Preview

Raith Rovers will be playing the role of first footers this new year, when they travel to The ZLX Stadium to take on Hamilton Accies.

John Rankin's men currently sit bottom of the Championship, and are without a win in the Championship since October 18th, when they won away to Inverness.

A run of seven league games without a win sees the Lanarkshire side three points behind Arbroath and 10 points behind Cove Rangers who are eighth.

They go into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss to the Aberdeen side, when two goals in the closing stages from Leighton McIntosh sealed all three points for Jim McIntyre's side.

Rovers winless run stretches back to the start of November, and their last victory was against the side they face on Monday, when goals from Dylan Easton, Aidan Connolly and Liam Dick secured a 3-1 win.

That was the sides second meeting of the season, with the first coming in August, with Raith also winning by a two goal margin, with efforts from Easton and Jamie Gullan enough to secure a 2-0 win.

Those brace of victories for Rovers make it seven unbeaten for Raith against the Accies, with Rovers last defeat coming back in March 2014, when a last second goal from Jason Scotland sealed a dramatic 3-2 win for Academical.

Monday's match referee will be Lloyd Wilson.

Head-to-Head Record

Hamilton wins: 60

Raith Rovers wins: 62

Draws: 34

Reports

Rovers maintain 100% record over Accies

On a crisp winter’s afternoon in Hamilton, the first game of the New Year was fittingly opened with a minute’s tribute to the late great Pele.

Once proceedings got underway Rovers started the sharper and took an early lead inside ten minutes. A move which started from left back saw Rovers make a sweeping passing move across the pitch in which Brad Spencer found Ross Millen wide right. Millen’s deep cross was met at the back post by Jamie Gullan who nicely guided the ball into the net. Hamilton 0-1 Rovers

Jamie Gullan sends the ball home past Fulton

 Although Rovers edged the opening spell, two shots from just outside the box, which went over Jamie MacDonald’s goal, showed Hamilton were starting to grow into the game.

Neither side made any clear-cut chances and Rovers went in a goal to the good at the break.

Half-time: Hamilton 0-1 Raith Rovers

Rovers came out the second half on the front foot, and had a couple of penalty claims turned down – although the consensus was they would have been soft.

As the half progressed, again it was the hosts that started to look the more dangerous as Rovers dropped into a more solid defensive and counter-attacking formation. A nicely worked move from Hamilton worked the ball into Rovers’ box, but Andy Winter lacked composure and slashed the ball wide. Next up was Hamilton’s best chance: another nice cross from the left forced MacDonald into a very sharp save down to his right.

Rovers had the chance to kill the game off in the 84thminute after being awarded a penalty. Aidan Connolly stepped up but Hamilton keeper Ryan Fulton was equal to it, diving low to his left to save.

Aidan Connolly shoots from the spot but it was saved

As the game bounced from end-to-end there were two late half-chances: Reegan Mimnaugh shot wide for the hosts two minutes from time, then Connolly had a shot tipped over by Fulton a minute later.

Rovers’ strong looking backline, led by Tom Lang (Man of the Match), held out to take all three points.

Full Time: Hamilton 0-1 Raith Rovers

Crowd: 1,192

 By David Proudfoot

Photos

Match Photos supplied courtesy of Cameron at "Capture Through The Lens":

The full gallery can be viewed online HERE

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after today's win:

