Preview

After a morale boosting 4-1 win over Montrose at the weekend, Raith Rovers head to the C&G Direct Systems Stadium on Tuesday evening, to face a Dumbarton side who have just started to find their form.

Jim Duffy’s men have spent the bulk of their season in the lower reaches of League One this term, but a run of four games without defeat, with two wins in their last two outings, has seen the Sons move up to seventh place in the table, five points clear of bottom club Stenhousemuir, and two ahead of Brechin in ninth.

That run has coincided with an upturn in their performances in front of goal, with a 3-0 win posted at Stranraer, and an incredible 4-3 win at East Fife, where a goal from Calum Gallagher and a brace from Dom Thomas seemed to put the game beyond the Methil men before half-time, only for East Fife to threaten a comeback in the second period, although another goal from Thomas to complete his hat-trick meant the points ended up heading west.

Thomas has been a vital acquisition for the Sons, and after a successful loan spell earlier in the season, there was relief when he was able to return for a second loan period in January. The Kilmarnock winger has now scored nine goals for Dumbarton this term, making him the club’s top scorer alongside Ross Forbes.

This fixture is normally one that produces goals, with 38 in the last 10 meetings, and with Dumbarton currently having the third best strike rate in the league, combined with the second worst defensive record, there’s every chance Tuesday will be another exciting encounter.

There’s already been 12 goals in the two previous fixtures this term, with Raith scoring nine of them.

Rovers first visit to Dumbarton produced their best performance of the season, taking the lead within second of the kick-off through Lewis Vaughan, and they were four up by the interval, with further goals from Kevin Nisbet and two from Nathan Flanagan. Liam Buchanan would complete the rout in a 5-1 win.

It was a far closer encounter at Stark’s Park in December though, with Rovers coming from behind twice, and only going in front for the first time in the final moments, in an eventual 4-2 victory.

Ross Forbes fired Dumbarton in front with a long distance effort, but Raith struck back immediately through Daniel Armstrong. Michael Paton restored Dumbarton’s lead, only for Nisbet to equalise again midway through the second period. The match appeared to be destined for a draw, but Euan Murray pounced two minutes before the end, and Vaughan made the points safe in the closing moments.

Rovers have the upper-hand in this fixture in recent times, but only just, with four wins and three defeats from the last 10 meetings.

Tuesday evening’s referee will be Alan Newlands.

Head-To-Head Away League Record Versus Dumbarton:

Dumbarton Wins: 28 | Raith Rovers Wins: 20 | Draws: 11

Dumbarton Goals: 128 | Raith Rovers Goals: 94

Current Form:

Dumbarton: L-L-D-D-W-W

Raith Rovers: W-L-D-L-L-W

Top Goal Scorers:

Dumbarton: Ross Forbes 9 | Dom Thomas 9 | Bobby Barr 7

Raith Rovers: Kevin Nisbet 22 | Liam Buchanan 10 | Lewis Vaughan 9

Match Odds:

