Preview

Raith Rovers are back in action at Stark's Park on Tuesday evening, when they welcome Lowland League side Albion Rovers to Stark's Park.

The Wee Rovers weren't involved in Group F action at the weekend, as they sat out as Rovers lost to Dunfermline on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while Kilmarnock eased to a 3-0 win over Annan Athletic, a result which gave the Rugby Park side an early lead in the group.

The Coatbridge team were relegated from the SPFL by The Spartans in via the playoffs in May, and manager Sandy Clarke has embarked on major overhaul of the squad during the summer, as the club looks to do what no other relegated side has so far managed to achieve, and bounce back to the SPFL at the first attempt.

This will be the two sides first meeting since a League One encounter back in March 2018, when Rovers left it very late to record a 2-0 win, with goals from Bobby Barr and Dario Zanatta sealing the victory in the last five minutes.

Their last meeting in this competition was back in 2015, when goals from Lewis Vaughan, Kyle Benedictus and Rory McKeown eased Raith into the second round with a comfortable 3-0 win.

Rovers haven't always had it their own way in the most recent cup encounters however. They scraped through in the first round of the League Cup on penalties in 2008, after the game finished 0-0 in a match Iain Davidson received a red card, while in 2004, a Mark Yardley inspired Albion Rovers won 2-0 at Stark's Park in the first round of the Challenge Cup.

After this encounter, Rovers will have over a week before their next fixture, as they travel to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock on the 26th of July, before ending their group campaign with a trip to Annan Athletic on Saturday the 29th.

Tuesday night's match referee will be Colin Steven.

Head-To-Head Record:

Raith Rovers wins: 41

Albion Rovers wins: 26

Draws: 18

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