Line Up

Preview

Raith Rovers head to Dens Park on Tuesday evening, looking to avoid three successive league defeats for the first time this season.

Successive losses to Hamilton and Inverness in the last week, means Raith now cannot finish in the top four places, but they could hardly have it any tougher in the next match, as they head to the new league leaders, looking for their first league win at Dens Park since 1995.

Gary Bowyer's side took advantage of Partick Thistle's hammering of Queen's Park on Friday evening, to go top on Saturday following a 0-0 draw with Arbroath at Gayfield, and they're now favourites to stay there, thanks to having played a game fewer than their title rivals.

The Dens Park side also have a good record against Rovers this season, with two wins and a draw from the three previous outings, although Raith did get a fine win at the venue in February in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Josh Mulligan scored the only goal at Stark's Park in August, as Dundee held out for a 1-0 win, and it was slightly more comfortable for them at Dens in November, when a Zach Robinson brace earned the home side a 2-0 victory.

The points were shared in the next meeting in January, with Aidan Connolly opening the scoring for Rovers in the first period, only for Jordan McGhee to restore parity with just over 10 minutes remaining to seal the draw.

Tuesday evening's match referee will be Greg Aitken.

Head-To-Head Record:

Dundee wins: 76

Raith Rovers wins: 36

Draws: 37

Reports

Rovers defeated in deluge at Dens

It was a difficult evening for a make-shift Rovers team in a wet and windy Dundee. Another threadbare Rovers’ squad travelled over the Tay to try and frustrate the host’s final push for the championship. Robbie Thomson made rare league start in goal and an injury to Brad Spencer in the warm up meant Rovers could only name two outfield players on the bench adding to sub-keeper Andrew McNeil.

Dundee started quickly and were only denied an early goal because of a point-blank block by Kieran Ngwenya at the back post. Although the game settled in terms of territory and possession, it was the hosts the continued to look much more dangerous in the final third. Dundee’s wide men Luke Hannant and Luke McCowan were giving Rovers’ full backs a very difficult time, often finding quality crosses even when doubled-up on.

Dundee took the lead in the 29th minute. Some neat play on the edge of the box put Zach Robinson in the clear, and he slotted past Thomson. Dundee 1-0 Rovers

The hosts continued to put in crosses and should’ve had a second goal just on half-time. Nice work down the right made space for the cross and Robinson put it over the bar from 10 yards when it looked easier to score.

Half-time: Dundee 1-0 Raith Rovers

The game was effectively over as a contest in the 53rd minute. Another cross from Dundee’s right was swiftly slotted into the bottom right corner by Robinson. Another double against the Rovers to match his previous performance earlier in the season. Dundee 2-0 Rovers

Rovers briefly rallied with their first real chance of the game, but William Akio’s header was straightforward for Adam Legzdins in goal. Dundee survived the burst of pressure from Rovers and proceeded to kill off the game in the 75th minute. As the ball came in from the left, it fell to Alex Jakubiak who fired it low and hard across Thomson into the corner. Dundee 3-0 Rovers

Rovers grabbed a consolation 2 minutes later when a corner broke to William Akio who made no mistake from close range, and kept up his 100% record of scoring at Dens for the Rovers. Dundee 3-1 Rovers

The game played out and ended 3-1, with the score demonstrating Dundee’s dominance on the night.

