Preview

After failing to break down an obdurate Ayr United defence last Friday evening, Raith Rovers will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday, when they travel to Firhill to face a rejuvenated Partick Thistle.

The Jags had registered their own 0-0 stalemate with Arbroath last weekend, but on Tuesday evening, they put in a dominant showing against Dundee at Dens Park, running out 3-1 victors thanks to a brace from Brian Graham and a goal from Harry Milne.

That win lifted Thistle five points clear of sixth placed Rovers, and level on points with both Ayr United and Greenock Morton, who are third and fourth respectively, albeit both have a game in hand against each other.

Rovers are now on a run of 14 games without defeat, with their last loss coming at the start of December, but a glut of draws in that time leaves them needing to turn single points into three in the near future, if they’re to trouble the top four spots.

This will be the clubs third meeting this season, with both enjoying one win apiece.

The first was in August, when Rovers made the worst possible start, going a goal down in just three minutes thanks to a goal from Scott Tiffoney and it looked like it might be a long afternoon, when Steven Lawless made it two just before half time.

However, an instant reply from Ethan Ross gained Rovers a foothold in the game, and despite a much improved second half showing, Rovers were unable to get an equaliser.

It was a different story in the next meeting in October though, when a brace from Aidan Conolly and a penalty from Kyle Connell had the home side three up at the interval, and they comfortably saw out the game to register an impressive 3-0 win.

Rovers hold the slight upper hand in this fixture recently, with four wins and three draws from the last 10 meetings.

Saturday’s match referee will be Greg Aitken.

Head-to-Head Record

Partick Thistle wins: 69

Raith Rovers wins: 51

Draws: 38

Reports

Rovers’ 14 game unbeaten run finally came to a grinding halt after a disappointing performance at Firhill.

Scott Brown was missing from the line up due to an injury picked up during training and Tom Lang was sporting the captain’s armband.

Rovers had an early chance when Connor McBride latched onto a thru ball from Ross Millen but his cut back, intended for Willy Akio, was intercepted and cleared.

Willy Akio had the ball in the net twice but he was denied by the offside flag on both occasions.

At the other end a low ball flew across goal but luckily for Rovers Brian Graham only managed to hit the side netting.

Thistle took the lead after 39 minutes when a cross from the right was met by Scott Tiffoney lurking unchallenged at the back post and he made no mistake sending the ball past Jamie MacDonald.

Tiffoney sends the ball past Jamie MacDonald for the opener

Rovers were unlucky to find themselves a goal down at the break but the second half was a different story.

Less than 10 minutes in Thistle were two up when a low ball from the left was played across goal,evading everyone bar Brian Graham who nipped in at the back post for an easy touch into the net, and the game was all but over after 63 minutes when the Jags made it three.

The ball was played thru the middle to Tiffoney who had the easiest of tasks to slip it past Jamie MacDonald.

Sam Stanton had a shot well saved by Mitchell before Dylan Easton went down in the box.

The referee pointed to the spot but it was obviously not Rovers day when Lewis Vaughan’s penalty was saved by Mitchell and Liam Dick failed to net the rebound.

Lewis Vaughan shoots from the spot but it was saved.

