Preview

After Raith Rovers returned to winning ways in the Scottish Cup against Auchinleck Talbot last weekend, they'll be hoping to get one over another Ayrshire side this Saturday, when they travel to face Ayr United.

The Honest Men are on a great run of seven games unbeaten, with their last defeat coming in October against Dundee, and that sequence sees them top of the Championship, a point clear of second placed Morton.

Rovers on the other hand are now in seventh place, after two straight defeats in the league, although they are one of just three sides to come out on top against Lee Bullen's men this season, when they last met in September.

Kyle Connell and Sam Stanton gave Rovers a 2-0 half time lead, but they were reined in by Ayr midway through the second period, after goals from Brad Young and Andy Murdoch. However, with both teams pushing for a winner, it was Raith who got it, with a rocket from Scot Brown sealing a 3-2 win.

Rovers have had a poor record at Somerset Park down the years, but they have improved that in recent years, and have lost just once at the ground in their last four visits, with their last win coming in September last year, when goals from Ethon Varian and Dario Zanatta sealed a 2-0 win, in a match which featured three red cards.

Saturday's match referee will be Kevin Clancy.

Head-to-Head Record:

Ayr United wins: 54

Raith Rovers wins: 58

Draws: 50

Reports

Rovers ‘all or nothing’ season continues – as does the pink strip hoodoo

This one pretty much went to form for the season: Rovers either win or lose, and Ayr has shown they’ve got the enviable ability to grind out victories. This is why the latter sit top of the league, whereas Rovers sit in 7th and starting to fall adrift of the top four.

Rovers made a couple of changes from last week’s cup win with Liam Dick and Kyle Connell coming back into the team, Ryan Nolan and Sam Stanton dropping to the bench.

The game started with Rovers on the front foot, controlling a lot of possession but struggling to carve out any real goal scoring opportunities. The best early chance fell to Connor O’Riordan but his header from a corner went over the bar.

Next up was Lewis Vaughan, but his shot from outside the box was deflected wide. Ayr threatened next as Kieran Ngwenya was caught in possession on the halfway line, Logan Chalmers charged forward for the hosts and his left-football shot curled just wide with Jamie MacDonald at full stretch.

It wasn’t long before Ayr broke the deadlock – on the 31st minute to be precise. A long ball wasn’t dealt with by O’Riordan and after some clever footwork from Chalmers, his cross was slotted home by Josh Mullin at the back post. Ayr 1-0 Rovers.

Lewis Vaughan sends the ball across goal from the bye-line

Half-time: Ayr Utd 1-0 Raith Rovers

As the hardy travelling Rovers’ fans were expecting a fast start to the second half (becoming a bit of a theme), it never really materialised. The biggest shout probably came from a penalty claim as Vaughan’s cross seemed to hit the arm of the Ayr defender – V.A.R. would probably have given it but this is a technology a long way away from affecting the Scottish Championship.

Albinson gets in before the in-rushing Lewis Vaughan

Ayr then went close with Mullin’s deflected shot looping just wide of MacDonald’s right post. But they didn’t have to wait long to confirm the three points were staying at Somerset. With 20 minutes to go, Rovers again conceded possession on halfway. Ayr stretched the play wide to the right, and after some nice footwork from Dipo Akinyemi, he floated over a cross which was met perfectly by Mullin to head into the bottom corner. Ayr 2-0 Rovers.

The 2nd goal effectively killed the game, and although Rovers made substitutions, a comeback never looked likely.

Disappointing day for Rovers while Ayr stay top of the league as we approach the half-way point in the season.

Full Time: Ayr Utd 2-0 Raith Rovers
Crowd: 2,094

By David Proudfoot

Photos

 

