Preview Raith Rovers

Scottish Championship: (away) Saturday 5th December 2020, 3.00pm kick off at Starks Park behind closed doors.

Following the Rovers relegation to League One it is now almost four years such since the Pars visited Starks Park on league business so it is great to have the local rivals back in the same league. As much as many Pars fans may have enjoyed watching the Rovers demotion, the fixture is still a popular one with both sets of fans.

This will be the 50th league visit to Starks Park where Dunfermline hold the upper hand with 19 wins to Raith’s 15 with the same number drawn.

Raith Rovers are the undefeated in their four home matches this season and their league form is such that a derby day win would put them level on points and above league leaders Dunfermline on goal difference.

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 seven of them, Raith three and two have ended all square. Dunfermline lost on their last visit to Kirkcaldy.

Last twelve meetings
2018/2019
Scottish Cup | Raith Rovers 3 Dunfermline 0 | 19/01/19
2016/2017
Championship | Dunfermline 1-0 Raith Rovers | 08/04/17
Championship | Raith Rovers 0-2 Dunfermline | 02/01/17
Championship | Dunfermline 0-0 Raith Rovers | 05/11/16
Championship | Raith Rovers 2-0 Dunfermline | 20/08/16
2014/2015
League Cup | Dunfermline 1-0 Raith Rovers | 05/08/14
2013/2014
League Cup | Dunfermline 0-2 Raith Rovers | 20/08/13
2012/2013
First Division | Raith Rovers 1-1 Dunfermline | 17/11/12
First Division | Dunfermline 1-0 Raith Rovers | 02/01/13
First Division | Raith Rovers 1-3 Dunfermline | 17/11/12
First Division | Dunfermline 3-1 Raith Rovers | 01/09/12
2010/2011
First Division | Dunfermline 2-1 Raith Rovers | 23/04/11

Last Meeting at Starks Park
Scottish Cup 19th January 2019
Raith Rovers 3 Dunfermline 0

The first Scottish Cup tie between these rivals for over 33 years attracted a crowd of over 6000, filling parts of Starks Park that many had forgotten about. The home manager, John McGlynn said in his programme notes that he hoped that all connected with Dunfermline would enjoy a traditional San Starko welcome!

Ten minutes into the second half and still at 0-0 the cup tie changed as a result of a red card shown to Pars captain Lee Ashcroft, deemed to be for a last man foul 20 yards out on Chris Duggan.

Raith went ahead from a 70th minute penalty. Mark Durnan tussled with Duggan in the box, referee Madden pointed to the penalty spot. Lewis VAUGHAN stepped up and found the left side of the net. 1-0

Raith Rovers struck again in 79th minute after a strong run up the right by Duggan to latch on to a through ball from Euan Murray. His cross was met with a stylist diving header from VAUGHAN 2-0.

To make matters worse a defensive mistake two minutes later let VAUGHAN in to complete his first ever hat trick at professional level as he crashed the ball home from the edge of the box for 3-0. For the 2794 travelling Pars fans the cup knock out was a bitter defeat.

RAITH ROVERS: Robbie Thomson: Euan Murray, Iain Davidson, Kyle Benedictus, Calum Crane: Dan Armstrong (Liam Buchanan 88), Grant Gillespie, Nat Wedderburn, Nathan Flanagan, Lewis Vaughan: Chris Duggan.
SUBS NOT USED: Tony Dingwall, Jamie Watson, David McKay, Ross Matthews, Jack Smith, Dean Lyness (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling: Myles Hippolyte (Mark Durnan 57), Joe Thomson, James Vincent, Kallum Higginbotham (Matthew Todd 90): Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Robbie Muirhead 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Aidan Connolly, Callum Smith, Paul Allan, Cammy Gill (GK)

Recent Form

Dunfermline are undefeated in their ten matches this season are unbeaten away from home since 11th January. Raith Rovers are undefeated in their four home games this season and have yet to concede in the league at Starks Park.

DUNFERMLINE
Arbroath (A) W 3-1
Hearts (H) W 2-1
Clyde (H) W 3-2
Ayr United (A) D 0-0
Queen of the South (H) W 3-2
Alloa Athletic (A) W 4-1

RAITH ROVERS
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) L 0-2
Cowdenbeath (A) W 1-0
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 3-3
Morton (H) W 5-0
Dundee (A) D 1-1
Queen of the South (A) W 5-2

Current League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 1st
League Points: 13
Goal Difference: +7
League Record: P5 W4 D1 L0 GF12 GA5
Last Six Match Form: WWDWWW

RAITH ROVERS
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 10
Goal Difference: +9
League Record: P5 W3 D1 L1 GF14 GA5
Last Six Match Form: WDWDWL

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Arbroath): Owain Fôn Williams: Lewis Mayo, Paul Watson, Euan Murray (c), Josh Edwards: Ian Wilson: Ryan Dow, Kerr McInroy, Dom Thomas (Fraser Murray 90): Kyle Turner (Aaron Comrie 84): Declan McManus (Kevin O’Hara 75).
SUBS NOT USED: Steven Whittaker, Matty Bowman, Lewis McCann, Miller Fenton, Lucas Berry, Cammy Gill (GK)

As a consequence of being out of the Betfred Cup, Raith Rovers did not have a match last Saturday.

RAITH ROVERS (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Jamie Macdonald: Reghan Tumilty, Kieran Macdonald, Kyle Benedictus, Frankie Musonda, Daniel Armstrong, Regan Hendry, Ross Matthews, Dylan Tait (Brad Spencer 75), Ethan Ross (Lars Lokotsch 55), Manny Duku
SUBS NOT USED: Fernandy Meney, Gozie Ugwu, Quinn Coulson, Robbie Thomson (GK).

Referee will be Euan Anderson.

Other Championship Fixtures
Queen of the South v Inverness Caley Thistle (Friday)
Alloa Athletic v Ayr United
Dundee v Arbroath
Morton v Hearts

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• 02/01/17: Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 2