Photos

© Eddie Doig 2023

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the defeat to Partick Thistle FC:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today's Cinch Championship game at Firhill - Partick Thistle v Raith Rovers . No Scott Brown today and therefore Lang picks up the Captain's armband. McBride makes a start and Vaughan returns to the bench
0'
Referee is Greg Aitken and he's assisted by Paul O'Neill and Robin Taylor
0'
Connolly for Raith gets the game underway
0'
Raith defending the student flat end
3'
Corner Raith after Spencer gets the ball to Connolly who whips into the box. It reaches Liam Dick but Partick knock it out
5'
Partick throw in a after Stanton ties to punch the ball from Turner
5'
McBride tries to lay the ball back for Akio in the Partick box but Partick are all over it
6'
Spencer switches play to Connolly on the right touch line. He lays it back to Millen who thumps the ball up to a Easton but he is judged to be offside
10'
Spencer to Connolly who is in the Partick box but he is miles offside
12'
First shot of the afternoon as McBride decides to have a pop from approx 25 yards about but it's wide
14'
Partick appealing for a penalty after Lang mistakingly miss reads the timing of the bounce and I think Tiffoney is on his tail. Latter wins the ball and goes into the Raith box, but goes to ground with Lang on his heals
15'
Free kick Raith approx 30 yards out after a foul on Easton. Nothing comes of it
16'
Docherty falls awkwardly on Easton, free kick Raith and Nolan to take
18'
Partick come close as Milne has a go from a tight angle… ball goes across the face of the go and out
19'
A freekick from Turner into the Raith box.. Raith clear
20'
Partick corner
20'
From the corner ball placed deep in Raith box… Lang clears
20'
Freekick Raith after McBride fouls on half way line… booking for Docherty by the looks of it
22'
Ball passed to Graham who is hovering in the Raith box but Lang has that covered
23'
Easton with the ball deep in Partick half but his knock on is weighted too heavy.. Partick throw in
24'
Tiffoney's pass to Graham is way too heavy, goal kick Raith
25'
McBride intercepts a Docherty ball, Akio can't control
26'
Partick putting the pressure on the Raith defence, ball dangerously passed back to MacDonald who has two Partick players incoming but he boots the ball clear
28'
Nolan does well to put a foot in to stop a Partick forward ball
28'
Balled played upfield to Akio but he's offside
31'
Freekick Raith after a foul on Millen
32'
Stanton wins the ball he knocks the ball on but he can't get to it
33'
Freekick Raith deep in their half after a foul on Connolly
34'
Lang's freekick is wasted as he boots it upfield straight into the arms of Mitchell
34'
Nolan does well to stop McMillan making a mischief in the Raith box… Partick corner
34'
Another a Partick corner after Easton puts the ball out
37'
Connolly goes for a run upfield , Akio is on his left. As Connolly passes in the box Partick intercept
38'
Partick score
38'
Partick ball placed at Raith back post and Tiffoney heads down to score
43'
Mitchell thumps the ball upfield… it reaches Nolan who has Graham tight on his heals. Nolan doesn't clear quick enough and Graham keeps the ball in play… thankfully nothing eventually comes of it but that was dangerous
45'
+1 ref blows for half ime Partick Thistle 1 ( Tiffoney 38') Raith 0
45'
Partick get the second half underway
46'
Lang does well to intercept a Docherty pass into the Raith box
48'
Booking for Millen
50'
Tiffoney turns on Millen he goes forward passes to Graham who has a target shot forcing MacDonald to palm over the bar. Partick corner
51'
From the corner ball into the ball MacDonald gets down to smother the ball
52'
Goal Partick… Milne gets the ball to Graham and he puts the ball into the back of the Raith net
54'
↔️
Raith sub off Akio and bring on Vaughan
56'
Lang stops a pass to Bannigan
57'
Freekick Partick after Lang challenges Docherty
59'
Corner Raith Tiffoney is seething at the linesman
60'
Connolly's corner ball falls to Lang but he heads the ball off target and ball goes out of play
63'
Partick score again…looks like an assist from Lawless and Tiffoney scores
64'
Freekick Raith after a foul on McBride by Docherty
65'
Ball floated into the Partick box but Mitchell gathers
66'
Partick corner after Lang heads clear
68'
Another Partick corner
68'
Ball to back post by Partick head out. Goal kick
68'
Lang does the right thing and heads back to MacDonald as Graham sticks to Lang's heals
70'
↔️
Double Partick substitution as off go Turner and Lawless and on come Fitzpatrick and MacKenzie
72'
Crowd today is 3302
74'
↔️
Raith sub off McBride and bring on McGill
74'
Easton passes to Vaughan in the Partick box.. an easy scoring opportunity but he's offside
75'
Lang blooters the ball clear from the Raith defence
77'
↔️
Partick sub off Tiffoney and bring on Hodson
77'
Nolan does well to block an strong Partick shot
80'
↔️
Raith subnoff Millen and bring on Ngwenya
81'
McGill booked
82'
Mitchell gets down to save with his right hand a Stanton shot. Ball is loose and Connolly tries to capitalise but ball deflected for a corner
85'
Partick sub off Graham and bring on Mullen
87'
Penalty Raith
87'
Vaughan to take
88'
Mitchell saves… Liam dick come in for the the rebound but ball wide
91'
Stanton tries for a late goal for Raith but his header is weak
93'
Ref blows for full time Partick 3 (Tiffoney 38' , 63', Graham 53') Raith 0 Next game is the Scottish Cup Quarter final against Rangers at Ibrox