Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 0

Sunday, 2nd Jan 2022

cinch Championship: Dan Pybus and Steven Lawless start in place of Graham Dorrans and Craig Wighton.

The first fixture of 2022 was the traditional New Year derby against Raith Rovers but it was just the fourth in the last twenty years to continue that history. Fourth placed Rovers faced ninth placed Dunfermline, John McGlynn’s team against John Hughes’.

Pars were without Graham Dorrans and Craig Wighton was on the bench. Into the starting eleven came Dan Pybus and new signing Steven Lawless. A welcome sight on the Pars bench was Lewis Martin, the first involvement for the 25 year old since March 2020.

The home side made three changes from the side that lost at Somerset Park in their last match - Aidan Connolly, Dylan Tait and Dario Zanatta found themselves on the substitutes’ bench and into the side came Matej Poplatnik and new signings Sam Stanton and Ben Williamson.

The 500 fans allowed in for this game were accommodated in the Penman Family Stand and despite the above average temperature for the time of year there was a strong and cold cross pitch wind. The sprinklers were switched off as the Dunfermline side entered the park from the corner at the far side of the McDermid Stand.

The teams changed ends before Poplatnik kicked off for Raith attacking the goal at the Penman Stand end. First opportunity came from a third minute thrown in when Josh Edwards was able to try a shot but he was well wide and high from 25 yards out.

Rovers captain was shown a yellow card in tenth minute after barging Pybus off the ball on the right but when Lawless delivered from the free kick the Rovers headed clear. The home side had the best chance of the match so far from a 20th minute free kick. Rhys Breen cut down Poplatnik to hand Raith the setpiece 35 yards out and when Ethan Ross sent the ball into the Pars box Tam Lang got his head to the ball but could only direct the ball firmly wide right.

At the other end an Allan free kick from a similar distance was narrowly missed by the inrunning Todd. Dunfermline then found themselves under a fair bit of pressure after Pybus conceded a free kick on the edge of the box. Ross drove the ball into the visitors’ wall and there were a couple of important blocked thereafter when crosses were prevented.

Owain Fôn Williams easily held a Williamson free kick fired at him from 30 yards out. Breen was up for a nicely flighted in free kick from Lawless in 28 minutes but the big centre back failed to make contact. Jamie Macdonald the Raith keeper had them to hold a Todd shot from the left and there were then another couple of chances for Dunfermline after Lewis McCann had his shot blocked by the keeper and Todd was off target with the resultant chance. Pybus finished the threat firing high and wide left.

With eight minutes to the interval lit was the home side’s turn to have a period of sustained pressure. After a Stanton free kick was headed behind by McCann three Ross corners were survived with Connolly clearing the closest thing over the bar. Back to the other end there were no takers as Dow pinged a ball across goal from the right.

It has been a first half in which neither keeper had a lot to do. The away side had five shots to their hosts one but at the break it was still goalless.

Half time: Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 0

A crunching tackle on McCann by Lang resulted in Dunfermline having an opportunity from a free kick 35 yards out on the left side. Allan powered the ball into the danger zone but the defence won out. Then two minutes later Allan’s short taken corner to Lawless was swung over by Edwards and Todd released a stinger of a low shot from the right side of the box that was blocked.

Raith Rovers were not to be forgotten and Stanton got in on the left side to hit a shot that Fon Williams parried away. Then on 62 minutes tenacity allowed Lawless a cross in from the right that McCann rose to meet but his header fell outside the right post. Dario Zanatta then became the first sub of the match replacing Matej Poplatnik.

Good close control from Ross Matthews forced himself deep into the right side of the Pars box but his shot was deflected for a corner from which Lang complained about being held but to no avail. Zanatta had an early chance as Fon Williams came and dwelt on a clearance. Fortunately he recovered to save the substitute’s effort.

At the midway point of the second half Kevin O’Hara replaced Matthew Todd and for Raith Dylan Tait was introduced for Ben Williamson. McCann was next to try a shot, controlling the ball well to turn and shoot from 16 yards out but again the effort was blocked.

Raith were afforded another good chance to alter the scoreline from a 22 yard free kick in a central position. There was no argument as Connolly hauled down Stanton but Ross hit the 74th minute setpiece narrowly over, hitting the sidenetting as it dropped right of goal.

Breen was the target for an 80th minute free kick delivered by Allan but the big centre back couldn’t control it and Raith had a bye kick that allowed Aidan Connolly to replace Ethan Ross. The game had become much more open with the introduction of the substitutes and both sides had counterattacks that might have yielded better.

Allan headed away a Dick cross and then Tumilty forced an 87th minute corner. Connolly sent the cross in from the right and Lang headed wide left. In 90th Macdonald held an overhead effort from Lawless and in a final Raith push Connolly headed away a Tumilty cross and it was to be the third draw of the season against the local rivals.

The one point takes Dunfermline one point clear of Morton in tenth with both sides having played 19 matches of the cinch Championship season.

RAITH ROVERS: Jamie MacDonald: Regan Tumilty, Tom Lang, Kyle Benedictus (c), Liam Dick: Sam Stanton, Ross Matthews, Ben Williamson (Dylan Tait 67), Ethan Ross (Aidan Connolly 80): Matej Poplatnik (Dario Zanatta 63), Ethon Varian.
SUBS NOT USED: Frankie Musonda, Blaine Riley-Snow, Aaron Arnott, Robbie Thomson (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Benedictus (10)

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams (c): Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Dan Pybus, Paul Allan, Ryan Dow, Matthew Todd (Kevin O’Hara 67), Steven Lawless, Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Kyle Macdonald, Craig Wighton, Nikolay Todorov, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Dow (9), Pybus (78)

REFEREE: David Munro
WEATHER: Sunny 9°C
ATTENDANCE 500

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (away) v Morton, Saturday 8th January 2022, kick off 3.00pm at Cappielow.

