Preview Raith Rovers

Scottish Championship: (away) v Raith Rovers, Tuesday 30th March 2021, kick off 7.05pm at Stark`s Park. Live on the BBC Scotland channel

After contrasting results on Saturday, Raith Rovers take on Dunfermline occupying second place in the Championship, three points better off than their West Fife opponents who have played one game less. With six teams now separated by just three points the competition for play off places has rarely been so tight. Stevie Crawford’s Dunfermline team knows that every point is going to be important and Tuesday night’s derby is a big opportunity to draw level with John McGlynn’s men.

This will be the 51st league visit to Starks Park where Dunfermline hold the upper hand with 19 wins to Raith’s 15 with 16 drawn.

Milestones v Raith Rovers (away)
Last League Victory | 02/01/17 | 2-0 | Championship
Last League Defeat | 20/08/16 | 0-2 | Championship
Best League Victory | 29/10/94 | 5-2 | Div One (old)
Worst League 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 league fixtures the Pars have won six of them, Raith three and three have ended all square.

Last Twelve Meetings

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
16/03/13 | A | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 1 | D | Division One
02/01/13 | H | Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0 | W | Division One
17/11/12 | A | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 3 | W | Division One

Last Time at Stark’s Park
Saturday 5th December 2021, Scottish Championship
Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 2

Following Raith Rovers promotion back out of League One, this was the first league match between the teams since April 2017.

The Rovers opened the scoring in 27th minute from a Dan Armstrong free kick 35 yards out on the right that picked out Manny DUKU at the far post. Fôn Williams parried the ball but the big Dutchman netted from close in. 1-0

Fôn Williams beat away a 63rd minute shot from Ross Matthews but two corners followed and from the second sent in by Ross from the right, Duku met it but the ball was among beyond the right upright until MUSONDA headed home to make it 2-0.

Kevin O’Hara replaced Kerr McInroy before in 72 minutes McManus glanced an Edwards cross wide right. A minute later McManus payed a great ball to Fraser MURRAY who found himself in space on the left, he cut inside Tumilty and finished low into the bottom right from 18 yards. 2-1

The visitors looked a side reinvented and they hit another just two minutes later when with a good pass in from the right side, Dow teed up McMANUS for a special finish that gave the keeper no chance. 2-2. Just imagine what it would have been like in front of a stand full of Pars!

RAITH ROVERS: Jamie Macdonald: Reghan Tumilty, Kyle Benedictus, Frankie Musonda, Kieran Macdonald, Daniel Armstrong, Ross Matthews, Dylan Tait, Ethan Ross (Brad Spencer 75), Regan Hendry, Manny Duku (Lars Lokotsch 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Fernandy Meney, Gozie Ugwu, Quinn Coulson, Luke Mahady, Robbie Thomson (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Owain Fôn Williams: Lewis Mayo (Aaron Comrie 57), Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Ian Wilson (Fraser Murray 58): Ryan Dow, Kerr McInroy (Kevin O’Hara 69), Dom Thomas: Kyle Turner: Declan McManus
SUBS NOT USED: Matty Bowman, Lewis McCann, Miller Fenton, Cammy Gill (GK)

Recent Form

Dunfermline have won two and drawn one of their last six. Away from home they are seeking their first away win since 24th October and have managed just that one victory at Alloa in ten league games on the road.

Christmas Raith Rovers went on a rollercoaster recording four defeats immediately after four wins. In their last six matches they have won two, drawn three and lost at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. They are seeking just their second back to back league wins of the season.

DUNFERMLINE
Dundee (A) L 2-3
Morton (A) D 0-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-1
Morton (H) W 1-0
Queen of the South (A) L 0-1
Alloa Athletic (H) W 2-1

RAITH ROVERS
Morton (H) W 1-0
Stirling Albion (A) W 2-0
Ayr United (A) D 1-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) L 0-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 0-0
Ayr United (H) D 0-0

Current League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 4th
League Points: 30
Goal Difference: +6
League Record: P20 W8 D6 L6 GF29 GA23
Last Six Match Form: WLWLDL

RAITH ROVERS
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 33
Goal Difference: +8
League Record: P21 W9 D6 L5 GF34 GA26
Last Six Match Form: DDLDWW

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Dundee): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson (Ewan Henderson 66), Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Fraser Murray, Lewis Mayo, Iain Wilson, Dom Thomas (Scott Banks 70): Kevin O’Hara (Declan McManus 70), Craig Wighton.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Macdonald, Lewis McCann, Kerr McInroy, Cammy Gill (GK)

RAITH ROVERS (v Morton): Jamie Macdonald: Reghan Tumilty, Frankie Musonda, Kyle Benedictus, Kieran Macdonald: Daniel Armstrong (Lewis Vaughan 66), Regan Hendry, Dylan Tait, Adam King (Ross Matthews 70): Manny Duku, Gozie Ugwu (Jamie Gullan 66)
SUBS NOT USED: Timmy Abraham, Brad Spencer, Kai Kennedy, Robbie Thomson (GK)

Referee will be Euan Anderson.

Related Stories

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• Dundee 3 Dunfermline 2
• Morton 0 Dunfermline 0
• Dunfermline 0 Inverness CT 1