Premier Sports Cup
Raith Rovers vs Hamilton Academical
Saturday 27th July 2024
3pm KO
Stark’s Park, Kirkcaldy
Tickets for our Premier Sports Cup group stage match against Hamilton can be bought by clicking here.
Prices:
Adult: £14
Over-65/Under-21: £10
Under-16: £5
RaithTV
This match will be streamed live to international subscribers.
Match Preview
Raith Rovers Premier Sports Cup group campaign comes to a close this Saturday, and it’s still all to play for, with Hamilton Accies the visitors to Stark’s Park.
Last weekend’s 2-1 loss in Dingwall to Ross County means qualifying for the knock out stage has become that bit more harder, and much more complicated, but Ian Murray’s side know that only a win over Hamilton, and a handsome one at that, will give them a chance to qualify for the last 16.
With only three of the best runners up from the eight groups qualifying for the knock out stages, Rovers require the three points, and hope for a few favours in the other games if they’re to make the last 16.
Saturday’s visitors will have something to say about that though, and despite having no chance of getting through, John Rankin’s men could still dislodge Raith from second place in Group H, and win themselves more prize money in the process, while laying down a marker for the season ahead.
Hamilton have had a mixed League Cup campaign to date, losing out to Stirling Albion on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the first game, before bouncing back with a 3-0 win over Stranraer.
Needing a win over Ross County on Tuesday evening, they started off well, taking the lead through an excellent finish from new signing, Oli Shaw.
However, two quickfire goals from the Staggies kept up their 100% record, and meant Hamilton’s chances of progression were gone.
Hamilton find themselves back in the second tier after just a one year absence, following a 5-3 aggregate victory over Duncan Ferguson’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Championship playoff final.
Despite already having a strong squad, they’ve bolstered it over the summer by bringing in the aforementioned Shaw from Barnsley, central defender Sean McGinty from Ayr United, and a name familiar to Rovers fans, Nikolai Todorov, who has swapped North Lanakshire for South after leaving Airdrie.
With three points a necessity, Rovers will be hoping there’s a repeat of the last time the sides met last season, with Raith running out comfortable 4-1 winners in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final tie in November last year.
Sam Stanton handed the visitors an early lead, before a second half brace from Jack Hamilton put Rovers firmly in the driving seat.
Dario Zanatta had briefly threatened to get the home side back in it with a goal in the 73rd minute, before a last minute Dylan Easton goal completed the scoring.
Head-to-Head Record:
Raith Rovers wins: 63
Draws: 34
Hamilton Accies wins: 61