Preview Raith Rovers

In the last ten league fixtures the Pars have won half of them, Raith three and two ended all square. The most recent game on 7th November 2009 was a 2-1 away win for the Pars.

The New Year fixture on 2nd January was postponed because of an impending snowstorm so the fourth meeting this season between the Pars and their near neighbours has been delayed until March.  In August a very impressive showing by Jim McIntyre's team inflicted a 3-1 defeat over the Kirkcaldy club in the Co-operative Insurance Cup but on the following Saturday the Rovers won the league match 2-0.  When the sides met at Starks Park the Pars won 2-1 with a dramatic last gasp own goal from former Pars player, Craig Wilson.

There have been 84 league meetings between these teams.  Dunfermline have won 33, Raith 22 and 29 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.

In the last ten league fixtures the Pars have won half of them, Raith three and two ended all square. The most recent game on 7th November 2009 was a 2-1 away win for the Pars.  The Pars last league win at East End Park was in the SPL in 1997 which completed a complete whitewash over the Rovers that season.

When the teams met in August, Dunfermline sat on top of the table with 6 points from three games, the Rovers sat a point behind in third place. As we go into March, the Pars are still above the Rovers but Dunfermline are in 6th to Rovers 7th and the clubs are separated by three points.

Raith have won only one league match since they lost at home to Dunfermline at the start of November.  Their away form started strongly with seven points from their first three matches on the road but now their last away win in the league was at Partick Thistle on Halloween.  That said they have seen off Airdrie United and Peterhead in the Scottish Cup before their famous victory at Pittodrie to earn a Scottish Cup tie against Dundee.

Since their run of eight games without defeat ended at Ayr on 5th December, the Pars won only twice in the seven league encounters since.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Greg Fleming; Greg Ross, Neil McGregor (Chris Higgins HT), Calum Woods, Austin McCann (c); Steven Bell, Gary Mason, Nick Phinn (Willie Gibson 59); David Graham, Joe Cardle (Ross Campbell 69); Andy Kirk.
SUBS NOT USED:  Alex Burke, Greg Paterson (GK)

RAITH ROVERS (v Aberdeen): David McGurn; Craig Wilson, Mark Ferry, Grant Murray, Stephen Simmons, Iain Williamson, Robert Sloan, Allan Walker, Gregory Tade, Kevin Smith, Johnny Russell (Darren Smith  25).
SUBS NOT USED: Gary O'Connor (GK), Craig Wedderburn, Graham Weir

In the last Fife Derby at East End Park referee David Somers red carded Willie Gibson.  This time the referee will be the same David Somers.