Preview

Raith Rovers made it 12 games unbeaten at the weekend, after a fine win over League One Falkirk in the Scottish Cup Third Round.

Despite Reghan Tumilty's early dismissal, goals from Ross Matthews and Ethan Ross saw off the Bairns at the Falkirk Stadium, to earn Rovers a place in the last 32.

However, if ever a tie was going to test Rovers on an unbeaten stretch, it was always going to be a game against a side which has been the definition of a bogey team.

It's been 21 years and 25 attempts since Rovers defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle, their opponents in Tuesday evening's SPFL Trust Trophy quarter final.

The two teams are currently the joint holders of this competition, after the tournament was curtailed after they both reached the 2020 final, while the tournament was mothballed last year, and for the winners of this tie, a clash with either Kilmarnock or Hamilton await in the semi-final.

The two have met twice already this season, with Kilmarnock coming out on top in the first encounter in August, when a late goal from Roddy MacGregor ensured all three points stayed in the Highlands.

It was even closer at Stark's Park in October though, despite Rovers being reduced to 10 men in the first half, after Ross Matthews dismissal just before the interval.

Aidan Connolly put the 10 men ahead with half an hour remaining, but Sean Welsh's leveller meant the teams shared the points on the day.

Inverness' record in this fixture doesn't make pretty reading for those of a Raith persuasion, with 7 wins and three draws from the last 10 meetings.

The referee for Tuesday night's game is Barry Cook.

Inverness wins: 5 | Raith Rovers wins: 0 | Draws: 1

Inverness goals: 16 | Raith Rovers goals: 5

 

Current Form:

Inverness: L-D-D-L-W-D

Raith Rovers: D-W-D-W-W-W

Top Scorers:

Inverness: Billy McKay 10 | Michael Gardyne 5

Raith Rovers: Dario Zanatta 8 | Ethan Ross 5

Match Odds:

Inverness: 21/20 | Raith Rovers: 11/5 | Draw: 12/5

Reports

THOMSON HEROIC IN CUP SHOOT-OUT

In his first start of the season, goal-keeper Robbie Thomson was the hero for Raith with a fine one-on-one save in normal time to deny Lewis Jamieson, and a penalty save in the shoot-out giving Raith a path into the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-finals. With these two evenly-matched teams trading blows for much of the ninety minutes, a penalty shoot-out looked the likely outcome well before referee Barry Cook’s final whistle, and spot-kicks from Tait, Berra, Varian, Connolly, and Liam Dick gave Thomson the platform for his match-winning save.

While Inverness had perhaps the better of the chances over the piece, Raith’s defence was resolute, with a back four including a start for captain Kyle Benedictus and Thomson deserving their clean sheet. While the home side’s MacGregor, Jamieson, and Mckay each had their moments, Raith could look back on chances for both Poplatnik and Varian as evidence that they were fully deserving of their win. While Raith’s long spell without a normal-time win over the Caley Jags goes on, the shoot-out win secures a semi-final against Kilmarnock for a place in the Cup Final next year.

The rare sight of the joint holders of a Trophy meeting in the following year’s completion meant this encounter would be one for future football trivia quizzes whatever the result – with last season’s competition abandoned following the semi-final stage, this quarter-final began with each side legitimately claimed to have one hand on the cup. John McGlynn made a number of changes from the weekend’s hard-earned win at Falkirk in the Scottish Cup, not least with a first appearance of the season in goal for Robbie Thomson, who would have a decisive say in the final outcome. There was a welcome return to the starting line-up for Kyle Benedictus, with Matej Poplatnik also starting in the striker’s role.

With their previous League fixture a win at Palmerston, and the prospect of a Cup replay away to Greenock Morton following a draw at the weekend, Caledonian Thistle made six changes to their line-up for this quarter-final tie. There was a change in goal as the experienced Mark Ridgers made way for Cammy Mackay – who would also have a number of good saves to repay his manager’s faith – while Harper, Welsh, Walsh, Jamieson and McDonald were brought in at the expense of regular starters Devine, Broadfoot, Allardice, Sutherland, and Doran.

Caley Thistle Head Coach Billy Dodds clearly thought his line-up had enough to beat John McGlynn’s men, as the home side started the better of the two. While Poplatnik’s downward header was the first chance on goal, Caley Thistle were the first to start dominating possession, as McAlear Jamieson and MacGregor all had early touches. The distinctive David Carson was prominent on the home side’s right flank.

Aiden Connolly – substituted early in the Cup win on Saturday following Reghan Tumilty’s red card – started as if he had a point to prove. Scuttling infield from the far touchline, Connolly was a real thorn in the home side’s defence in the first half – his drive from an Ethan Ross lay-off in the fifth minute nearly broke the deadlock, with home keeper Cammy Mackay grateful to see the stinging drive find only the side netting. Ross and Tumilty combined well moments later, nearly setting Connolly free, only for a last-minute intervention from the well-maned Inverness defence clearing their lines.

