Preview Raith Rovers

Scottish Championship (home) v Raith Rovers Saturday 2nd January 2021, 3.00pm kick off behind closed doors at East End Park.

The New Year derby returns to East End Park after an absence of eight years and will be only the second this century. It is a match that management, players and fans of both Fife teams really look forward to and one that has been sorely missed. So it is even more disappointing that fans will only to able to experience it via live broadcast on Pars TV.

Both the Pars and the Rovers sit in play off places and so this is an important fixture in the context of the season’s ambitions. It is the 100th Scottish League match between Dunfermline and Raith with Dunfermline ahead with 41 wins to the Rovers 33 with 25 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. This scoreline was repeated on New Year`s Day 1968 when both Bert Paton and Hugh Robertson notched hattricks.

Milestones v Raith Rovers (home)

Last Home Victory | 08/04/17 | 1-0 | Championship
Last Home Defeat | 20/08/13 | 0-2 | Ramsden Cup
Best Home Victory | 08/09/62 | 6-0 | Division One (old)
Best Home Victory | 01/01/68 | 6-0 | Division One (old)
Worst Home Defeat | 19/11/27 | 0-4 | Division One (old)
Last Goalless Home Draw | 05/11/16 | 0-0 | Championship
First Ever Home Meeting | 10/02/23 | 0-3 | Scottish Cup

Raith Rovers have not won a league match at East End Park since August 2009, that’s eight league fixtures back.

Last Twelve League Meetings

Last time at East End Park
Saturday 8th April 2017, Championship
Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0

John Hughes was in charge of the visitors and Iain Davidson is the only participant on either side to still be at their respective clubs. Interesting to note one Declan McManus as an unused Rovers sub.

The only goal of the match came from the penalty spot four minutes into the second half. A Michael Moffat pass let Paul McMullan chase into the Raith box and when he was taken down by Jason Thomson, referee Andrew Dallas pointed to the spot. Kallum HIGGINBOTHAM used the same run up as against Hibs the previous week but stuck the ball away to the keeper`s left. 1-0

DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Andy Geggan (c), Callum Morris, Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, Nat Wedderburn, Rhys McCabe, Paul McMullan (Joe Cardle 89): Michael Moffat, Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Williamson, Michael Paton, Gavin Reilly, Lewis Martin, Lewis Spence, Cammy Gill (GK)

RAITH ROVERS: Pavol Penska: Jason Thomson, Jean-Yves Mvoto, Craig Barr, Kevin McHattie: Rudi Skacel (Jonathan Court 86), Iain Davidson, Jordan Thompson (Bobby Barr 78), Chris Johnston, Daniel Handling, Ryan Hardie
SUBS NOT USED: Declan McManus, Scott Roberts, David McKay, Conor Brennan (GK).

Form Last Six Matches

Dunfermline have won just one of their last six matches, but lost only one of their last twenty. Raith Rovers started the league season with resounding wins over Arbroath, Queen of the South and Morton and a credit worthy draw at Dens Park but they won only one of their following five league matches.

It is less than a month since the sides met at Starks Park when the Pars stunned their hosts coming back from two goals down to draw the derby.

DUNFERMLINE
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 1-1
Arbroath (H) W 1-0
Dundee (A) D 3-3
St Johnstone (H) D 1-1
Morton (H) L 1-2
Raith Rovers (H) D 2-2

RAITH ROVERS
Queen of the South (H) L 0-2
Alloa Athletic (A) W 5-2
Ayr United (A) D 0-0
Dunfermline (H) D 2-2
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) L 0-2
Cowdenbeath (A) W 1-0

Current League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 18
Goal Difference: +7
League Record: P10 W5 D4 L1 GF20 GA13
Last Six Match Form: DLDDWD

RAITH ROVERS
League Position: 4th
League Points: 15
Goal Difference: +10
League Record: P9 W4 D3 L2 GF21 GA11
Last Six Match Form: DWWWDL

Last time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Owain Fôn Williams: Aaron Comrie, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Lewis Mayo: Kyle Turner, Iain Wilson, Kerr McInroy (Ryan Dow 66): Lewis McCann (Declan McManus 69), Kevin O’Hara (Dom Thomas 80).
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Whittaker, Fraser Murray, Lucas Berry, Cammy Gill (GK)

RAITH ROVERS (v Queen of the South): Robbie Thomson: Regan Tumilty, Fernandy Mendy, Kyle Benedictus, Frankie Musonda, Regan Hendry, Dan Armstrong (Brad Spencer 66), Ross Matthews, Dylan Tait (Gozie Ugwu 77), Ethan Ross (Lars Lokotschat 55), Manny Duku
SUBS NOT USED: Jack Smith, Aaron Arnott, Quinn Coulson, David McGurn (GK).

Referee will be Gavin Duncan, his first time at East End Park since March 2019.

Other Championship Fixtures

Alloa Athletic v Morton
Arbroath v Inverness Caley Thistle
Dundee v Hearts (ko 7.20pm)
Queen of the South v Ayr United

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