Preview

After starting their year off with a win against Hamilton on Monday, Raith Rovers face a quick turnaround, with Dundee next up at Stark’s Park on Friday evening.

The two sides go into this one on the back of contrasting results at the start of the week, with a Jamie Gullan goal enough for Rovers to take all three points at New Douglas Park, while Gary Bowyer’s side were surprisingly going down at home to Arbroath.

Dundee had been top of the table going into that one, but despite fighting back from two goals down to restore parity, and playing over half the game with 10 men, they eventually lost 4-2, a result which enabled Queen’s Park to leapfrog them at the top of the table.

However, if Rovers are to come out on top against the Taysiders, they’ll have to do something they’ve failed to do in two previous meetings with Dundee this term, and manage to score.

Dundee were the winners the last time they visited Kirkcaldy in August, when despite a strong Rovers performance, they were unable to comeback from Josh Mulligan’s 13th minute opener which decided the game.

Dundee went one better the last time the two sides met in November, when two goals early in the second period from Zach Robinson eased the Dee to a 2-0 win.

Friday night’s match referee will be Craig Napier.

Head-to-Head Record:

Raith Rovers wins: 35

Dundee wins: 76

Draws: 36

Reports

This game started with high intensity from Raith, with the fans at Stark's Park matching the intensity they were seeing from the players on the pitch. Raith had the large majority of the possession early in the game without creating many clear chances with the first half chance for Raith coming after Dylan Easton played the ball to Scott Brown on the edge of the box where he shot just past the post.

The home side continued to dominate the game, however in the 34th minute Dundee got a lucky break of the ball after the ball flicked off of Brad Spencer’s head falling to McMullan which led to him running through 1 - on - 1 with Jamie MacDonald but it was put wide.

Shortly after the McMullan chance Raith took the lead after Liam Dick smashed the ball across the goal for Aidan Connolly to tap in. Raith 1-0 Dundee.

AIDAN OPENS THE SCORING 1-0 RAITH

Raith didn’t just settle with holding on to the lead, they wanted a second goal which they almost got just before half-time with a strong penalty claim after Dylan Easton played a perfect defence splitting pass to find Aidan Connolly. Shouts for the goalscorer being brought down were waved away by the referee. HT Raith 1-0 Dundee.

Dundee started the second half extremely well, with a big chance coming in the first minute of the half being fantastically saved by Jamie MacDonald.

Dundee continued to pile on a large amounts of pressure on the Raith defence, leading to a couple of decent chances - one of them hitting the inside of the post and rebounding into Jamie MacDonald’s hands.

The Dens Park side had a large number of corners in quick succession, and the pressure would soon pay off for Dundee in the 78th minute when McGhee headed past Jamie MacDonald to equalise. Raith 1-1 Dundee.

....GOAL!...JAMIE MacDONALD IS BEATEN AND DUNDEE ARE LEVEL

Raith managed to stop the Dundee momentum in the last 10 minutes but couldn’t find the elusive winning goal, therefore the game ended as a very entertaining 1-1 draw.

Photos

All the pictures from the 1-1 draw with Dundee at Stark's Park.

PICTURES © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the draw with Dundee FC:

Live Updates

0'
Team news for this evening's match. Ngwenya is out and Nolan is in.
0'
Teams are out on the pitch.
0'
Raith kick off the first half! Shooting into the North Stand goal.
3'
Easton sets up Brown. His shot swerves past the post. It was travelling.
6'
Corner Raith.
13'
Easton, not thinking the ball was going to get to him, just misses a golden chance in front of goal.
15'
Raith 0-0 Dundee
15'
Mullen swings in a cross from the right. Legzdins rushes out to punch clear.
16'
💬
A bright start for the Rovers.
19'
Kerr with the chance just outside the box. He can't control it and lobs over the bar.
22'
Spencer with the long range effort. Takes a big deflection and out for a corner.
25'
Gullan has the ball at the corner of the box. He turns and shoots towards the near post. Keeper holds.
27'
McMullan with the free kick. Ashcroft unmarked in front of goal, but can't convert the header.
28'
Gullan fouled 30 yards out. Might be a wee chance here…
30'
Raith 0-0 Dundee
31'
Marshall booked for a reckless tackle on Raith's Brown.
32'
Dick wins a Rovers corner.
33'
Spencer with a poor header back to goal. McMullan races clean through. He should score… He doesn't. Whistles low past the post.
35'
Gullan fouled deep in the Dundee half. Free kick!
36'
Connolly tries his luck. Clears the wall and the bar.
37'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!!
37'
⚽️
Dick traps the ball at the far post. He drills a shot towards goal, the keeper parries straight to CONNOLLY and his magic left foot!
44'
Easton sends a superb pass to Connolly, who runs through on goal. He tries to turn the defender, but no luck and the attack breaks down.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 1-0 Dundee.
45'
💬
Entertaining first half, with Raith well worth their lead. Dundee creating chances though, so all to play for in the final 45.
46'
Dundee start the second half.
46'
Jakubiak passes to McCowan. He must score. Somehow, MacDonald makes the save. Incredible!
46'
↔️
Three half time changes for Dundee. Off - French, Byrne and Rudden. On - Sheridan, McCowan and Jakubiak
60'
Raith 1-0 Dundee
60'
Great clearance from Kerr in his own box. Corner Raith.
61'
Jakubiak with the snap shot in the box. Past the post.
63'
McCowan with the low drive 18 yards out. We all watch it trundle past the keeper, hit the post and fall into the arms of MacDonald.
64'
Easton booked for a silly trip just inside the Dundee half.
65'
💬
Dundee coming more into the game now.
68'
Anderson with a 20 yarder. It's close.
69'
Corner Dundee.
72'
Corner Dundee
72'
Dick heads out for second corner.
73'
MacDonald can't connect with his punch out. Dundee can't put the ball in the net.
74'
Corner Dundee.
74'
MacDonald palms over the bar from an Ashcroft header. Corner Dundee.
75'
Raith 1-0 Dundee
76'
McMullan sclaffs over from a difficult angle.
77'
↔️
Connell replaces Vaughan
78'
⚽️
Goal Dundee.
78'
⚽️
It's been coming. McGhee rises to head gone from a solid Kerr cross.
83'
Corner Dundee.
85'
Connell booked.
87'
↔️
McBride on for Easton
88'
Nolan booked for a challenge on Jakubiak
88'
Free kick to Dundee just outside the box, right in front of goal.
89'
McCowan blasts the free kick into the wall.
90'
↔️
Frederiksen replaces Gullan.
91'
💬
BBC Scotland MoM - Jamie MacDonald.
92'
Frederiksen knocks down to Brown. His shot is blocked off the line.
93'
Full time - Raith Rovers 1-1 Dundee
93'
💬
Raith will be happy with the point after a dominant second half performance from Dundee.