Preview

After a 1-1 draw with title chasers Dundee on Friday evening, Rovers face off against table topping Queen's Park this Wednesday, in an SPFL Trust Trophy quarter final tie.

It's a tournament that Rovers have an excellent recent record in, but they'll have to be at their best to progress further, as they face the Championship's in-form team.

The Spiders have won eight consecutive matches in all competitions, scoring 28 goals in the process, which includes a 5-2 win at Stark's Park in November. Aidan Connolly had given Rovers the lead midway through the first half, but an excellent counter attacking performance from Owen Coyle's men saw them deservedly take all three points.

The first meeting between the sides in October may have been closer, but Queen's come out on top on the day in that one too, with Stephen Eze's second half header sealing a 1-0 win.

They also go into this one on the back of their biggest win of the season, a 6-0 win away from home against Cove Rangers, with Simon Murray scoring four, taking his tally for the season to 18, as the Glasgow side moved four points clear at the top of the table.

One way or another, history tells us that there will be a winner in this game, with the last draw between the teams coming back in 1987, a run of 18 matches without one finishing all-square.

The winners of this match will be away to Dunfermline or Dundee in the semi-final.

Wednesday night's match referee will be Chris Graham.

 

Head-to-Head Record

Queen's Park wins: 35

Raith Rovers wins: 49

Draws: 25

Reports

Rovers continue to be unstoppable force in SPFL Trust Trophy

It was a very wet and windy evening at Ochilview. Both teams made quite a few changes from the weekend: some through injury and some just rested. Rovers only had two outfield subs on the bench, so ‘barebones’ was word of the day amongst the travelling support.

The first half never really got going. Neither team could get any rhythm into their play or craft any real chances. Rovers only opening was a deep cross from debutant Adam Masson which was met by John Frederiksen, but his header was well over the bar.

Half-time: Queen’s Park 0-0 Raith Rovers

The second half saw a bit more goalmouth action. Calum Biggar shot over for the hosts just after half-time then it was Connor McBride’s turn to clear the bar after some neat play from the returning Kieran Mitchell.

The game fell into a midfield battle and it became apparent that the game would be settled by a single goal or penalties. And a single goal it was to be – in Rovers’ favour. With ten minutes to go, some nice build up saw the ball break to Frederiksen and his composed left-footed finish was out of reach for Queen’s keeper Calum Ferrie. Big John’s first competitive goal in a Rovers’ jersey.

Rovers celebrate big John's winning strike

In fact, he almost doubled Rovers’ lead late on with an audacious effort from 45 yards – only to be thwarted by a great save from Ferrie.

Rovers held out for victory and it sets up a semi-final tie away to Dundee or local rivals Dunfermline.

Full Time: Queen’s Park 0-1 Raith Rovers

Crowd: 636

 by David Proudfoot

Photos

 

Highlights

Interviews

Rovers manager Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the Quarter Final win over Queen's Park:

 

Goalscorer John Frederiksen spoke to RaithTV after the win v Queen's Park:

 

