Preview

Despite not feeling that long ago since the curtain came down on last season, Raith Rovers kick off their 2021/22 campaign this Saturday, with a Fife derby in the League Cup group stage.

They'll make the short journey to Central Park to face Cowdenbeath, in the opening match of a pool that also features Alloa, Brechin and Livingston.

Rovers have yet to make it out of the group stages since they were brought back to the competition in 2016, and while they've finished second on two occasions, they've never managed to qualify as a best runner up.

The regionalised nature of this round means Rovers have faced off against some familiar faces in recent seasons, and none more so than the Blue Brazil, who they've been grouped with four times in five years, with Raith having a mixed record against them over the period.

Lewis Vaughan and Liam Buchanan were on the score sheet in a comfortable 2-0 win in 2017, but the scoreline was reversed 12 months later in a match played at Methil while Raith had their new pitch installed, thanks to a brace from Jordyn Sheerin.

Their most recent meeting was in November last year, with Raith winning by a goal to nil at Central Park, thanks to a first half strike from Manny Duku.

Blue Brazil boss, Garry Bollan has certainly opted for experience during his summer transfer window, with his five signings all having played at higher levels in the past. Liam Buchanan and Bobby Barr will both be well known to Rovers fans, but also joining the squad are former Dunfermline goalkeeper, Cammy Gill, former Queen of the South, St Mirren and Dumbarton midfielder, Kyle Hutton, and ex-Hearts defender, Craig Thomson.

Rovers hold the upper hand in the most recent meetings, but only just, with six wins and four defeats from the last 10 contests.

Saturday's match referee will be Gavin Duncan.

Head-To-Head Cup Record:

Cowdenbeath Wins: 7 | Raith Rovers Wins: 7 | Draws: 1

Cowdenbeath Goals: 18 | Raith Rovers Goals: 25

Reports

VAUGHAN GIVES RAITH DERBY CUP WIN

Raith began their League Cup campaign with a deserved victory at Central Park over Fife rivals Cowdenbeath, with Lewis Vaughan’s first-half strike the difference between the sides. While Rovers generated the better chances through-out the ninety minutes, particularly in a dominant period before half-time, the Blue Brazil stuck to their guns, were dogged in defence, and could have snatched a draw late on as Kyle Miller spurned a fine opportunity to equalise in the closing stages.

For Raith’s first competitive outing of the season, John McGlynn began with the bulk of the side who had worked together during the pre-season fixtures – Tait and Spencer in midfield, Berra and Benedictus forming a solid partnership at centre-half, and the width coming in midfield from Dario Zanatta and Aiden Connolly. Upfront, the one surprise was Matej Poplatnik starting alongside Lewis Vaughan, with James Keatings rested.

Despite the bumpy and narrow pitch, Raith started well – Berra and Benedictus fired several cross-field passes early on, setting Zanatta and Connolly on their way, putting the home side’s full-backs Thomson and Pollock under pressure in the opening stages. Home center-forward Kris Renton did enough to put Berra off as Connolly swung in a dangerous ball after two early Raith corners. Vaughan set up Spencer soon after, the Raith midfielder’s blast from distance flying high and wide.

Cowdenbeath, with several new signings in amongst more familiar faces, also started in a functional 4-4-2. Former Rover Liam Buchanan returned to Central Park fourteen years after his first spell with the home side, and hared around the Raith defensive third in the initial exchanges. Centre halves Craig Barr and Jamie Todd would have their hands full with Raith’s twin strikers Vaughan and Poplatnik. Christophe Berra rapped Todd’s ankles at a Raith corner with the match only five minutes old.

Although Cowdenbeath pressed well, the better of the opening stages belonged to the visitors. Spencer and Tait looked to have the run on Hutton and Millar in the middle, and Poplatnik and Vaughan enjoyed good service from wide areas. Spencer’s drive was well held by Cammy Gill after ten minutes - Cowdenbeath’s young goalkeeper recently having joined from Fife rivals Dunfermline. Zanatta squirmed past Pollock, firing a couple of useful crosses into the home box. With experienced midfielder Gavin Morrison missing through injury, Cowdenbeath were finding it difficult to stem the flow of good quality ball into Raith’s forwards.

Raith’s opener, when it came, followed a number of good openings – with Hutton and Todd standing off, Lewis Vaughan had space to run into the box, eventually firing beyond Gill’s right-hand to put Rovers a goal up. The cheer from the away support – a good turn-out filling the far-side terracing – was as welcome as the goal itself, another sign of returning normality in troubling times. Cowdenbeath’s response was meek - Renton drawing a foul from Benedictus, but Thomson’s free-kick flying harmlessly wide.

Having settled the quicker and with their noses in front, Raith looked increasingly confident as the half wore on. Tait freed Tumilty on the half-hour, with a volley from Aiden Connolly well held by Gill. Benedictus broke into midfield, jinking one way before releasing Poplatnik – only a linesman’s flag prevented the Slovenian’s fine finish from giving Raith a two-goal lead. With Berra and Benedictus running a tight ship despite Renton’s tireless running, Tumility and Liam Dick were able to make ground on the flanks, pinning the Blue Brazil into their own half of the field.