As the match began to settle, it was the home side who were creating the better openings. Reece McAlear fired a shot at Robbie Thomson, although his aim was narrowly awry; a Carson cross was well gathered by the young Raith keeper; another Carson break saw Lewis Jamieson scamper clear, dispatching a crisp strike which brought a fine save from Thomson.

With each side committing numbers in midfield, there were a number of narrow off-side decisions as the respective front-men looked to break the high defensive lines. Christophe Berra and Kyle Benedictus constantly had Cameron MacGregor and Billy Mckay on their shoulders looking to race clear; for Raith, Poplatnik’s wily running had Welsh and Deas constantly on edge.

Mid-way through the half, there was a real let-off for the visitors, as Carson’s deep cross was flicked back across goal by Billy Mckay, only for a retreating Kyle Benedictus to head into his own net – the linesman’s flag saving Raith on this occasion. Minutes later, it was Raith who were denied – Matej Poplatnik raced through and drew a fine save from Cammy Mackay, only for a very late flag from the stand-side linesman to draw a veil of anti-climax over Poplatnik’s run and shot. While the principle of the “late flag” rule makes sense on paper, the rule’s application is often frustrating – Poplatnik clearly felt hard done by on this occasion, trudging disconsolately back to half-way.

There was another injury set-back for Rovers moments later – Ethan Ross broke down defending a Raith corner and was unable to continue; Blaise Riley-Snow joining the fray, the young midfielder sweeping up a Jamieson break with his opening touch. Rovers would have to re-jig, with Tait and Matthews pushing further forward in Ross’ absence.

Despite the reshuffle, Raith created their best opening of the half in their next attack – Benedictus’ high cross-field ball found Liam Dick bursting inside from full-back, with Connolly’s cross eventually headed clear. Benedictus’ firm header was repelled by the home keeper with five minutes till the break as Raith threatened again.

A fairly even first half lead to the home side strengthening their offering after the interval, with the experienced Shane Sutherland and Scott Allardice both introduced – Sutherland particularly was dropping off into midfield to pick up the position occupied by Blaise Riley-Snow, looking to disrupt Raith’s possession and cause problems with his energetic runs left and right. Billy Dodds also gave a first team debut to under-18 midfielder Kenny McInnes, with the youngster given forty minutes to make his mark.

Raith shuffled the pack as well – Kieran Mitchell introduced on the hour for Dario Zanatta, given a good half-hour to gain valuable experience against a robust Inverness defence. Ethon Varian also replaced Matej Poplatnik, as John McGlynn sensed the home side on top and looked to re-assert Raith’s position.

The best chance of the game fell to the home side with twenty minutes to go, as Reece McAlear fired a sublime cross-field pass to Tom Walsh, creating a two-on-one attack out of nothing – Walsh’s square ball gave Lewis Jamieson a clear run in on goal, but Robbie Thomson stood up wonderfully well, winning the individual duel with the Highlanders’ front-man, blocking away with a strong left hand. Sutherland played in Jamieson again moments later, with Liam Dick’s last-minute clearance averting the danger.

Inverness were having the better of possession, with youngster McInnes showing an excellent appetite for the game, but Raith were still a danger. A fine move from right to left, with Tumilty and Tait feeding an overlapping Liam Dick saw the full-back’s cross headed firmly at keeper Cammy Mackay by Ethon Varian – the home keeper held on to keep the scores blank. Connolly was next to try, with a rasping drive on his left-foot whistling just past the post with Mackay at full stretch.

Although by the end of the ninety minutes Caley Thistle’s line-up had a more experienced look to it – with Aaron Doran having joined Sutherland and Allardice as a second-half substitute – the more youthful Raith line-up did itself proud in taking the match the distance. Kieran Mitchell looked bright and energetic upfront, while Tom Lang looked assured and competent as a replacement for captain Benedictus, as he has done in several previous starts this season, benefitting no doubt from the experience of Christophe Berra alongside him. Aaron Arnott also looked combative in midfield. Barry Cook’s whistle brought normal time to a close, in a match where the sides were well-matched through-out.

With no extra time in SPFL Trust matches, it was straight to penalties – Raith appearing to win both coin-tosses, to take the first penalty in a shoot-out in front of the redoubtable band of travelling supporters. Dylan Tait and Aaron Doran each scored their sides’ first; Berra and full-back Cameron Harper followed suit; but Ross Matthews and Robbie Deas each theirs saved. Ethon Varian and Lewis Jamieson made it three apiece; Aiden Connolly’s blast put the pressure on Scott Allardice, but the experienced front-man was a match for the situation. In sudden death, Liam Dick’s finish gave Shane Sutherland a question to answer, and Robbie Thomson pulled off the match-winning save to send Raith into the semi-finals, with a match-up against fellow Championship side Kilmarnock in prospect.

Highlights

Interviews

John McGlynn spoke to RaithTV after the win at Inverness in the SPFL Trust Trophy: