Club 18/01/2019
Match Preview: Dunfermline (Home)
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Raith Rovers V Saturday 19th January 2019 Stark’s Park Kick off:3.00pm William Hill Scottish Cup R4 |
Match Preview:
Raith Rovers will put league business to one side this weekend, as they renew their rivalry with near neighbours Dunfermline Athletic in a Scottish Cup fourth round tie.
It’ll be the first competitive meeting between the sides in over two years, and Rovers will be desperate to get one over the Pars for the first time since August 2016, when goals from Bobby Barr and Mark Stewart sustained Rovers 100% start to the season at Stark’s Park.
They’ll be up against a Dunfermline team which has recently changed it’s manager, after Allan Johnston left his post following a 2-2 draw with Alloa Athletic, with Stevie Crawford installed as his replacement.
Crawford’s first match was a 1-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice last weekend, which brought to an end Dunfermline’s four match unbeaten run.
The result left Dunfermline seventh in the Championship table, six points away from a promotion playoff place.
However, if they can rectify their home form, which has seen them pick up just nine from a possible 30 points at East End Park this season, a tilt at a top four place wouldn’t be beyond them in the second half of the campaign.
This will be the two sides first meeting in this competition since 1985, when Rovers lost by two goals to nil in a first round tie at East End Park.
If Rovers are to progress to the fifth round, they’ll have to overturn a pretty poor record against the Pars, with just two wins and two draws from the last 10 meetings.
Saturday’s match referee will be Bobby Madden.
Head-To-Head Cup Record Versus Dunfermline:
Raith Rovers Wins: 6 | Dunfermline Athletic Wins: 7 | Draws: 2
Raith Rovers Goals: 22 | Dunfermline Goals: 19
Current Form:
Raith Rovers: L-W-W-L-W-D | Dunfermline Athletic: L-D-D-W-D-L
Top Goal Scorers:
Raith Rovers: Kevin Nisbet 20 | Liam Buchanan 9 | Lewis Vaughan 6
Dunfermline Athletic: Myles Hippolyte 6 | Louis Longridge 5 | Andy Ryan 5
Match Odds:
Raith Rovers: 5/2 | Dunfermline Athletic: Evens | Draw: 13/2