Dumbarton: 3/1 | Raith Rovers: 29/20 | Draw: 14/5

Highlights

Interviews

RaithTV spoke to John McGlynn after the 2-2 draw at Dumbarton

Live Updates

0'
Game is underway
2'
Bobby with an early header in the box. It doesn't trouble Lyness as he gathers
3'
Nisbet close as he makes a turn . Brenan runs out to collect
4'
Gillespie mops up a Dumbarton cross
4'
Corner Raith, Nisbet to take
5'
Long ball from Dumbarton doesn't trouble Lyness
6'
💬
Murray is Captain tonight
7'
Wedderburn takes a shot but it goes over the bar
8'
Murray concedes a foul approx 20 yards out
8'
Forbes for Dumbarton takes it and gets around the wall. Lyness collects, drops but picks up again to avert danger
11'
Cancel that
13'
Buchanan drives the ball into the box, passes back to Flanagan who takes a shot. Brenan gets down low and saves. Buchanan falls, ref blows but it's for offside
14'
💬
Wedderburn has gone down. Not sure why
15'
↔️
Sub being made Weddeburn is going off. Heading straight down the tunnel. He is walking, slowly
16'
↔️
Matthews comes on as the replacement
17'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH
18'
Flanagan from the corner short pass to Barjonas. Balls passed about and Flanagan gets on the end to slot home
21'
Foul to Dumbarton, Gillespie all over the Dumbarton player
22'
Free kick Raith just outside the box
25'
Nisbet tries to get the ball from Ballantyne butvthe latter protects well
26'
Dumbarton goal
27'
Dunbarton get the ball into the box, Murray clears but the ball falls to Forbes who hits a low shot and the ball goes to the back of the net
28'
Flanagan from a free kick the ball falls to Nisbet's head. Out for a corner
30'
Thomas from Dumbarton drives the ball forward. Instead of passing he takes on Davidson, the latter gets a toe to avert danger
32'
⚽️
GOAL Dumbarton
32'
Carswell scores as the ball is poorly cleared
33'
Corner Raith. Good play between Flanagan, Nisbet and Dingwall before hand
33'
From the corner ball gets to back post, Murray gets up, heads down, Brenan collects
37'
Forbes from a free kick about 35/40 yards out decides to go for it and the ball just floats over the bar
42'
Thomas decides for a shot on goal ,Lyness comes down to gather
43'
Davidson is forced to head back to Lyness as Thomas breathes down his neck
45'
Buchanan can't quite get the ball under control in the box and the ball is scrambled away
45'
Half time Dumbarton 2 Raith 1
45'
Buchanan for Raith gets the game underway
46'
Matthews with a good ball to Flanagan who gets the ball into the box. Dumbarton clears
48'
From a Raith corner ball gets into the box Ferguson heads clear for Dumbarton
51'
Barjonas gives away a foul, free kick Dumbarton about 25 yards out
51'
Forbes takes it but as it heads towards goal it curls and doesn't trouble Lyness
53'
Dumbarton go for the attack but a wasted pass from Thomas results in goal kick
55'
A Raith corner ball floats in, Murray goes to ground but ref doesn't blow
55'
Nisbet goes for goal a deflection results in a corner to Raith
56'
Corner gets into the box to Brenan who punches clear. Ball is eventually cleared
57'
Another Raith corner
59'
↔️
Raith sub off Flanagan on comes McGuffie
61'
Matthews is fouled but ref blows for a Dumbarton foul?
63'
Gillespie with the long ball to Matthews
64'
A Raith corner into the box but the ball falls to Hutton who clears
65'
Dumbarton freekick just in the box
66'
The ball is hit by Carswell but it goes over the bar, goal kick
68'
Nisbet plays the overlap ball to Dingwall. Forces Dumbarton to produce a corner to Raith
69'
Free-kick Raith a foul on Matthews
70'
Dingwall goes for a blast to goal but it goes just wide
72'
Buchanan is down, back on his feet but is limping
73'
He indicates to the bench
75'
Dingwall with a great ball into the centre of the box but no-one there to convert home
76'
Ball falls to Nisbet who smashes it. Brenan has to palm save
77'
Again Dingwall tries for a shot. Brenan is forced to act fast
78'
Buchanan has found a second wind and shaken off whatever was bothering him as he challenges forward
79'
💬
Raith certainly pushing forward more this half but just not converting
80'
Having said that, Thomas for Dumbarton comes close
82'
↔️
Dumbarton sub off Forbes on comes Thomson
83'
A wasted goal kick from Lyness
83'
Corner for Raith as McGuffie is challenged
84'
Murray lays on to Crane who passes to McGuffie who takes a shot but no impact
86'
Dumbarton sub off Gallagher on comes Paton
86'
Raith sub off Gillespie on comes Bowie
87'
High long ball falls to Thomas he's one on one with Lyness but he stutters, takes a shot but Lyness clears with his feet
89'
Thomas again makes a menace of himself in the box cuts it back but the ball is cleared
90'
↔️
Dumbarton sub off B Barr on Melingui
91'
GOAL RAITH...Nisbet heads home
92'
Full-time Dumbarton 2 (Forbes, Carswell) Raith 2 (Flanagan, Nisbet)