Further chances came and went before the half – Connolly bursting inside saw his half-volley sting the palms of Gill. From the resultant corner, Christophe Berra rose above his man, his firm header striking the cross-bar before falling to safety, to the relief of the home defence. Reghan Tumilty had a glimpse of goal two minutes before the interval, his fierce drive well blocked by Cowdenbeath’s young keeper.

With one of their finest moves of the half, Spencer burst from midfield, linking with Vaughan before Tumilty skipped inside his man, crossing for Zanatta to send a close-range header goalwards, again Gill came to the home side’s rescue. With their young keeper the busiest player on the park in the first half, Cowdenbeath manager Gary Bollan had all the hard talking to do at half-time, with Raith very much in control and well worth their one-goal advantage.

In the opening stages of the second-half, even at this early stage of the season, the difference between full-time and part-time sides was apparent. While Bobby Barr showed the ability to twist and turn, this was the midfielder’s first full match of the season, and he was unable to cover the ground as once he did; Cowdenbeath’s defence was also looking short on pace, Pollock and Todd each struggling to stay with their men. The half was only two minutes old before Poplatnik threatened to race clear, only a diving save from Gill clearing the danger. Vaughan burst away seconds later, his cross-shot bouncing narrowly wide.

As the hour mark approached, Cowdenbeath had stiffened their resolve. Kyle Miller began to generate some possession in midfield, Ross Pollock at right-back found Ross Buchanan with several passes into space behind Liam Dick on Raith’s left-flank, and Brad Spencer was drawn into a clattering challenge on Kris Renton, as the home side sought to re-assert themselves in search of an equaliser. Christophe Berra showed all of his experience to keep the sides level - with Liam Buchanan looking to shoot, the former Scotland man used his body position well to clear the danger, holding the diminutive striker at arm’s length when a shot looked likely.

Matej Poplatnik was living on the shoulders of the home centre-halves, forever looking for the ball down a channel to run on to. Having been narrowly flagged off-side several times, the striker had his clearest chance on sixty-four minutes, as Tait’s smart through-ball gave the Slovenian a sight of goal – Gill’s splendid save with his feet kept Cowdenbeath’s arrears to only one.

To their credit, the home side continued to press. Thomson’s zipped free-kick saw Benedictus’ header tipped narrowly over the bar by MacDonald. With quarter of an hour to go, there was a real scare for the visitors as Kris Renton found space on the left, turned back inside and flighted a cross through the Raith six-yard area - Kyle Miller somehow failed to score at the far post, turning his close-range finish wide under real pressure from Benedictus. Raith’s Tumilty sent a zinger just past Gill’s far-post in response, Vaughan shooting just wide seconds later.

With Raith managing the game well, there were time for several late substitutions – James Keatings had already replaced Matej Poplatnik by the time Kieran Mitchell and Dave McKay joined the fray with five minutes remaining, Zanatta and Connolly withdrawn (although in these covid-times, without the benefit of an early bath). For McKay especially, the match represented a welcome return from several injury set-backs – he was warmly received by the travelling support as he took the field.

With the final chances of the match, Keatings pressed Todd into a mistake, and fed Tait in space, whose shot was well blocked by Craig Barr; at the other end, with the Raith penalty-area full, Barr’s header flew well over without troubling Jamie MacDonald. The referee’s final whistle brought proceedings to an end soon after - with both sides very much a work-in-progress at this early stage in the season, each manager could take positives from the outcome, but it was Raith who would take the three points, joining Livingston at the summit of League Cup Group 4, with Brechin heading to Starks Park on Tuesday evening.

Photos

©Eddie Doig 2021

Highlights

Interviews

RaithTV talked to John McGlynn after todays Premier Sports Group D match v Cowdenbeath