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Preview Raith Rovers

Sunday, 2nd Jan 2022

cinch Championship (away) v Raith Rovers, Sunday 2nd January 2022, kick off 3.00pm at Stark’s Park

Dunfermline make the trip east to first foot Raith Rovers on 2nd January in search of their first win in Kirkcaldy since 2nd January 2017. That Fife derby on a sunny Monday afternoon Dunfermline proved to be troublesome for their hosts. They scored twice through Clark and Ashcroft and with a little more luck it could have been an even more convincing scoreline.



Unfortunately that was the Pars last win there and the five subsequent matches away to Raith have seen three defeats and two draws. Dunfermline have won 22 of the 61 matches that they have played at Stark’s Park, Raith have won 21 and 18 have been drawn. The Pars have only won two of their last eleven away to Raith Rovers.



Milestones v Raith Rovers (away)

Last Victory | 02/01/17 | 2-0 | Championship

Last Defeat | 08/05/21 | 2-0 | Premiership play off

Best Victory | 29/10/94 | 5-2 | Div One (old)

Worst Defeat | 01/01/83 | 0-6 | Div One (old)

Last Goalless Draw | 08/09/81 | 0-0 | Division One

First League Meeting | 24/03/28 | 1-5 | Div One (old)

Last time at Stark’s Park

Raith Rovers 1-1 Dunfermline
Wed, 29th Sep 2021

Mark Connolly and Reece Cole started in place of Paul Watson and Craig Wighton.

Rovers would take the lead in 11 minutes when there was no catching ZANATTA as he streaked down the left wing, cut back and and then smashed his shot into the far side of the Dunfermline net. The goal was a big disappointment because the visitors had started fairly well but it was the injection of power that created the chance. 1-0.

The home side would lead for over an hour but after a much better second half performance Dunfermline found the equaliser. The fast moving Edwards received the ball back off Kennedy to cross from the left. That was met by Kevin O’HARA at the near post to finish with class. 1-1

It would end all square, the Pars third successive draw but one point not enough to lift Dunfermline off the foot of the table.

RAITH ROVERS: Jamie MacDonald: Reghan Tumilty, Kyle Benedictus, Christophe Berra, Liam Dick: Aidan Connolly, Ross Matthews, Brad Spencer, Dylan Tait (Kai Fotheringham 83), Dario Zanatta: Ethon Varian (Matej Poplatnik 73)
SUBS NOT USED: Blaise Riley-Snow, Kieran Mitchell, David McKay, Tom Lang, Robbie Thomson (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Vytas Gašpuitis, Josh Edwards: Graham Dorrans (c): Ryan Dow, Dan Pybus (Dom Thomas 72), Reece Cole (Kevin O’Hara HT), Kai Kennedy: Nikolay Todorov (Craig Wighton HT)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Paul Allan, Leon Jones, Deniz Mehmet (GK)

Last Twelve Meetings



Dunfermline have won three of the last twelve meetings, lost four and five have been drawn.


26/10/21 | H | Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 1 | D | Championship
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


Recent Form



Dunfermline have lost three, won two and drawn one of their last six matches. Raith Rovers have won two and drawn two of their last six games. Level on points with Kilmarnock, Raith sit fourth in the Championship and have lost only one home game this season when Queen of the South left with a 1-0 win. The last two Raith games have been defeats, only the second time they have lost back to back league matches since March 2018.

Last six matches



DUNFERMLINE

Arbroath (H) L 0-3

Queen of the South (H) D 3-3

Hamilton Academical (A) L 0-1

Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1

Ayr United (H) W 3-0

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) W 2-1



RAITH ROVERS

Ayr United (A) L 0-2
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-1

Kilmarnock (H) W 1-0
Arbroath (A) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 0-0
Falkirk (A) W 2-1



League Record


DUNFERMLINE

League Position: 9th

League Points: 14

Goal Difference: -13

League Record: P18 W3 D7 L6 GF18 GA31

Last Six Match Form: WWLLDL



RAITH ROVERS

League Position: 4th

League Points: 33

Goal Difference: +8

League Record: P19 W9 D6 L4 GF27 GA19

Last Six Match Form: WDDWLL

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Arbroath): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Mark Connolly, Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Matthew Todd (Kai Kennedy 62), Graham Dorrans (c), Paul Allan, Ryan Dow: Craig Wighton (Kevin O’Hara 62), Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Graham, Kyle Macdonald, Nikolay Todorov, Deniz Mehmet (GK)

RAITH ROVERS (v Ayr United): Jamie MacDonald: Regan Tumilty, Tom Lang, Kyle Benedictus, Liam Dick: Aidan Connolly, Dylan Tait, Ross Matthews, Ethan Ross: Dario Zanatta (Matej Poplatnik 77), Ethon Varian.
SUBS NOT USED: Frankie Musonda, Blaine Riley-Snow, Aaron Arnott, Greig Young, Kieran Mitchell, Robbie Thomson (GK)

Referee will be David Munro who will be remembered for his penalty decision at Hamilton and the red card shown to Graham Dorrans.

Other Championship fixtures

Arbroath v Inverness Caley Thistle
Partick Thistle v Morton
Queen of the South v Hamilton

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