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Raith Rovers couldn’t recreate their Pittodrie Scottish Cup heroics of 15 years ago on Saturday after falling to a 1-0 defeat against defending champions Aberdeen.

An early goal for the hosts helped them on their way, but Raith challenged well in a match that was there for the taking on the day.

Dougie Imrie made one change to his starting lineup following a tough 3-2 defeat to Arbroath, with Joshua Mullin earning a start after his goal from the bench. Paul McMullan rotated as a substitute, joining the returning Ross Matthews and Lewis Vaughan on a full subs list.

The Rovers kicked off the first meeting between the two sides in over three years, but it was Aberdeen who would strike early on.

A fairly unsettled opening five minutes saw Aberdeen press up into the final third, which earned them a couple of corners for their efforts. Rangers loanee and Dons’ debutant, Lyall Cameron, was on corner-taking duties for the afternoon. This decision would pay off in only the ninth minute after the second corner of the match found the head of Dante Polvara at the front post. The American’s header wasn’t on target, but defender Jack Milne was in the right place at the right time at the back post to force the ball into the net after rising to meet.

The match was only the fifth in Raith’s history to have had VAR in use, but a somewhat lengthy goal-check came to nothing, meaning Aberdeen’s opener stood.

Raith kicked on after their early setback and put some pressure on Aberdeen’s backline. Dimitar Mitov was called into action a couple of times, not to deny any efforts from Raith, but more so from his own defenders. A mistimed backheel, followed by a heavy back-pass a few minutes later, had the Aberdeen shot stopper scrambling to clear the danger, which he just managed to do so on both occasions.

Raith continued to push, and were probably the better side as halftime approached, but they couldn’t create any substantial chance before the break.

Aberdeen looked to have regained their composure after the restart, and almost found the net again after Raith failed to clear following a save from Rae. The ball was worked back to substitute Jesper Karlsson around twelve yards from goal, but his effort was blocked at the first man.

Imrie started to look to his bench, which eventually saw Lewis Vaughan return to the field in the 82nd minute. “Vaughany” was warmly welcomed back to the pitch by the 1200 strong traveling Rovers contingent, with the Raith man marking the end of a near four-month-long absence through injury.

Vaughan’s first act of the game was a dangerous one as he drove towards goal before cutting inside, but his effort took a deflection on the way, giving Mitov an easy gather in the end.

Raith threw the ball forward in the final minutes through a series of long free-kicks, but the wind held the ball in the air – giving the Aberdeen backline an easy job to do.

Aberdeen came close to sealing the deal in the final moments of the match, with Karlsson getting a chance from around 10 yards out. Rae did well to deny though, putting the ball out of play before the match was brought to a close seconds later.

The lack of any cup-shock ends Raith’s Scottish Cup journey in the fourth round this year, with Aberdeen going on to draw Motherwell at home in the next stage of the competition.

Raith return to league duties next, with a home tie against 9th placed Queen’s Park in the calendar for this Saturday.

Written by Hamish Rankine

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today’s Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup game at Pittodrie Stadium - Aberdeen V Raith.
0'
Raith get the game underway - defending beach end first half
1'
Early corner for Aberdeen dealt with by Raith
2'
Devlin takes an opportunity but luckily his effort is well over the bar
4'
Free kick Raith after a foul on Easton 5 yards out the Raith box - Rae to take
5'
Doherty tries to drop the long ball into the Aberdeen box, it’s over cooked and out for a goal kick
8'
Aberdeen corner as Rowe heads out a cut back from Aberdeen - corner taken and a bit of a scramble at the Raith goal line and Milne for Aberdeen scores
9'
Var checking for a possible handball
10'
VAR decides goal given
13'
Massive Mistake by Aberdeen defence and Raith should have pounced
14'
Aberdeen corner - ball falls to edge of 6 yard box and headed out by Aberdeen
16'
Another Aberdeen howler in defence an again Raith need to be ready to pounce on these mistakes
22'
Free kick Raith just in their had after a foul in Winter from Armstrong
23'
Devlin with a low shot and Rae gets down and collects
26'
🟨
Freekick Raith in their half after afoul on Easton and booking for Gyamfi
29'
Freekick Raith as they weave their way deep into the Aberdeen half - ball delivered deep in Aberdeen 18 yard box but it’s cleared
31'
Corner Aberdeen- ball into Raith box and headed away by Rowe
33'
Easton with the ball, Wilsonnis to his left but he tries to shoot through the bodies in the middle and ball intercepted and cleared
35'
Raith freekick after a foul on Hamilton ball into the 18 yard box and O’Connor heads it further forward but it’s out for a goal kick
38'
Doherty with a great ball whilst under pressure into the Aberdeen 18 yard box but Winter can’t do anything with it
40'
Ball fouls to Wilson and unfortunately he slips on a heavy Pittodrie pitch
41'
Raith putting the pressure on Aberdeen - corner Raith - ball played lovely into the Aberdeen box and cleared fantastic opportunity for Wilson who blasts the ball and it whacks off Devlin
45'
2mins of additional time has been indicated
45'
+1 Aberdeen go for the low strike on their main stand side and Josh Rae comfortably collects
45'
+2 ref blows for half time Aberdeen 1 (Milne 8’) Raith 0
45'
Aberdeen get the second half underway - Aberdeen have made a half time substitution as off goes Gyamfi and bring on Frame
45'
Aberdeen come close as the ball clips off the bar, as ball cleared up field Briwn is fouled just in Raith half
47'
Brown with his 30yqrd shooooooot - ball well over the bar
48'
Keskinen with a shot which deflects off the back of O’Connor and out for a corner - which doesn’t come to anything
53'
Mullin with the cross into the Aberdeen box but Mitov is able to collect
55'
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Aberdeen make a double substitution off go Milanovic and Armstrong and on come Shinnie and Karlsson - Aberdeen also with a couple of missed opportunities as they hit the Raith defence
60'
Mullin again with a cross into the Aberdeen box but Mitov comes out to collect
64'
Karlsson with a shot and blocked by Rowe
65'
Cameron for Aberdeen with a shot and Hanlon blocks - ends in a corner for Aberdeen which ends in a throw in for Raith
68'
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Raith with a double substitution as off go Easton and Winter and on come Montagu and McMullan
68'
Corner Aberdeen as Rowe has to head out - ball falls deep into 6 yard box and it creeps in front of the goal line and out for a goal kic
72'
Cameron for Aberdeen with a low shot and Rae gets down to collect
73'
Karlsson with a dangerous cross into front of goal Thankfulky ain’t pounced on
74'
🟨
Substitution from Raith as off goes Rowe and on comes Matthews Aberdeen also with a subside off goes Clarkson and on comes Aouchiche
77'
Raith with an opportunity from a corner but they can’t get the ball over the line
80'
Keskinen goes for a shot but Ref blows for a foul
80'
↔️
Double substitution for Raith as off go Hamilton and Mullin and on come Nsio and LEWIS Vaughan
82'
Ball to Vaughan who takes the ball into the Aberdeen box he takes a shot but the power isn’t there
83'
Aberdeen make the substitution as off goes Cameron and on comes Nilsen
89'
Long McMullan but his first touch is not great and ball out for an Aberdeen throw in
91'
Aberdeen pressing and have a shot in goal and are make himself wide and bal out for corner to Aberdeen
93'
Nsio with a ball back to Doherty but it doesn’t come to fruition
93'
Ref blows for full time Aberdeen 1 (Milne 8’) Raith 0 it was a battle for Raith till the end but it wasn’t to be

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