrate the Rovers defence.
The first corner of the night was won by Thomas after a rapid penetrating run up the right. Josh Edwards sixth minute corner from the right was followed by one from the left that Allan took short to Thomas and Mark Connolly could only direct his attempt wide. At the other end Connolly was shown the first yellow card of the night for his ninth minute block on Matej Poplatnik. Fortunately Dario Zanatta curled the free kick from 16 yards on the left perimeter of the box outside the far post.
Dunfermline forced another corner on the left in 17 minutes and the same Allan to Thomas move created a crossed ball that sailed right through the Rovers box. When play switched to the other end Poplatnik tried a shot from 25 yards that his bright yellow right boot sent well wide right.
The Rovers forced two corners of their own in 21st minute. From the first an Ethan Ross shot was deflected for the second and that one Dunfermline cleared. There was then a great chance carved out through the sheer perseverance of Ryan Dow. In 26th minute he fought on after appearing to be fouled to dig out a cross from the left that firstly Thomas and then O’Hara had shots at goal from, only for keeper Macdonald to slip the ball out for another corner on the left. Same routine as before was deployed but this time the Rovers cleared the low cross.
A throw in from Liam Dick deep down the left found Zanatta in the box but his head on went straight to Owain Fôn Williams. Next Zanatta drove in from the left but his shot was blocked out by the defence.
It had been a ding dong affair without either keeper being severely tested. That was until the 42nd minute. When Pybus impeded Dick Aidan Connolly fired the 30 yard free kick towards the inside of the left goalpost and Fôn Williams turned the ball out for a corner that was well defended.
Half time: Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0
The teams came out to pouring rain that was swept in a strong towards the East Stand. Dow was first to threatened but he was offside and at the other end Zanatta’s angled shot was well held by Fôn Williams. Then in 50 minutes East End Park erupted to greet a special Dom THOMAS strike. Receiving the ball from Dow who had travelled upfield at pace having latched on to Fôn Williams roll out. The former Killie man hit a fine effort from 27 yards out that sailed into the top left corner of Jamie Macdonald’s net. 1-0
Ross was injured as a free kick was awarded to the visitors 25 yards out on the right side. Dylan Tait stood over the ball but it was Connolly who struck the setpiece hitting the sidenetting but making some believe that the ball had snuck in at the right post.
With 59 minutes on the clock Iain Wilson was introduced for Dan Pybus and two minutes later Aaron Comrie was shown a yellow card for his challenge on Zanatta. The resultant free kick saw the Rovers penalised for pushing in the box.
The East End Choir was in great voice and they were further encouraged by a good ball from Thomas towards Wighton in the box and a shooting opportunity for Allan that went wide.
There were further yellow cards for Thomas, Ross and Poplatnik before Ross was subbed by Kieran Mitchell in 76 minutes. The away support urged their team up the park and Connolly made the penalty box but tripped over himself and Zanatta got the shot in but it ran out wide right.
There was a double substitution for Dunfermline as the strikers were changed. Nikolay Todorov and Kai Kennedy came on for Craig Wighton and Kevin O’Hara. Thomas had waited for the subs before sending a free kick through and wide left. Then his next effort, a shot from outside the box was touched around his right hand post by Macdonald but no corner given.
Poplatnik had a good chance, he spun in front of goal but sent his shot into the McCathie. In 87 minutes there was a remarkable let off as Dick looked to be set up to score but the ball pinballed in the six yard box to stay out.
The goal that the visitors were pressing for came with two minutes remaining when SPENCER drilled a low ball from the edge of the box into the bottom left of the Pars net 1-1.
As both teams went for a winner, Dow hit a shot wide left and Tumilty had his stinging shot blocked. It was a cruel end for the Pars, what looked like a win worthy of great celebration turned out to be yet another draw and one that felt like a defeat.
Dunfermline remain tenth as Morton held Partick to a 0-0 draw and Raith drop to fourth as a consequence of an impressive Arbroath win at Inverness.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Dan Pybus (Iain Wilson 59), Paul Allan, Ryan Dow: Kevin O’Hara (Kai Kennedy 79), Craig Wighton (Nikolay Todorov 79)SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Rhys Breen, Lewis McCann, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Thomas (50)
YELLOW CARD: Connolly (9), Comrie (61), Thomas (68), Edwards (90)
RAITH ROVERS: Jamie MacDonald: Regan Tumilty, Christophe Berra, Tom Lang, Liam Dick: Brad Spencer, Dylan Tait, Aidan Connolly (Blaine Riley-Snow, 84), Ethan Ross (Kieran Mitchell 76), Dario Zanatta: Matej Poplatnik.
SUBS NOT USED: Frankie Musonda, Aaron Arnott, Greig Young, Robbie Thomson (GK)
SCORERS: Spencer (88)
YELLOW CARD: Ross (68), Poplatnik (70), Spencer (90)
REFEREE: Alan Muir
WEATHER: Cloudy 14°C
ATTENDANCE 4450
NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (away) v Arbroath, Saturday 30th October 2021, kick off 3.00pm at Gayfield Park
Winning 50/50 match ticket number Winning ticket number – 528261 - won £360
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Preview Raith Rovers
Tuesday, 26th Oct 2021cinch Championship (home) v Raith Rovers, Tuesday 26th October 2021, kick off 7.45pm at East End Park
The second Fife derby of the season takes place on Tuesday and it will be the first in front of the East End Park fans since April 2017 when a crowd of 4865 saw a Kallum Higginbotham penalty enough to separate the teams.
