Match Preview: Hibernian

Raith Rovers  V  Hibernian Saturday 18th February 2017 Stark’s Park, Kirkcaldy  Kick off: 3.00pm

Admission Prices: 

Adults – £20

Under 16 / Over 65 / Disabled* – £10

*Home support concession tickets are available from the ticket office 12 noon.

Away support: 

Unsold tickets returned from Easter Road will be available from the ticket pod from 1.30pm on match day. Turnstiles will open at 1.45pm. Fans are reminded that tickets are for allocated seating.

Match Preview:

John Hughes kicks off his tenure as Raith Rovers boss this weekend, and he could scarcely ask for a harder fixture to start with, as league leaders Hibernian visit Stark’s Park this Saturday.

Neil Lennon’s men are unbeaten in ten league and cup matches, and they also boast the best away record in the second tier, with just one defeat this term, sustained at Tannadice against Dundee United back in December.

That defeat came during a run of just two wins from six games for the Leith side, a sequence which saw them relinquish top spot at the turn of the year to Ray McKinnon’s United side, but a run of 13 points from the last 15 available, has seen them move six points clear at the summit with a game in hand.

Rovers on the other hand are without a win since October, and now reside just four points above the relegation play-off spot, a position which is currently taken up by Ayr United.

However, Raith have yet to lose to Hibs this season, with the first meeting at Stark’s Park back in October ending goalless, while the Christmas Eve fixture ended one each, with Martin Boyle grabbing a late equaliser for Bibs after Jean Yves M’Voto had nodded Raith in front early in the second-half.

Despite Rovers poor run, a win could see them move up to sixth, although to do that, they’ll need to inflict a defeat on to a side which has lost just twice in the Championship this season.

That impressive statistic is built on a stout defensive record, with Hibs conceding just 12 goals in 23 league fixtures, and just five in 12 away matches this term.

Rovers have made a habit of defeating Hibs in recent times however, with two wins over the course of the last campaign.

Goals from Lewis Toshney and Mark Stewart secured a 2-1 win back in March 2016, while a Harry Panayiotou goal handed Rovers a slender advantage in the first-leg of last season’s promotion play-offs.

In all, Raith’s recent league record in this fixture is a good one, with two wins and four draws from the last ten meetings.

Saturday’s match referee will be Craig Charleston.

Head-To-Head Home League Record Versus Hibernian:

Raith Rovers Wins: 19 | Hibernian Wins: 20 | Draws: 11

Raith Rovers Goals: 70 | Hibernian Goals: 80

Current Form:

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

Hibernian: W-W-W-W-D-D

Top Goal Scorers:

Raith Rovers: Mark Stewart 6 | Declan McManus 5 | Ross Callachan 3

Hibernian: Jason Cummings 15 | Martin Boyle 6 | Brian Graham 5

Match Odds:

Raith Rovers: 6/1 | Hibernian: 1/2 | Draw: 31/10

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