Highlights

Interviews

Manager Ian Murray spoke after the game

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today's Championship game, Ayr United v Raith Rovers at Somerset Park. Weather wise it's dry but cold. Ref is Kevin Clancy supporting him is Dougie Potter and John Stewart
0'
Ayr get the game underway. Raith shooting towards the home section this half
1'
Game in its settling in phase at the moment
4'
Good linking play by Raith there in midfield with Connolly eventually playing the ball to Ngwenya who tries to cross into the box but nothing comes of it
5'
Connell has a shot but there is no power behind it and doesn't trouble Albinson
6'
An Easton freekick gets into the Ayr box but they head clear
7'
Oh dear by Connell as his throw in goes off kilter and Ayr take advantage of the loose ball
10'
Easton gets the ball, he goes upfield but ball is intercepted in the Ayr box
11'
From a Raith corner ball is met by the head of O'Riordan but his effort is wide
12'
Vaughan's through ball to Connell doesn't come to fruition
16'
Ayr try to make a break for it but Spencer is there to intercept
16'
Raith corner after Connolly passes to Vaughan who takes the e ball to the byline
17'
Easton takes it, ball falls into the box, Ayr clear but only as far as Brown who has a shot but his effort is wide
18'
Ayr with a shot now but MacDonald gets down to smother
19'
Freekick Raith deep in their half after a foul on Liam Dick from Akinyemi
23'
So close for Vaughan as the ball is played back from the byline and falls to him. His shot is deflected and ball out for a corner
26'
Vaughan plays the ball tight at the byline he plays it back but Ayr are first to react and clear the danger
28'
Threatening play by Raith there as Brown charges forward with the ball, he passes to Connolly, Ayr intercept ball falls back to Raith but offside is called as the ball is passed
29'
Ayr with a long shot effort as Chalmers has a go but it takes a deflection from MacDonald… Ayr corner
29'
Ayr score
31'
Pass comes from Chalmers and Mullin is there to slot home for Ayr
35'
Vaughan intercepts an Ayr ball but his pass forward is to no one
36'
Ayr with another shot and MacDonald palms away, Raith clear
37'
Freekick Raith just in Ayr half as Easton is fouled
38'
Millen with a lovely ball to Connell but his final effort goes just wide
39'
Ayr on the threat as Aikinyemi passes to Chalmers who has a pop, thankfully ball goes high over the bar
40'
O'Riordan with a timely strong tackle as Dempsey has his eye on charging forward
41'
Brown charges forward but he can't pass to his right so has to play the ball back
42'
Ngwenya does well to stop Mullin from passing the ball into the danger area
43'
Ayr corner as O'Riordan has to get rid as McKenzie presses in his heals
45'
Ref blows for half time Ayr 1 (Mullin 30') Raith 0
45'
Raith get the second half underway… shooting towards their own fans
46'
No half time changes
46'
Free kick Ayr as Connolly fouls Dempsey
47'
O'Riordan clears an Ayr ball planted in the box
49'
Connnell's pass to Vaughan isn't good enough as Raith push forward
50'
Akinyemi makes a low cross into the Raith box but thankfully Ayr don't pounce in the box and the ball shoots through
51'
Ayr fans are screaming for a penalty … Clancy says nah
52'
Vaughan's long cross doesn't make it to Millen
53'
O'Riordan does well to stave off McKenzie as he passes the ball back to MacDonald who thumps the ball clear
55'
Connolly has a shot but McGinty gets in the way
56'
Freekick for Raith which is played quickly by Brown
57'
Connolly plays the ball long to Vaughan who tries to cross it in, ball put out for a Raith corner
58'
Easton this time tries to get the ball into the 6yard again Ayr clear for a Raith corner
60'
Ayr freekick deep in Raith half
61'
Freekick is taken but it's wasted by Ayr as they go for the shot. Doesn't trouble MacDonald who gathers
61'
Mullin has a shot approx 25 yards out, his shot hits the net supports must have taken a deflection on the way as Ayr corner
63'
From a second Ayr corner ball falls to front post but a Raith clear
63'
↔️
Raith sub off Easton and bring on Stanton
65'
O'Riordan bundled to the ground in the box, they are looking for the foul but ref has other ideas
66'
Stanton passes to Ngwenya who quickly passes back. Stanton has a pop but it hits off an Ayr player
67'
Booking for Chalmers as he fouls Millen
68'
Good ball from Stanton to Connell but the latters second touch is poor as Ayr intercept
69'
⚽️
Goal Ayr
69'
Akinyemi gets the ball to Chalmers who scores
71'
↔️
Raith sub off Spencer and bring on Gullan
71'
↔️
Ayr sub off Chalmers and bring on Mitchell-Lawson
75'
Reading for Ayr has an ambitious shot and as expected ball is wide
78'
↔️
Raith make a triple substitution off goes Connolly and on comes Ross, off goes Ngwenya and on comes Nolan and off goes Vaughan and on comes Frederiksen
80'
Connell's cross into the box goes over the byline… goal kick Ayr
81'
Frederikson has a good flick on header but no one there to pick up the ball
83'
Liam Dick heads out for an Ayr corner
84'
Mullin gets the ball into the mix but thankfully MacDonald gathers
84'
Nolan does well to put off Akinyemi
88'
↔️
Ayr sub off Akinyemi and bring on Bryden and also sun off McKenzie and bring on Ashford
91'
↔️
Ayr sub off Murdoch and bring on Smith and also sub off Ecrepont and bring on Watret
93'
Todays attendance is 2094
93'
Ref blows for full time Ayr 2 (Mullin 30' 69') Raith 0