Line Up

Preview

After the seemingly customary last minute winner on Wednesday evening against Arbroath, Raith Rovers head to Tannadice to face second placed Dundee United this Saturday, in Scotland’s biggest game of the weekend.

For much of the midweek encounter, it looked like Rovers would be drawing level on points with The Terrors, but Lewis Vaughan’s 95th minute winner edged them two points clear of Jim Goodwin’s side.

Raith are in exceptional form, and have now won six straight matches and are unbeaten in a dozen, but United are in impressive form themselves, still unbeaten in the league, and go into this one on the back of a ground out 1-0 win over Ayr United last weekend, with top scorer, and former Raith loanee Kai Fotheringham bagging his 10th goal in all competitions.

This will be the two sides second meeting this term, with the first ending in a one all draw at Stark’s Park back in October.

Lewis Vaughan had given the home side the lead in the 24th minute, but an equaliser from Louis Moult ensured the Taysiders headed back to Dundee with a share of the spoils.

If Rovers are to move further clear at the top of the table, they’ll need to win at Tannadice for the first time since a 2-1 victory back in November 1996, although admittedly, the sides haven’t met too often since that match 27 years ago.

Saturday’s match referee will be John Beaton.

Head-to-Head Record

Dundee United wins: 30

Raith Rovers wins: 14

Draws: 13

Reports

Top-of-the-table as titans clash at Tannadice

Not many would have predicted that Rovers’ first trip to Dundee Utd this season would have been a table-topping encounter, and even less would have believed it was Rovers leading the way, but the two point advantage had Rovers in confident mood.

A combination of appetite for the game and a fantastic gesture of free buses from the club, meant a convoy of almost 2000 Rovers fans made the trip up the A92. All eyes in Scottish football were poised on what was billed by many as the game of the day.

Euan Murray, Josh Mullin and Lewis Vaughan were all restored to the starting line-up with Louis Moult – scorer at Stark’s Park earlier this season – leading the line for the hosts.

Rovers won the toss and decided to let the home team shoot towards their own fans for the first half. The game started in relatively caging mode with the home team having the majority of possession, and Kevin Dabrowski had to look sharp saving down to his left as Utd had the first strike on goal.

Indeed, it was the hosts that made most of the first half inroads without really troubling the big man in the Rovers’ goal, though. As the half progressed Rovers started to find a bit more rhythm but again, struggled to create much in front of goal, and the half ended goalless.

Half-time: Dundee Utd 0-0 Raith Rovers

Rovers started the second half in much more positive mode and were beginning to move the ball around with the slickness Rovers’ fans have become accustomed to this season.

Rovers were first to threaten with some nice play down the left hand side but Sam Stanton’s cross flashed across the face of goal without any takers on the end of it. Then nice interchanges from Lewis Vaughan, Dylan Easton and Stanton eventually saw the latter’s header well saved by Jack Walton in the home goal.

Then, just approach the hour mark, and after a couple of decent saves by Dabrowski, was the pivotal moment in the match. Stanton picked out Dylan Easton with a nice through ball, and although there didn’t look to be too much danger for the hosts, the Rovers’ man decided it was time to ‘put on a show’. He did his trademark jinks, twists and turns in the box, then found half a yard and curled one beautifully into the corner to give Rovers the lead. Dundee Utd 0-1 Rovers.

Great scenes in the Rovers’ support, and with half an hour to go they were now starting to believe that three points was a real possibility. Rovers defence continued to put bodies on the line to block shots before Utd’s best chance: a Moult shot from the edge of the box which, although curling away from Dabrowski, was well saved by the big keeper.

As the game was closing out, a last ditch and potentially goal-saving challenge from Ross Millen was cheered like a goal by the away fans, and just epitomised the spirit in the team and in the squad. Rovers saw the game out and the three points headed back to Kirkcaldy.

Great scenes at full time as Rovers’ fans, players and coaches celebrated the victory. It’s a win that sees Rovers extend their lead at the top to five points as this remarkable season continues.