The first match against Raith this season on 29th September was the usual fiercely contested meeting. A game of two halves really with Kevin O’Hara netting in 79 minutes to cancel out an early Dario Zanatta opener.
In total the clubs have met 122 times, Dunfermline winning 50 and Raith 43. At home Dunfermline have won 28 of their 61 matches against Raith, the visitors winning 22 and eleven drawn. It is nine league visits back, in August 2009, since the Rovers left with the three points.
Milestones v Raith Rovers (home)
Last Home Victory | 03/02/21 | 3-1 | Championship
Last Home Defeat | 20/08/13 | 0-2 | Ramsden Cup
Best Home Victory | 08/09/62 | 6-0 | Division One (old)
Best Home Victory | 01/01/68 | 6-0 | Division One (old)
Worst Home Defeat | 19/11/27 | 0-4 | Division One (old)
Last Goalless Home Draw | 04/05/21 | 0-0 | Premiership Play Off
First Ever Home Meeting | 10/02/23 | 0-3 | Scottish Cup
Last time at East End Park
Premiership Quarter Final Play Off First Leg
Dunfermline 0-0 Raith Rovers
Tue, 4th May 2021
After finishing fourth and third respectively in the Scottish Championship Dunfermline and Raith Rovers had to play off over two legs for the opportunity to take on Dundee and hopefully progress from there to meet the team finishing in eleventh placed side in the Premiership.
The match was full of chances, the Pars with three times as many as the visitors. McManus, Wighton, O’Hara, Henderson and Banks had their chances amongst the 14 shots that Dunfermline mustered. However Rovers keeper Jamie McDonald more than earned his wages defying the Pars any advantage to take into the second leg.
The home side were left lamenting there being no goals and paid for that when Raith went on to win the return at Stark’s Park.
DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Steven Whittaker: Dom Thomas (Scott Banks 80), Declan McManus (Kerr McInroy 73), Ewan Henderson: Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Vytas Gašpuitis, Lewis McCann, Lewis Mayo, Cammy Gill (GK)
RAITH ROVERS: Jamie Macdonald: Reghan Tumilty, Iain Davidson, Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Macdonald: Ross Matthews (Adam King 82), Regan Hendry, Brad Spencer, Kai Kennedy: Lewis Vaughan (Manny Duku 85), Jamie Gullan (Gozie Ugwu 87)
SUBS NOT USED: Fernandy Mendy, Nathan Cooney, Dan Armstrong, Robbie Thomson (GK)
Last Twelve Meetings
Dunfermline have won four of the last twelve meetings, lost four and four have been drawn.
29/09/21 | A | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 1 | D | Championship
08/05/21 | A | Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 0 | L | Premiership Play Off
04/05/21 | H | Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0 | D | Premiership Play Off
27/03/21 | A | Raith Rovers 5 Dunfermline 1 | | L | Championship
03/02/21 | H | Dunfermline 4 Raith Rovers 1 | W | Championship
05/12/20 | A | Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 2 | D | Championship
19/01/19 | A | Raith Rovers 3 Dunfermline 0 | L | Scottish Cup
08/04/17 | H | Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0| W | Championship
02/01/17 | A | Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 2 | W | Championship
05/12/16 | H | Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0 | D | Championship
20/08/16 | A | Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 0 | L | Championship
05/08/14 | H | Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0 | W | Challenge Cup
Recent Form
Dunfermline have now drawn five of their last six matches. They are still chasing their first league win of the season and of course would love to right that on Tuesday night. They have only netted four times in their last ten matches.
Raith Rovers have played five of their last six matches at home and prior to Inverness on Saturday Dunfermline were the only visitors in that time to have left with points. Their away match was an impressive win at Rugby Park and they have only failed to win once in the league on the road, at Inverness.
Last six matches
DUNFERMLINE
Partick Thistle (A) D 0-0
Kilmarnock (H) D 2-2
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Raith Rovers (A) D 1-1
Hamilton Accies (H) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 0-0
RAITH ROVERS
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Arbroath (H) W 2-1
East Fife (H) W 3-1
Kilmarnock (A) W 3-1
Dunfermline (H) D 1-1
Partick Thistle (H) W 3-2
League Record
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 10th
League Points: 5
Goal Difference: -9
League Record: P10 W0 D6 L4 GF5 GA14
Last Six Match Form: DDDLDD
RAITH ROVERS
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 18
Goal Difference: +5
League Record: P10 W5 D3 L2 GF17 GA12
Last Six Match Form: WDWWWD
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Partick Thistle): Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Dan Pybus, Paul Allan, Ryan Dow (Iain Wilson 60): Kevin O’Hara (Kai Kennedy 72), Craig Wighton (Nikolay Todorov 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Rhys Breen, Lewis McCann, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
RAITH ROVERS (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Jamie MacDonald: Regan Tumilty, Christophe Berra, Kyle Benedictus (Tom Lang 53), Liam Dick: Aidan Connolly (Ethan Ross 78), Ross Matthews Brad Spencer, Dylan Tait, Ethan Varian (Matej Poplatnik 21), Dario Zanatta
SUBS NOT USED: Blaine Riley-Snow, Kieran Mitchell, Greig Young, Robbie Thomson (GK)
The referee will be Alan Muir, his first time at East End Park since 19th October 2019 when Dunfermline defeated Ayr United 3-2.
Other cinch Championship fixtures
Ayr United v Kilmarnock
Hamilton Academical v Queen of the South
Inverness Caley Thistle v Arbroath
Morton v Partick Thistle
Manager talked about this derby to ParsTV
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