Match Preview: Brechin City (Away)

Brechin City  V  Raith Rovers  Saturday 15th September 2018  Glebe Park  Kick off: 3.00pm

Admission Information:

Parent & Child: £18 (plus £2 for each additional school-age child)

Adults: £15

Adult Concession: £8 (over 65’s and under-18’s)

Match Preview:

After a heavy defeat in Dingwall put paid to their Challenge Cup participation, Raith are back on their travels again this weekend, to face Darren Dods’ Brechin City team.

The Glebe Park side faced a torrid time in the Championship last term, ending the season without a win and with just four points for their efforts, but they’ve started the League One season in decent fettle, currently sitting fourth position in the table, four points behind second placed Rovers.

Brechin’s 1-0 win over East Fife in August was their first league victory since a 1-0 win over Albion Rovers back in April 2017, but they quickly followed that up with a come-from-behind win over Dumbarton, and a 2-2 draw with Arbroath.

It’s been ten years since these two teams met on league business, with Rovers winning two and drawing one of the four meetings in the 2008/09 Second Division.

Rovers would end up league champions that season, finishing two points ahead of Ayr United, while City finished third, but missed out on the chance of promotion after losing 5-2 on aggregate to Ayr United in the playoffs.

It was in the second tier promotion playoffs that these two teams last met in May 2017, but it wasn’t the happiest of experiences for those of a Raith persuasion.

Ross Caldwell gave Brechin the lead from the penalty spot in the first leg, although Declan McManus ensured the sides would return to Stark’s Park all square, with an equaliser 20 minutes from time.

Caldwell again handed the away side the advantage in the second leg, although Jean Yves M’voto restored parity, only for Alan Trouten to put Brechin back in front with seven minutes remaining.

McManus came to the rescue again in injury time to force the match into an additional half hour, and Ryan Hardie looked to have done enough to get Raith into the final, only for Liam Watt to force penalties with five minutes remaining.

Rovers looked to have the advantage in the shootout after two early misses from Brechin, but efforts from Hardie, Bobby Barr and Scott Robertson were all saved by Graeme Smith, condemning Rovers to relegation.

It’s not just in playoff matches that Rovers have struggled against Brechin though, as they’ve won just three of the last ten meetings between the clubs, with four ending all-square.

Saturday’s match referee will be Scott Millar.

Head-To-Head League Record At Brechin:

Brechin City Wins: 8 | Raith Rovers Wins: 17 | Draws: 7

Brechin City Goals: 39 | Raith Rovers Goals: 77

Current Form:

Brechin City: L-W-L-L-W-D

Raith Rovers: W-W-D-W-W-L

Top Goal Scorers:

Brechin City: Boris Melingui 3 | Andy Jackson 2

Raith Rovers: Kevin Nisbet 7 | Liam Buchanan 3 | Lewis Vaughan 2

Match Odds:

Brechin City: 23/10 | Raith Rovers: 11/10 | Draw: 27/10

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