Preview Raith Rovers

cinch Championship (away) Friday 20th August 2021, kick off 7.45pm at Stark’s Park

It will be the first League match against Raith Rovers in front of fans since 2nd January 2017. That sunny Monday afternoon Dunfermline proved to be troublesome first foots 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 four subsequent matches away to Raith have seen three defeats and one draw. This Friday night the teams go head to head after vastly different experiences against Premiership opponents in the Premier Sports Cup but as everyone knows anything can happen in a derby and it regularly does.

Dunfermline have won 22 of the 60 matches that they have played at Stark’s Park, Raith have won 21 and 17 have been drawn. The Pars have only won two of their last ten away to Raith Rovers.

Milestones v Raith Rovers (away)
Last Victory | 02/01/17 | 2-0 | Championship
Last Defeat | 08/05/21 | 0-2 | 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)

In the last dozen fixtures it is four wins, five defeats and three draws.

Last Twelve Meetings

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
30/03/21 | 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
20/08/13 | H | Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 2 | L | Challenge Cup

Last time at Stark’s Park
Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 0, Saturday, 8th May 2021
Scottish Premiership Quarter Final Play Off Second Leg

Dunfermline’s season ended with defeat to rivals Raith Rovers. John McGlynn’s side took their chances in a game which many considered the Pars were the better team.

It was a Second Leg with fewer chances than the First Leg and Dunfermline dearly paid for not cashing in on Tuesday night’s opportunities. The Pars season would come to a sad and abrupt end and Raith Rovers went on to play Dundee in the Premiership Play Off Semi Final.

Raith got the long awaited breakthrough in 64 minutes when a Macdonald cross from the left could not be cleared properly and Tumilty was able to shoot from the right side. Fôn Williams saved but the ball dropped for VAUGHAN to nip in to finish over the unlucky keeper. 1-0

The game was put beyond the Pars when McManus’ pass went to an opponent and the ball was lashed forward by Spencer for UGWU to latch on to, brushing off two defenders before crashing an 89th minute shot past the helpless keeper. 2-0

RAITH ROVERS: Jamie Macdonald: Reghan Tumilty, Iain Davidson (Fernandy Mendy 85), Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Macdonald: Ross Matthews (Dylan Tait 76), Regan Hendry, Brad Spencer, Dan Armstrong: Lewis Vaughan, Jamie Gullan (Gozie Ugwu 82).
SUBS NOT USED: Adam King, Timmy Abraham, Nathan Cooney, Robbie Thomson (GK)

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c)(Fraser Murray 85), Josh Edwards: Dom Thomas, Steven Whittaker, Lewis Mayo (Scott Banks 70), Ewan Henderson: Kevin O’Hara, Craig Wighton (Declan McManus 70).
SUBS NOT USED: Kerr McInroy, Kyle Macdonald, Vytas Gašpuitis, Cammy Gill (GK)

Recent Form

After a decent League Cup campaign Dunfermline’s league season has seen a 2-2 draw at Morton and a 3-0 defeat at home to Partick Thistle. The team now needs to bounce back from the defeat to Rangers.

Raith had wins over Cowdenbeath and Brechin City in the League Cup and both their games against Livingston and Alloa Athletic were settled on penalties. In the league they had a remarkable slide from 4-0 up to allow Hamilton a draw and then they travelled to Inverness only to lose 1-0. Their League Cup success over Aberdeen is bound to boost the confidence going into this Friday’s derby.

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Rangers (A) L 0-5
Partick Thistle (H) L 0-3
Morton (A) D 2-2
Stenhousemuir (H) W 4-1
Dumbarton (H) W 5-1
St Mirren (A) L 0-1

RAITH ROVERS
Aberdeen (H) W 2-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) L 0-1
Hamilton Accies (H) D 4-4
Alloa (H) D 0-0*
Livingston (A) D 0-0
Brechin City (H) W 4-0

Last Season

DUNFERMLINE
Scottish Championship
League Position: 4th
League Points: 39
Goal Difference: +4
Away League Record: P13 W1 D6 L6 GF14 GA21

Last Six Match Form: LWWDLL

RAITH ROVERS
Scottish Championship
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 43
Goal Difference: +9
Home League Record: P13 W6 D3 L4 GF24 GA18

Last Six Match Form: WDDDLW

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Rangers): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Ross Graham: Kyle Macdonald (Ryan Dow HT), Dan Pybus, Graham Dorrans (c), Josh Edwards: Craig Wighton (Reece Cole 56): Kevin O’Hara (Dom Thomas HT), Nikolay Todorov.
SUBS NOT USED: Rhys Breen, Vytas Gašpuitis, Paul Allan, Leon Jones, Matty Todd, Owain Fôn Williams (GK).

RAITH ROVERS (v Aberdeen): Jamie MacDonald: Reghan Tumilty, Kyle Benedictus, Christophe Berra, Blaise Riley-Snow (Aaron Arnott 83), Liam Dick: Aidan Connolly, Ross Matthews, Dylan Tait, Dario Zanatta (Kai Fotheringham 89), Ethon Varian (Matej Poplatnik 80).
SUBS NOT USED: David McKay, Tom Lang, James Keatings, Kieran Mitchell, Greig Young, Robbie Thomson (GK).

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