Full-time: Dundee Utd 0-1 Raith Rovers

Crowd: 10,334

by David Proudfoot

Photos

© Eddie Doig 2023

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after today's win at Tannadice: Dylan Easton spoke to RaithTV after today's win:

Live Updates

0'
Three changes to the starting line-up from Wednesday, Vaughan, Murray and Mullin all start with O'Reilly, Gullan, and Connolly in the bench
0'
Utd get the game underway. Raith shooting towards their own fans this half
1'
First freekick to Utd after Easton fouls, just in Raith half
3'
Mochrie with the first chance of the game, he shoots low but Dabrowski gets down to smother
5'
Dabrowski couldn't keep the ball in, corner Utd
7'
Long ball from Millen to smith who takes the ball up the line, he's challlenged - throw in Raith
8'
Raith at the moment plying some pressure on the Utd back line
10'
Millen tries to switch play to Easton but the pass is a tad heavy and goes out of play
11'
Freekick Raith at the half way line
11'
Well played by Stanton to intimidate Fotheringham who was entering the Raith box with the ball
15'
Corner Utd
15'
Another corner Utd after Smirh's clearance goes awol
16'
Header clearance from Byrne as Utd get the ball into the box
18'
Smith can't quite steal the ball fromTillson on the halfway line
18'
Freekick Utd approx 20 yards out
22'
Easton and Dick linking well as they push through the middle of the park. Easton's shot is weak tho
23'
Booking for Sibbald as he brings down Vaughan at the half way line
25'
It's with a shot but it's straight to Dabrowski's hamds
26'
Good block from Easton after Grimshaw has a pop
30'
As Byrne receives treatment … Dundee Utd 0 Raith Rovers 0
32'
Utd close but thankfully wide as the ball crosses the face of the goal and out for a goalkick
34'
Freekick Raith after Vaughan fouled by Grimshaw at the half way line near the dugouts
35'
Tillson getting a word in his ear from the ref after a foul on Byrne
36'
Freekick Raith just oustde the centre circle in their half after a foul on Brown
37'
Booking for Vaughan after a supposed foul on Gallagher
37'
Freekick Raith after a foul in Stanton who is in the floor and two Utd players around him trying to kick the ball free
39'
Freekick from Mullin floats into the Utd box, they clear and Easton tries to run on to it but Utd get there first
40'
Fotheringham with a weak shot which gets throw the defence but Dabrowski gets down to gather
45'
+1 ref blows for half time Utd 0 Raith 0 fairly even half I think
45'
The second half is underway.. Raith shooting towards the Utd fans
46'
Stanton with a low effort across the face of goal but it's gone wide and no one there to poke it home
47'
Middleton with a corner for Utd, ball put into the box and Raith clear
48'
Vaughan gets passed his man and has a shot but it's not got enough power and Walton gathers
49'
Mullin with a cross into the box but Vaughan leaves it for whatever reason, he obviously thougt a team mate behind him
52'
Easton with a lovely ball into the box, Stanton jumps up but Walton clears
53'
Mullin gets the ball into the Utd box and Easton is there but so is Grimshaw's head who gets the ball clear
53'
Good save from Dabrowski as Utd shot comes close, Utd corner
54'
Heart in the mouth moment as again Utd press the Raith goal, ball just wide
58'
GGGOOOAAALLLL
58'
It's lovely play from EASTON he bursts into the box and weaves around the Utd defence and fires the ball home
63'
↔️
Utd sub off Mochrie and Fotheringham and bring on Watt and Cudjoe
65'
Ref blows for a foul just in Raith half
67'
↔️
Raith make a sub off goes our Greatest Showman Easton and on comes Connolly
68'
Stanton with the long pass to Vaughan but it's a tad heavy for Vaughan to latch on to
69'
Utd freekick after Byrne fouls
70'
Great block from Brown as Utd press
72'
↔️
Raith sub off Smith and bring on Hamilton
75'
Suberb save from Dabrowski as Moult has a long range thump towards goal - Utd corner
76'
Attendance announced as 10,334
79'
McCann cuts the ball back to Moult who has a shot but his effort is well over the bar
80'
Corner Raith after Vaughan takes the ball to the byline and force Utd to challenge him
80'
Vaughan is held in the box and pulled to the ground but ref doesn't blow
81'
↔️
Raith sub off Vaughan and bring on Gullan
83'
Utd freekick reaches the Raith box and Dabrowski jumps up to gather
85'
Freekick Raith after McCann fouls Gullan deep in Utd half
85'
Fantastic challenge in the box from Millen as Utd break free
87'
Dabrowski punches clear an incoming Utd ball
88'
Booking for McCann on the edge of Utd box after a foul on Gullan
89'
Connolly's freekick gets over the Utd wall but also over the bar
91'
Millen clears as Utd press, Utd throw in
92'
Freekick to Raith in the halfway line
93'
Booking for Byrne
93'
Freekick Raith in their box after a foul on Gullan
94'
Corner Raith
96'
Ref blows for full time Dundee Utd 0 Raith 1 (Easton 58') Three points back to kdy and five points clear at the top