Full-time: Dundee 3-1 Raith Rovers

by David Proudfoot

Photos

©Eddie Doig 2023

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the defeat to Dundee FC in the cinch SPFL Championship:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to tonight's Cinch Championship game at Kilmarnock Stadium - Dundee v Raith Rovers. A couple of changes from Saturday, MacDonald out and Thomson in and McGill in for Millen
0'
Dundee get the game underway. Raith playing in pink and shooting towards the Dundee fans
1'
McCowan with an early shot but Ngwenya is there to block
1'
Vaughan with a run through but he's challenged off the ball by Sweeney at the edge of the box
3'
Booking for Jakubiak after a foul on Stanton in the middle of the pitch
4'
Cameron is running through with the goal in sight but Brown manages to stop him in his tracks
6'
Corner Dundee
6'
From the corner McCowan gets the ball into the box Ashcroft is there with a header but Raith clear
9'
Easton with a Raith freekick thumps it upfield to McBride but it's too heavy and ball goes out of play
10'
Dundee pushing forward with play starting with Marshall and ending with Cameron chipping over but his target was offside
12'
Dundee freekick after Vaughan fouls Cameron at the halfway line
14'
Corner Raith .. ball played into the centre of the box but Dundee clear
15'
Mulligan with a header but his effort hits the Raith side netting
16'
It is absolutely throwing it down with rain here in Dundee now making the pitch really slippery
17'
Nolan does well to stop Robinson. Ball eventually falls to Hannant who is at the byline. He heads back but Thomson is there to gather
20'
Freekick Raith just outside the Dundee D
20'
Vaughan takes it but Dundee wall jump up and head it clear
21'
Stanton with a good ball to Vaughan but he's being well man marked and the ball is headed clear
23'
McGill does well to intercept a Dundee ball. Dunde throw in
24'
Stanton heads clear a Dundee threat on the edge of the box
25'
Corner Raith after Easton's is challenged in the Dundee box
26'
Ball is played to the front of the post but Dundee clear
27'
Brown makes a vital tackle as Dundee press
28'
Dundee score and it's Robinson who slots home low past Thomson
30'
McCowan with a pin point placing of the ball in the Raith box but Ngwenya is there to head clear
32'
Again a perfect pass to Hannant but his header is direct to Thomson who collects
33'
McGill blocks a Hannant shot
37'
McGill does well to steal the ball from Hannant
38'
Hannant again with a shot but thankfully he blasts the ball over the bar
41'
Akio with the ball in the Dundee box but Dundee steal the ball
43'
Raith with a throw in deep in their half, McGill to take
43'
Robinson knocks the ball well over the bar
45'
Ref blows for half time bang on 45min Dundee 1 (Robinson 28') Raith 0
45'
Raith get the second half underway
46'
McBride ties to get the ball round a couple of Dundee players his touch is too heavy
47'
Play halted as Nolan receives treatment
47'
He seems to be fine and play about to get back underway
49'
Freekick Dundee deep in Raith half and McGill gets a yellow card
50'
Ngwenya with the clearance
51'
Dundee looking dangerous there as Marshall places a pass to McCowan
52'
Dundee score and it's Robinson again
53'
Attendance tonight is 5009 with 125 Raith fans
54'
Raith free kick in the Dundee half after a foul on Connolly
55'
Stanton has the ball in the box he cuts it back to the central area and Akio's header is weak and Legzdins collects
59'
Freekick Dundee after a foul on Robinson in the Raith half
61'
McCiwan has a thumping shot but blocked/deflected by Raith out of the danger area
62'
Mulligan with a dangerous ball to Jakubiak but play breaks down thankfully
63'
Raith passing around and trying to find a way through the Dundee defence
65'
↔️
Raith sub off McBride and bring on Ross
66'
Vaughan's pass to Ross is placed behind him
67'
Ngwenya does well to intercept Mulligan's drive forward
68'
Cameron is looking for a foul at the edge of the box ….. McGill picks up a loose ball and gets rid
70'
Ross gets the ball to Vaughan who takes the ball in to the box. He tries to take on a few Dundee players but he can't break through
71'
Raith corner
71'
Ball into the box but ball cleared
72'
Dundee free kick in centre circle
72'
Free kick Dundee after a foul on Robinson approx 25 yards out
74'
Cameron picks up a loose ball in midfield, he passes to Robinson but his first touch is too heavy
74'
Dundee score and it's Jakubiak
75'
Raith sub off McGill and bring on Young
76'
Corner Raith
76'
GGGOOOOAAALL and it's AKIO who heads home
78'
Booking for Easton for a silly tackle
78'
Booking also for Sweeney
80'
Booking for Vaughan
83'
Throw in Raith in Dundee half
83'
Dunde sub off Jakubiak and Robinson and bring on Thomas and McMullan
85'
Ngwenya slips and his man breaks through, he chats the ball back and a Dundee shot goes high over the bar
86'
↔️
Dundee subbiff McCowan and Cameron and bring on Reedy and Byrne
90'
↔️
Dundee sun off McGhee and bring in Maguire
91'
Dundee corner
91'
Thomson saves in the final seconds
91'
Ref blows for full time in a very rainy Dundee 3. ( Robinson 28' 52', Jakubiak 74') Raith 0