Line Up

Preview

After last week’s dramatic late win over Dundee United at a packed Stark’s Park, Raith Rovers will be looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the table, when they travel to Somerset Park to take on Ayr United.The Honest Men are under new management, after appointing Scott Brown to replace Lee Bullen last month.The former Aberdeen midfielder and Fleetwood Town boss has had a good start to his tenure in Ayrshire, leading them to wins over Queen’s Park and Airdrie in the league, and losing narrowly to Dundee United, and Rangers in the Scottish Cup.Those results have lifted Ayr up the Championship table to fifth, four points outside the final playoff place, and four points above the relegation zone.This will be the third meeting between the sides this term, with Rovers taking four points from six.Rovers won the first meeting at Somerset Park in September, with Dylan Easton’s brace handing Rovers a two goal lead at the interval, although Rovers had to hang on in the second, with Anton Dowds reducing the deficit.The return game at Stark’s Park just before Christmas was one of the most remarkable games of the season.Despite Ayr playing with 10 men for over half the game, Rovers had to fight back not just once, but twice, after Ayr led 3-2 and then 4-3, with Lewis Vaughan’s hat-trick and a goal from Sam Stanton earning Rovers a point on a frustrating evening.Saturday’s match referee will be Graham Grainger

Head-To-Head Record

Raith Rovers wins: 59

Ayr United wins: 56

Draws: 52

Reports

The Race goes on

Rovers travelled to Ayr boosted by the dramatic last-minute winner against league leader’s Dundee Utd last Friday – meaning Rovers are just a point off the top. Ayr have also seen a boost in form recently with Scott Brown coming in as manager. Rovers’ Scott Brown was recalled to the starting eleven after his recent heroics, and new signing Lee Ashcroft came in to make his debut.Rovers started brightly once again and took the lead inside five minutes. Nice work from Josh Mullin down the right saw him put in a back post cross which Zak Rudden caught perfectly to put Rovers ahead. Ayr Utd 0-1 Rovers.It didn’t take the hosts long to respond, though – just five minutes in fact. A free kick from the right started an old-fashioned stramash in the box, and as it pin-balled around, the ball eventually fell to Roy Syla who made no mistake from short range. Ayr Utd 1-1 Rovers.The half ebbed and flowed after that with both teams carving half-chances; however, the magic was to happen just on half-time. A fantastic diagonal pass over the top found Lewis Vaughan, he took a slick first touch on the run before clipping the ball over Joshua Clark in the home goal. No doubt, another Vaughany special.Half-time: Ayr Utd 1-2 Raith RoversWith all to play for, the second half surprisingly didn’t hit the heights of the first. Both teams had chances but, as has become typical for Rovers this season, Ayr found Kevin Dabrowski in inspired form, and likewise Ayr debutant keeper Clark stood firm.The one goal winning margin can come as no surprise to Rovers’ fans as every game this season has been determined by a single goal.A quite remarkable record and with Dundee Utd also winning, it was ‘as it was’ at the top. Rovers now face a tough home match against in-form Morton.Full-time: Ayr Utd 1-2 Raith RoversCrowd: 2,276by David Proudfoot

Photos

 

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray talked to RaithTV after the win at Somerset Park: Liam Dick was a happy man after the victory over Ayr:

Live Updates

0'
Today's Cinch Championship game away to Ayr is underway with Ayr kicking off
0'
Raith shooting towards the away end this half
4'
GGOOOAAALLL
4'
It's RUDDEN again with a lovely first goal of the afternoon
7'
Lovely ball played to Rudden but he's offside
8'
Another lovely ball played to Stanton who takes it to the byline it's a tight cross into the box forcing. Clarke to get rid over the bar, corner Raith
10'
Ayr score… play starts from a free kick, ball played into the Raith box, it's headed around and so many bodies it's hard for Big Kev to see but. Syla scores with a low shot
13'
Stanton's corner played into the Ayr box but it's cleared.
13'
McKenzie for Ayr is booked
16'
Ayr Utd looking for a free kick at the edging the D but ref says no
17'
I Briwn places the ball into the box, Ayr get to it first and clear
18'
Ashcroft does well to keep pace with McKenzie to shield the ball out of play
21'
McGinty plays the ball on to McKenzie who controls and has a pop, its deflected but enough for Big Kev to collect
23'
Freekick Raith after McGinty fouls Rudden in the Raith half
24'
Rudden tries to back heal the ball to Mullin unfortunately it takes a wicked bounce and ball out for an Ayr throw in
25'
Stanton with a lovely ball to Vaughan he see Easton who has a pop and his effort pings off the bar - goal kick
28'
McGinty with a long ball to McKenzie but J Brown is there to head clear
29'
Ashcroft clears an Ayr threat
29'
Easton switches okay to J brown who takes the ball upfield … play ends with a corner to Raith
31'
A second corner where Stanton plays the ball short to Mullin. He whips the ball into the box. It skiffs off many heads and out for a goalkick
32'
Mullin again with a shot but it falls into the arms of Clarke
33'
Watson clears as Dowds presses
35'
Dempsey booked for afoul on Mullin who was about to break free on towards goal
36'
Approx 20 yards out Vaughan's freekick curls round towards goal but Clarke saves
37'
Stanton does well to steal the ball away from Ayr, Raith pass back and forth looking for a way forward but ball ends at Big Kev who has to thump it upfield
41'
Apologies it was Ashcroft who was struggling and he has been substitutes for Turner
44'
Chalmers for Ayr has a pop but his effort wi well over the bar
45'
Ball played to Vaughan but he's offside
45'
+1 GGGOOOAALL
45'
+2 it's a lovely balll from Rudden to VAUGHAN who calm as you like slots home goal number two for Raith
45'
+3 half time Ayr 1 ( Syla) Raith 2 ( Rudden 5' Vaughan 45+)
45'
Raith get the second half underway and shooting towards their own fans
47'
Vaughan with a tight shot forcing Clarke to palm save away
49'
Ayr free kick approx 20 yards out
50'
Ayr freekick is well over the wall and bar
51'
Great ball to Vaughan, he has Sanders with him and he goes down and ref blows for a foul - personally Vaughan didn't touch him
53'
Riudden to Vaughan, he sees Easton who takes it to the byline and wins Raith a corner
57'
Easton passes to Liam Dick who cheats it forward but the control is too heavy and he loses possession
61'
Liam Dick with a pass to Rudden but he's just offside
62'
↔️
Ayr sub off Murphy and bring on Willoughby
62'
↔️
Raith sub off goal scorer Rudden and bring on Hamilton
65'
Chalmers for Ayr trying to look for goal but thankfully can't find a way through
67'
Not sure if Watson was in two minds how to clear the ball but it goes a bit wrong and Ayr throw in
67'
Freekick Raith after Chalmers loses out against Easton
69'
Hamilton's pass to JBrown doesn't quite reach as Ayr intercept
70'
Freekick to Raith after a foul on Vaughan
70'
Easton has the ball on the sideline and the lineman indicates ball out of play… but the whole ball isn't out of play
72'
Crowd today is 2276 with 462 Raith fans
72'
↔️
Ayr sub off Chalmers and bring on McGeady
76'
Corner Ayr
76'
Ball is played to black post and headed about, it eventually leaves the danger area and ends with a goalkick
76'
↔️
Raith sub off goal scorer number two for Raith and bring on Matthews and
79'
Ayr sub off Syla and McKenzie and bring in McHugh and Bryden
79'
Mickey Cameron has received a yellow card
83'
Big Kev collects an Ayr threat
85'
A loose ball in the Ayr box but Raith aren't quick enough to respond
86'
Ayr corner as Big Kev has to finger tip over the bar an incoming shot
87'
Scott Briwn booked for time wasting
88'
Ayr come close as Dowds shot goes across goal thankfully no one there to knock it in
89'
Freekick Raith just in the Ayr half
89'
Ball reaches Ayr box but it's cleared
90'
Corner Raith
93'
Raith looking for a foul in Turner but ref isn't giving it
94'
Ref blows for full time Ayr 1 (Syla 11) Raith 2 (Rudden 5, Vaughan 45+)… 3 points go back to the K'dy