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today's game Round 1 group stage of the Premier Sports Cup. It's Cowdenbeath v Raith Rovers. The weather is fair and the ground is filling up
0'
In the Raith team, Dick returns to the starting line up and Poplatnik gets his first start. On the bench McKay makes a return after a term of injury
0'
Cowdenbeath team features a few ex Rovers players, Craig Barr, Liam Buchanan, Craig Easton and Davie McGurn
0'
The game is underway
1'
Raith shooting towards the west end this half
2'
From an early Raith corner, Connolly's ball is headed away
2'
Cowdenbeath lump the ball up the park but Benedictus is there to clear
4'
L Buchanan picks up a loose pass by Raith, he goes forward but Berra is there to challenge
5'
Vaughan lays it back to Tait who has a shot but his effort is well over the Cowdenbeath bar
6'
Spencer to Connolly whose shot is blocked, play eventually ends with Vaughan who tries to cross the ball in the box but that ball is also blocked
7'
Freekick Cowdenbeath just in the Raith half
8'
Think Connolly was trying to look the ball to the back post for Poplatnik to latch onto but it didn't come to fruition
10'
Raith corner after Cowdenbeath leave the ball to run over the byline
10'
From the corner the ball is swung in but Gill punches clear
12'
R Barr tries to knick the ball from Tumilty but Tumilty has other ideas
14'
Long ball from Berra up field to Tumilty but ball is shielded well by Cowdenbeath, goal kick
15'
Corner Raith but Zanatta was fouled in the process...Ref gives gives corner instead
16'
Raith corner as R Barr heads the ball over the byline
17'
Connolly tries to the ball into the centre of the Cowdenbeath box but C Barr is there to clear
20'
⚽️
goooaall RAITH....
20'
VAUGHAN takes the ball into the box and slots home the ball
21'
Free kick Cowdenbeath just on the edge of the Raith box
22'
Freekick comes to nothing
23'
Long ball by Cowdenbeath up to ex Raith R Barr whose running up the right but pass is too heavy
25'
Free kick Cowdenbeath after a foul on Thomson by Connolly
25'
Free kick Cowdenbeath after a foul on Thomson by Connolly
27'
Dick to Zanatta who tries to go upfield but he's bullied off the ball
28'
Tumilty with a pass up to Vaughan but Todd is there and shields the ball well resulting in goal kick
33'
Good play by Raith as they steam forward Connolly and Vaughan linking well
39'
From a Raith throw in ball falls to Connolly who has a pop, forces Gill to palm away and Raith corner
42'
Connolly tries to get the ball into the box to Poplatnik, ball is cleared and falls to Tumilty who has a shot but again keeper boots clear
44'
Poplatnik passes to Tumilty who loses his man, passes on to Zanatta who tries to slot home but keeper is there
45'
Right on 45 min ref blows for half time Raith 1 (Vaughan '20) Cowdenbeath 0. Raith have just the edge but Cowdenbeath are not to be underestimated
45'
Right on 45 min ref blows for half time Raith 1 (Vaughan '20) Cowdenbeath 0. Raith have just the edge but Cowdenbeath are not to be underestimated
45'
Cowdenbeath getting the second half underway
47'
Freekick Cowdenbeath deep in Raith half after a foul on R Barr
48'
From a Cowdenbeath corner ball is cleared and Raith head back upfield
49'
MacDonald comes out and gets low to save
51'
Vaughan goes for a run upfield he goes for a shot but his effort is just wide
53'
Tait gets the ball upfield to Vaughan but he's judged to be offside
54'
Tumilty goes for a low shot but Gill get down, he does spill in a busy box but recovers quickly and gathers
55'
Zanatta to Poplatnik who passes back ends with a foul to Raith after a foul on Zanatta
58'
Cowdenbeath get the ball upfield but with Berra and Dick there to press ball ends up as a goal kick
61'
Freekick Cowdenbeath just at their dugout after a foul on Renton
61'
↔️
Cowdenbeath sub off Pollock and on comes Clarke
64'
Connolly feeds the ball out to Poplatnik who goes for a shot, keeper clears with his feet, Raith corner
65'
Vaughan goes for a shot but Gill gets down to smother the ball
67'
↔️
Cowdenbeath sub off R Barr and on comes Swann
68'
Cowdenbeath corner
68'
Ball falls to front post but it's cleared for another Cowdenbeath corner
69'
Ball again falls to the front post but again Ball is cleared, this time up field
70'
↔️
Raith sub off Poplatnik and bring on Keatings
71'
Vaughan runs up field he tries to pass on but the ball is blocked
72'
Long throw into the box by Thomson but Berra is fouled, freekick Raith
73'
Cowdenbeath come close as their effort is just wide of the Raith post.
75'
Tumilty has a shot but his effort is blocked
78'
Raith linking well with the play ending up at Tumitly's feet, he decided to go for the long shot but it's wide
79'
Spencer to Vaughan who also tries to go for the long shot but ball is again wide
79'
↔️
Cowdenbeath sub off R Buchanan and bring on Collins
81'
Freekick Raith deep in Cowdenbeath half after a foul on Connolly
82'
Connolly and Vaughan line up to take it with the former eventually getting the ball into the box but ball is cleared
85'
↔️
Raith sub off Zanatta and bring on Mitchell they also sub off Connolly and bring on McKay
88'
Mitchell tries to take the ball in but it is intercepted
90'
Keatings to Tait bur his effort is blocked
91'
Cowdenbeath free kick on the edge of the box
91'
They swing it in but ball is headed over the bar...goal kick
92'
Freekick Raith after a foul on Keatings
92'
Tait picks up a loose ball but his effort is well over the bar
92'
Ref blows for full time Cowdenbeath 0 Raith 1 (Vaughan '20). Raith comfortable winners over the 90 min period. Next game is at home at Stark's Park against Brechin