Match Preview: Hibernian

Raith Rovers  V  Hibernian  Wednesday 4th May 2016 Stark’s Park Kick off: 7.45pm Play-Off Quarter Final

 Full match day ticket arrangements can be found here 

Match Preview:

The Premiership play-offs begin this Wednesday evening, with Raith Rovers welcoming Hibernian to Stark’s Park for the first-leg of the quarter-final tie.

The winner of the two-legs will move on to play Falkirk in the semi-final, and if this season’s encounters are anything to go by, then the affair could be a close run thing.

Hibs won the first match in August by two goals to nil, thanks to goals from James Keatings and Jason Cummings, two men who have something of a knack of scoring against the Kirkcaldy club.

Alan Stubbs team won the return match at Stark’s Park in October too, although the match was a far tighter one.

John McGinn and Cummings gave Hibs a commanding lead, only for Jon Daly to arrest the arrears in the second-period. The goal breathed new life into Raith, but despite a sustained and prolonged period of pressure, Hibs held out for the win.

Hibs also won the New Year fixture at Easter Road, 1-0 thanks to yet another Cummings goal, but Rovers did manage a win at the fourth attempt in March.

Anthony Stokes gave Hibernian a first-half lead, but a Lewis Toshney equaliser and a goal early in the second-period from Mark Stewart handed Raith the victory.

If Raith are to play a greater part in the play-offs than just a quarter-final appearance, then they’ll have to improve on their play-off record, which currently stands at two appearances, but no victories.

Nine years ago, John McGlynn’s side were eliminated from the First Division promotion play-offs by Stirling Albion, after a 0-0 draw at Stark’s Park was followed up by a 3-1 defeat in Stirling, and twelve months later, they were eliminated at the same stage by Airdrie 4-2 on aggregate, after a 2-0 defeat at Stark’s Park in the first-leg.

With Hibernian’s third place finish in the table giving them home advantage in the second-leg, and with a formidable record at Easter Road this season, Raith will be eager to take a lead to Edinburgh for the early Saturday afternoon kick-off.

With that in mind, Ray McKinnon’s men will be looking to take advanatge of Hibernian’s away form, which has seen them win just once away from Easter Road in the Championship in 2016, a 1-0 win at Cappielow in February.

Head-to-Head League Record At Stark’s Park:

Raith Rovers Wins: 19 | Hibernian Wins: 20 | Draws: 10

Raith Rovers Goals: 70 | Hibernian Goals: 80

Current Form:

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

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

Top Goalscorers:

Raith Rovers: Mark Stewart 10 | James Craigen 9 | Ryan Hardie 6

Hibernian: Jason Cummings 26 | James Keatings 10 | Anthony Stokes 7

Match Odds: 

Raith Rovers: 18/5 | Hibernian: 4/5 | Draw: 14/5

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