In their second pre-season game, Rovers suffered a 2-1 defeat to Queen of the South at Starks Park.
This was the first opportunity for fans to see Ian Murray’s newly assembled squad playing at home.
After a scoreless first half, Queens took the lead just after the break from the penalty spot after a Josh Todd shot from the edge of the six yard box hit the hand of Ross Millen.
Ruari Paton made no mistake from the spot sending Jamie MacDonald the wrong way.
Rovers pushed for an equaliser and their continual pressure on the Doonhamers defence eventually paid dividends when they were also awarded a penalty after former Rover Dave McKay handled.
Jamie Gullan did the honours and got Rovers back on level terms.
Rovers celebrations were short lived when a mistake from Christophe Berra set up Lee Connelly who strode into the box, and his low shot was deflected by Berra and past the helpless Jamie MacDonald.
Jamie Gullan fires home from the spot
All the match photos from the pre-season friendly against Queen of the South at Stark’s Park.
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- Captain Scott Brown on the ball
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- Sam Stanton
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- Josh Todd beaten to the ball
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- Liam Dick clears
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- Greig Young
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- Dylan Easton looks to pass
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- A Rovers chance goes wide
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- Christophe Berra
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- Ian Murray makes a point to Scott Agnew
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- Dylan Easton fires in a shot
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- Brown is on the deck but wins the ball
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- Liam Dick gets tight
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- Scott and Ian deep in thought
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- Gullan and Morrison battle it out
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- Dylan Easton looks for support
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- Ross Millen
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- Ethan Ross
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- Jamie MacDonald stops a shot
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- Lewis Vaughan draws the 50/50 at half-time
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- The 50/50 winning ticket 27812 wins £120
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- A determined Ethan Ross doesn't hold back
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- Easton splits two Doonhamers
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- Aidan Connolly came on in the second half
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- Ross Millen on the ball
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- Jamie Gullan drives into the Queen's box
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- Penalty......The ball comes off Dave McKay's hand
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- Gullan celebrates his penalty strike
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- Jamie gathers the ball on the edge of the box
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- Scott Brown in possession of the captain's armband
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- Greig Young in action
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- Liam Dick gets to the ball first
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- Sam Stanton plays the ball forward
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- Dario Zanatta plays it back to Dylan Easton
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- Christophe Berra heads clear
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- Captain Scott Brown on the attack
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- Jamie MacDonald gets down to save from Paton
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- Dylan Easton and Greig Young close down Lee Connolly
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- Dylan Easton gets back to help
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- Christophe Berra gets in a header
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- Liam Dick nips in ahead of Connor Murray
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- Dylan Easton charges up the park
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- Keeper Currie is beaten but it's past the post
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- Ross Millen goes head to head with Rico Quitongo
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- Liam Dick comes out on top
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- Sam Stanton skips past Dave McKay
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- Penalty...Ross Millen handles the ball
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- Dylan Easton beats the keeper but the chance went past the post
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- Foul....Ethan Ross is clattered to the ground
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- Former skipper Kyle Benedictus is an interested spectator
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- Ross Millen is pulled down on the edge of the box
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- Aidan Connolly fires in a shot
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- Jamie Gullan sends in a header but it's wide
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- Jamie Gullan fires home from the spot
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- Former Rover Dave McKay heads clear
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- Aaron Arnott gets his foot in first
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- 'Trialist A' sends in a cross
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- Kieran Mitchell gets a shot in
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- Morrison gets to grips with Kieran Mitchell
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- Looks like Aidan Connolly added some punch to the attack
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- Kieran Mitchell leads another charge into the box
Photos © Tony Fimister and Jim Foy.
Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after last night’s friendly against Queen of the South FC:
Football makes a return to Stark’s Park tomorrow(Wednesday) night as a new era finally kicks off as Ian Murray finally takes the reigns of his Rovers side at his new home.
Rovers head into the game in a buoyant mood after Saturday’s resounding 7-1 victory over East of Scotland League side, Dunbar United at New Countess Park for Rovers fan, Grant Thomson’s testimonial match.
New arrivals Dylan Easton, Scott Brown and Ross Millen got their first run out in a one-off Rovers kit, all playing over an hour in the East Coast Sunshine, with Easton netting a 25-yard thunderbolt and assisting another as Ian Murray’s side’s quality shone through as a 4 minute brace from Jamie Gullan, Aidan Connolly’s and Easton’s saw Rovers race into a 4-0 half time lead. Second half strikes from Kieran Mitchell and Ethan Ross rounded up the scoring.
Ian Murray’s first home test comes in the form of established visitors and last season’s SPFL Trust Trophy Runners-Up, Queen of the South who are playing out their second Pre-Season friendly.
Wullie Gibson’s side lost out 1-0 to Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock last time out in a closed doors friendly at Rugby Park.
The game will give both sets of fans an opportunity to get a first look of their respective sides since the new season kicked off.
The match of course, provides former Rovers centre-back Dave McKay the perfect opportunity to have a proper send off after ending his seven-year spell at Stark’s Park last month to join the Doonhamers in their assault for League One supremacy.
Queens proved a stern test for Rovers last season under John McGlynn. With Rovers only managing two wins out of five games against the Dumfries side, including that momentous day where Matej Poplatnik etched his name into Rovers folklore.
HEAD TO HEAD
Rovers Wins: 14
Draws: 5
Queens Wins: 13