Andy McNeil, Adam Masson and Kieran Mitchell spoke after the victory over The Spiders:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to tonight's SPFL Trust Trophy Quarter Final round tie - Queen's Park V Raith Rovers at Ochilview Park.
0'
It's a wet a windy night here but it is a welcome back to Kieran Mitchell and he makes a start. Also making a start is McBride, Masson and Fredericksen. Subs bench is depleted with only Thomson, Vaughan and Connolly on it.
0'
Raith get the game underway. Raith shooting towards their own fans this half. Defending the five aside pitch end
1'
Biggar gets the ball into the box but Mitchell does well to block then clear
2'
Ref blows for a free kick to Queen's on the half way line
3'
Gullan picks up a pass to Bannon to get the ball back upfield
4'
Queen's get the ball into the box but Liam Dick is there to clear. Corner to Queen's
5'
From the corner ball is played into the Raith box, Eze is there with the header but it is no danger to MacDonald
7'
Queens's trying to put the cross in but Masson there to put them off
9'
Queen's are passing back and forth, left and right as they keep pushing into the Raith half
11'
Good interception there by McBride
11'
Lang with the long pass but it's too heavy for Frederikson to do anything with it
12'
Good cross from Raith to get the ball into the box and Frederiksen is there with the header but ball is over the bar
13'
Good play from Eze as he swerved the ball round to Longridge. Raith eventually clear
16'
Longridge with a freekick gets the ball into the box Raith clear, but Queen's manage to win back… ball eventually ends with a Queen's corner
18'
Good play by Raith there as Liam Dick gets the ball up the line to Gullan. Queen's challenge and throw in Raith
20'
Freekick Queen's just inside the Raith half
20'
Masson does well to put pressure on Queen's on the half way line
22'
Freekick Raith inside the Queen's half
23'
Ball falls for Raith in the Queens box, a mass of bodies but ball is eventually cleared
24'
Raith in possession but ref has blowed to see if Eze is okay who is on the floor in the Queen's box
27'
McBride booked for throwing the ball away after the ref blows for a foul against Brown
30'
Freekick for Raith after a high feet foul by Williamson
30'
Easton has the ball he looks for options but decides to turn and shoot. His effort is over the bar
34'
Mitchell gets the ball perfectly into the box but it seemed to skim quickly past Frederiksen
35'
Lang with a perfect header to clear the ball from the Raith box
36'
Nolan does well to keep his foot on the ball to stop a Queen's threat and gain Raith a freekick
37'
McBride gets the ball to Mitchell but he's being challenged
38'
Masson booked
38'
Queen's freekick goes straight out for a goal kick
39'
Ball played into the Queen's box but Raith can't capitalise
41'
Lang shields the ball to allow it to roll out for a goal kick
44'
Coming up for half-time and both teams halve played well and still all to play for
45'
Right in 45 min mark ref blows for half-time Queen's 0 Raith 0
45'
Queen's get the second half underway
45'
Queen's get the second half underway
47'
No changes to either side at halftime
48'
Corner Raith
48'
Mitchell sadly couldn't get the ball as it falls to a Queen's player beside him int he box
50'
Longridge to Boateng who blast the ball at a Raith player. Queen's scream for handball but it's off the chest
52'
Good head flick on by Frederiksen but Raith can't get into the loose ball
53'
Queen's corner
53'
Ball falls to Frederiksen's head in the Queen's box but ball goes out for a goal kick
54'
Williamson for Queen's has a low shot but it's weak and doesn't trouble McNeil
55'
Play stopped to treat Masson
57'
Gullan witht he freekick.. he takes a blast but ball is well wide of goal
58'
Good ball to Mitchell but it hits off his heal.. McBridebhas a blast but ball goes wide
59'
↔️
Queen's make. Sub off goes Boateng and on comes Davidson
59'
Mitchell waits for the ball and Queen's take advantage and steal the ball and run upfield
60'
Corner Queen's.. gets into the box but Raith head over the Raith bar. Another Queen's corner
63'
Queen's on the danger ball eventually falls to Biggar who has a blast and ball goes well over the bar
63'
Mitchell does well to try and trouble Naismith but it doesn't quite pay off
65'
Masson does well to win Raith corner
67'
Ball falls to Nolan in the box he can't get it to it but a foul happens with Easton backing into Ferrie
67'
Queen's have a corner Raith players are infuriated and someone gets booked.. I'm too far away to see whom
70'
20 min to go Queen's 0 Raith 0
70'
Queens corner
71'
Gullan does well to keep the ball in at the byline and he blast it clear upfield
73'
McBride has a blast approx 30 yards out but ball goes over the Queen's bar
75'
Queen's try to calmly chip the ball into the box but thankfully none of their players make the run
76'
McNeil gets a hand to a Healy ball
78'
↔️
Raith sub off Gullan and bring on Connolly
79'
GGOOOOOAAAALLLLL
79'
Ball falls to FREDRIKSEN… he keeps control and scores low into the Queen's net
80'
Frederiksen to Mitchell but the pass is weighted too heavy for a Mitchell to latch on
81'
Corner Raith
81'
Raith are putting the pressure on now
82'
Raith corner
82'
Lang gets the head to it but it looked like Ferrie had spilled the ball but ref blows for a foul
83'
↔️
Queen's makes triple sub off goes Longridge, Biggar and Healy and on come McPake Thomas and Savoury
86'
Freekick Queens approx 25 yards out
87'
Ball is eventually cleared
88'
McPake has a shot, must have taken a deflection as Quern's corner
89'
Well saved by McNeil one minute of regulation time to go
90'
↔️
Raith make a sub off goes Mitchell and on comes Vaughan
90'
Queen's with a low pop but McNeil gets down to save
91'
Raith fans singing
91'
Easton with a shot but ball goes over the Queen's bar
92'
Frederiksen has a 25 yard shot and Ferrie has to palm over the bar
93'
Ref blows for full time… Raith are into the semi final after the beat Queen's Park. Queen's Park 0 Raith 1 (FREDRIKSEN 79'). Raith will meet Dundee or Dunfermline in the next round