Preview Raith Rovers

Raith are unbeaten away from home in the league this season while Dunfermline have a 100% home league record so something has to give.

A large crowd is expected as the top two teams in the First Division clash on Saturday.  The return of the Rovers to East End Park is eagerly awaited and Dunfermline Athletic hope to avenge the Starks Park defeat in August.  As well as recording a win however, that feat would also send the Pars to the top of the table.  The task ahead is no easy one.  Despite their setback with a home defeat last Saturday to Queen of the South, Raith Rovers are on good form.  They won at Cappielow two weeks ago while Dunfermline suffered defeat there on Saturday and Raith are unbeaten away from home in the league.

There have been 87 league meetings between these teams.  Dunfermline have won 35, Raith 31 and 21 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. 

The Pars have won three of the last nine league meetings, Raith four and two ended all square. The most recent game on 21st August 2010 was a 2-0 home win for the Rovers.  The Pars 2-1 league win at East End Park in March was there first there since in the SPL in 1997 which completed a complete whitewash over the Rovers that season.

Twelve games into this season`s campaign only one point separates the teams who sit at the top of the table.

Raith are unbeaten away from home in the league this season while Dunfermline have a 100% home league record so something has to give.  Aberdeen in the League Cup with a 3-2 victory is the only defeat on the road for John McGlynn`s side.  Their draws have been no score affairs at Dingwall and Dundee.  The Pars have registered five successive home wins against Morton, Dundee, Cowdenbeath, Ross County and Stirling Albion.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Chris Smith; Calum Woods, Andy Dowie, Chris Higgins, Austin McCann (c); Wullie Gibson, Steven Bell (Ryan Thomson 18), Gary Mason, David Graham (Joe Cardle 58); Andy Kirk, Pat Clarke (Steven McDougall 58).
SUBS NOT USED: Alex Keddie, Kyle Allison (GK).

RAITH ROVERS (v Queen of the South): David McGurn; Craig Wilson, Grant Murray, Laurence Ellis, Lillie Dyer, Allan Walker (Graham Weir 83), Stephen Simmons, Iain Davidson,  John Baird (Iain Williamson 68); Gregory Tade, Jamie Mole.
SUBS NOT USED: Mark Campbell,  Mark Ferry, Andrew McNeil.

Some familiar faces in the Rovers line up; Iain Wiliamson and Craig Wilson came through the youth system at Dunfermline and the two former Jambos, Stephen Simmons and Jamie Mole both spent some time at East End Park.

The referee will be Eddie Smith.

Stephen Simmons sent off at Starks Park