Live Updates

0'
Happy New Year. Welcome to today's Cinch Championship game Hamilton v Raith
0'
Referee is Lloyd Wilson and he's assisted by John Mcrossan and Brian Christie
0'
No Sam Stanton in the line up
0'
Small delay with kick off- linesman not happy with the goal MacDonald is currently in (who is at the away end first half). Groundsman on hand to fix it
0'
Game is now underway with Hamilton kicking off
0'
Freekick Raith deep in Hamilton half
1'
Ball is placed into the Hamilton box but they clear
2'
Ball falls to Gullan in the Hamilton box he nods it ion to Easton but Hamilton clear first
3'
Spencer crosses to Connolly who paces to Millen. He crosses into the box but Hamilton clear
4'
Connolly has a wee pop just outside the box but it's not got much weight behind it and Fulton gathers
4'
Gullan this time just in the box has a pop but ball blocked
6'
Brown with the long ball to Gullan who gets the ball into the mix. Vaughan has a pop but ball blocked
7'
Vaughan tries to get the ball over the Hamilton defence but they are there to intervene Gullan
8'
GOOOAAALLLLL
8'
Ball falls to GULLAN who calmly slots home for Raith
10'
Nice wee back flick of the ball from Gullan to Vaughan who then charges forward. He tries to pass the ball back to Gullan but he has two Hamiton players on him
12'
Freekick Hamilton as Liam Dick fouls approx 5 yards into Raith half
13'
Ball passed to Connolly but sadly he's offside
15'
Freekick Raith as Easton is forced off the ball
16'
Ball is placed into the box but O'Reilly for Hamilton clears
17'
Lang clears a Hamilton threat
19'
Ngwenya is down at the far side touch line
20'
He is currently being treated and a game continues
21'
Ngwenya back in play
21'
Easton steals the ball from Smith but he is clipped as he does so. He keeps going but he's feeling a wee bit pain from it
26'
A slip by a Hamilton player and Gullan takes advantage. He goes for a wee run his shot is low but doesn't trouble Fulton
27'
↔️
Hamilton forced into a substitution off goes Ryan and on comes 16 year old Ryan One ( son of Armand)
30'
Easton tries to ge the ball into the box but Hamilton block
31'
Raith now forced into a substitution as off goes Ngwenya and on comes Nolan
32'
Brown for Raith is booked
33'
Connolly is being held back as he pushes forward. Goes to ground but ref says nothing
35'
Mimnaugh has a pop but Raith block
35'
Martin has a powerful shot forcing MacDonald to stretch up… corner Hamilton
36'
Corner Raith
38'
Ball placed into the six yard box but Fulton jumps and gathers
38'
Martin again tries to go for goal, but Brown and Millen there to cover
39'
Smith this time has a shot and it's just over the Raith bar
42'
Free kick Hamilton just on the half way line
45'
Free kick Raith after a foul on Easton just in their half
45'
+2 ref blows for half time.. Hamilton 0 Raith 1 (Gullan 8')
45'
Raith get the second half underway. Raith shooting towards their own fans this half
46'
Freekick Raith after Connolly is fouled on the halfway line
46'
Lang puts the boot in a Hamilton push forward
49'
Brown boots the ball upfield but it's way past Gullan
50'
Easton with good play there as he takes the ball to the byline cuts it back to Gullan but it doesn't come to anything
51'
Vaughan looking for a penalty as he is challenged to the ground in the box but ref isn't thinking that is the case
52'
Liam Dick clears in the Raith box as Hamilton get the ball into the danger area
54'
Connolly gets the ball forward he carefully gets the ball into the Hamilton box, Vaughannis there but he can't quite get the head to it
55'
Corner Raith
55'
Ball is played short by Connolly to Milllen he passes back to Connolly who has a tight shot but it's straight to Fulton
58'
Millen gets the ball to Gullan in the box but he's challenged
59'
Good play beteeen Vaughan and Easton but unfortunately a goal doesn't come to fruition
61'
Nolan does well to fight off One
63'
↔️
Hamilton do a double substitution off go Zanatta and Smith and on come Winter and McGinn
63'
Corner Raith
64'
Gullan takes it, ball falls into the box but ref sees an infringement
65'
Spencer to Gullan he tries to cross it low to Vaughan but the ball is intercepted
66'
Millen with cross into the box but Hamilton leap up and ball goes out for a Raith corner
68'
Hamilton pushing forward
70'
Mimnaugh lays the ball on to Wj yer who has a pop but thankfully the ball has gone wide
71'
Owens over over weights his pass to De Bolle and ball runs out of play.. goal kick
73'
MacDonald does well to react as Hamilton go for goal
74'
↔️
Raith sub off Vaughan and bring on McBride
77'
Freekick Raith as Doyle handballs just in Raith half
78'
From a Raith corner ball is played short by Easton to Spencer. He passes it back but Easton's delivery into the box is poor
80'
Raith sub off goal scorer Gullan and bring on Connell
81'
Millen's cross into the box has gone out for a goal kick
81'
Connolly decides to have a low shot but ibis effort is wide
82'
PENALTY RAITH.. Easton is brought to ground
83'
Fulton SAVES Connolly's penalty
84'
Connolly isn't going to let this lie as he has a thumping shot but it's gone over the bar
85'
Connoll tries to fight through but he is beaten
86'
Hamilton freekick approx 30 yards out
86'
Mimnaugh takes it but it thumps off the Raith wall
88'
Freekick just over the half way line after a foul on Connell
90'
Connolly again with a powerful shot just inside the 18th yard box
90'
Spencer booked
92'
Ref blows for full time vital three point for Raith…. Hamilton 0 Raith 1 (Gullan 8'). Next game is on Friday at home against Dundee