Airdrieonians FC vs Raith Rovers FC | Raith Rovers Football Club

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Raith’s second trip of the season to Airdrie ended in a similar fashion to their first on Tuesday evening, after a goal late in the second half once again clinched the points for the home side in a 1-0 affair.

Rovers’ gaffer, Barry Robson, made no changes to his starting eleven for the third game in a row after two home victories against Partick and Hamilton in the weeks prior. Gibson and Vaughan, Hamilton, Smith, and Gitau continued to miss out through injury.

Rhys Mcabe looked to keep a recent up-turn of form going and made four changes to his side. McGrattan, Graham, Armstong, and Hancock all made way for Strapp, Gallagher, McStravick and Wilson, who all appeared on the bench in their 1-1 draw against Partick just three days earlier.

The match got off to an energetic start as both sides tried to make some early in-roads in the final third. Josh Rae did well to rush out and deny a one-on-one chance in the fifth minute, and the score remained level in the opening period.

Raith came close after an effort from Gullan in the 18th minute went just by the post, but Airdrie continued to progress up the park often. Josh Rae did well in The Rovers’ goal to deny all of Airdrie’s efforts though, and the game remained level.

After a battling and intense forty-five minutes, the first half ended goalless even after some promising chances for both teams. Neither manager elected to use their bench quite yet, and the second half got underway with no changes.

A flurry of fouls and set pieces made up the opening stages of the second half, but once again neither side could capitalise with the resultant efforts failing to trouble either goalkeeper.

Airdrie started to inch further forward, but a couple more good saves from Rae prevented any goals.

Robson made his first changes of the night on the 75th minute, with Montagu and Marsh coming on for Easton and Pollock. Things wouldn’t go to plan in the minutes that followed, however.

The home side recycled the ball to their back line in the 77th minute, before starting another attack on Raith’s goal as Dylan Macdonald collected the ball out wide. Substitute Lewis McGrattan made his way to the edge of the box, and Macdonald’s pass to his feet allowed the winger to control the ball before curling an effort just inside the right post from around twenty yards out. Raith trailed with twelve minutes to go.

Connolly replaced Mullin shortly after the goal and Raith piled on the pressure as they tried to find something late on, but Airdrie defended well right up until the final whistle.

Raith still remain in contention for fourth place, with four points and a game in hand separating them from the promotion playoff spot. Airdrie still remain last in the league, but a decreased gap of seven points and a game in hand means the chance of avoiding the drop is still there.

Next up, Raith go back to Kirkcaldy for their third Starks Park’ Saturday in a row as they host seventh placed Queens Park.

Live Updates

Welcome to tonight’s Championship game at the Albert Bartlett Stadium - Airdrie v Raith

Airdrie get the game underway, Raith defending the Coatbridge end

First few minutes Airdrie have been applying the pressure with play ending as Rae gets down to smother

Stevenson with a long ball to Gullan he can’t quite get to it but Airdrie out the ball out for a Raith throw in

Liam Dick’s long throw gets into the 18 yard box but Airdrie clear

Good ball from Airdrie as they break free but Rae comes charging out, slides to block the ball outside the D and manages to stop the threat

Stevenson with a lovely lift of the ball to Pollock but the main stand linesman rules offside

11'

A fairly fast tempo game with both sides pressing

13'

Freekick Raith down near the corner at the East Stand Stevenson takes it, ball falls to far past but cleared

18'

Mullin with a perfect ball to Gullan, he controls and hits the ball but it’s just wide

19'

Airdrie now with a chance in the edge of the 18 yard box but thankfully ball wide

20'

Freekick Airdrie apples 25 yards out, ball played to the centre of the 18 yard box and Raith clear

27'

Ball played to Pollock who goes for a run up the right side, he cuts the ball in but it’s straight to Wright

29'

MacDonald for Airdrie whips the ball into the Raith box and they clear

30'

MacDonald again gets the ball lifted into the Raith box and Mullin is there to boot clear

31'

Gullan this time at the other end puts the ball into the Airdrie 18yard box but Wright collects

32'

Gullan heals the ball to Easton but the latter is judged to be offside

34'

Raith corner at main stand side, ball played short then whipped into the Airdrie box but Wright jumps up and collects

35'

Good play from Raith as Gullan, Easton and Mullin link well. Play ends with a corner for Raith - that ends with Brown going for a pop approx 30 yards out with the ball going wide

37'

Brown sees Stevenson to his left he then goes for the long pass to Matthews who tries to get the ball into the box but it’s blocked

43'

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Matthews receives and yellow after a challenge on Frizzell around the half way line

44'

Good save from Rae as Airdrie make a break

45'

Ref blows for half time Airdrie 0 Raith 0… even game so far

45'

Raith get the second half underway. Raith defending the South stand this half

47'

McStravick is opportunistic as he drops the ball into the Raith box but Hanlon is there to head clear

49'

Raith freekick after a foul on Pollock.. approx 30 yards out, ball played into the box but Airdrie clear, Raith continue to press and win a corner

50'

From the Raith corner ball played short then delivered to just inside the 6 yard box but ball headed over the bar

52'

Easton wins a corner for Raith, ball played short then whipped into the Airdrie box - brilliant save from Wright as Raith smash the ball towards goal

54'

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Raith freekick but a yellow for Gullan for protesting too much. Mullin’s freekick played deep into the 18 yard box and it eventually falls to Pollock whose blast is wide

56'

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Airdrie sub off McStravick and Mochrie and bring on Diack and McGrattan

58'

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Booking for Easton for a challenge main stand side

62'

Gullan has a pop approx 25 yards out but his effort is wide

63'

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Booking for Strapp for a foul on Mullin and freekick Raith

64'

Mullin’s freekick played deep into Airdrie 18 yard box and cleared

66'

Freekick Raith again after a foul on Liam Dick - Stevenson’s ball played into the Airdrie 18 yard box, cleared and falls to Mullin who has a pop and that’s blocked too

69'

Easton plays the ball to Gullan but the latter can’t get the ball under control as Wright comes out

70'

Mullin clearly fouled down the East stand sideline the linesman can see this but nothing given

74'

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Raith sub off Easton and Pollock and bring on Montagu and Marsh

75'

Strapp has a blasting shot and Rae has a powerful punch clear

76'

Rae again collects as Diack attempts to drop the ball into the Raith box

77'

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Goal Airdrie as McGrattan with a low strike to Rae’s left hits the back of the net

79'

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Airdrie sub off Gallagher and bring on Armstrong

80'

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Airdrie also sub off Wilson and bring on Reid

81'

Ball played to an on running Marsh but the he’s offside

81'

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Raith sub off Mullin and bring on Connolly

83'

Freekick Raith down by right side of East Stand side near Airdrie 18 yard box Connolly takes and delivers to far side of the 18 yard box but ball eventually ends up over the bar

86'

Connolly goes for a run, he can’t pass the ball on so takes the ball to near the Airdrie box, delivers the ball in but it’s cleared

90'

Doherty and Marsh linking well as Raith try to push for the equaliser

91'

Doherty cuts the ball across the 6 yards box, Wright palms clear , Marsh tries to have a pop but nothing comes of it

92'

Long ball to Connolly but it’s a tad heavy as Wright gets to the ball first

94'

Ref blows for full time Airdrie 1 (McGrattan 78’) Raith 0