cinch SPFL Championship
Queen’s Park vs Raith Rovers
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Saturday 16th March 2024
Kick off: 3pm
Prices for tickets are as follows:
Adult: £20
Over-65: £13
Under-16: £8
Student: £13
Raith Rovers supporters will be situated in section I4, I5 and I6.
Fans can purchase their ticket online only.
There will be no in-person ticket sales for supporters on matchday.
Additional Information:
The advice to all is to arrive early to avoid delays at the turnstiles.
The stadium turnstiles will open at 2pm and stewards will be on hand to check tickets and undertake searches.
Anyone arriving at the turnstiles intoxicated or in possession of alcohol or pyrotechnics will be refused entry.
All supporters are reminded that all forms of smoking including Vapes are prohibited.
SPFL Ground Rules are displayed at all points of entry.
Quiz
(Answers below the Match Preview)
- When were Queen’s Park founded?
- How many times have Queen’s Park won the Scottish Cup?
- Who scored our first goal against Queen’s Park this season?
- Who assisted Jack Hamilton’s equalising header last time at Hampden?
- What player made his Rovers debut against Queen’s Park?
Match Preview
After two back-to-back wins and two clean sheets to boot, Raith Rovers now head back to Hampden this Saturday, for their fourth meeting with Queen’s Park.
Rovers 1-0 win at Firhill against Partick Thistle on Tuesday evening moved them 17 points clear of third placed Thistle, and just one behind leaders Dundee United.
However, with United playing against relegation threatened Dunfermline Athletic on Friday evening, that gap to first place could be greater by the time the two sides take to the pitch in the national stadium.
If Rovers are to take all three points from this one, they’ll need to overcome one of the in-form teams in the division, with only the top two picking up more points over the last half dozen matches, while the only losses Queen’s have recorded in their last 10 games have come against Ayr United and Dundee United.
Forward, Ruari Paton continues to impress, and his goal against Partick Thistle on Saturday made it 20 for the season in all competitions.
Alongside him, new addition Cillian Sheridan has very much hit the ground running, with the former Wisla Plock and Jagiellonia forward racking up two goals and three assists in his four appearances to date.
Rovers have the upper hand in the three games so far this season, but it could so easily be different, with Rovers’ two wins both coming in extraordinary fashion.
Despite taking the lead at Stark’s Park in September through Callum Smith, they found themselves 2-1 down with just four minutes remaining. However, an equaliser from Lewis Vaughan made it two apiece, while his 94th minute winner meant the points stayed in the Lang Toun.
It was an even later show the last time the two sides met at Hampden in November, although the scenario was almost identical.
Again, Rovers found themselves 2-1 down, despite taking the lead through Vaughan, but with just a minute to go, Jack Hamilton’s header made it 2-2. Incredibly, there was still time for late drama, and Ross Millen’s panenka penalty in the 92nd minute won it for a Rovers side who had played with 10 men for the final half hour after Euan Murray’s red card.
The most recent meeting at Stark’s Park didn’t quite have such a happy ending for Rovers though, and again, they took an early lead, this time through Hamilton. However, goals from Cameron Bruce and Sean Welsh saw Callum Davidson take all three points in his first game as Spiders’ boss.
Goals should be pretty much guaranteed in this one, as they two haven’t played out a nil nil draw since November 1985, with the clubs serving up goals in the 28 meetings since.
Saturday’s match referee will be Kevin Clancy.
Head-to-Head Record:
Queen’s Park wins: 36
Raith Rovers wins: 53
Draws: 26
Quiz Answers
- 1867
- 10
- Callum Smith
- Scott McGill
- Kyle Turner