Preview

After the disappointment of last Sunday’s defeat to Hamilton in the SPFL Trust final, Rovers return to league business at Stark’s Park this Saturday, with Queen’s Park the visitors.

The Spiders are currently top of the Championship table, five points clear of Ayr who play against Arbroath on Friday evening, and four clear of Dundee who have a game in hand.

Owen Coyle’s side go into this one on the back of a surprise defeat to Arbroath last weekend, although that’s their only loss in their last half dozen league games.

This will be the two sides fifth meeting this season, and while Rovers managed a win over Queen’s in the SPFL Trust Trophy in January, they’ve yet to taste victory against them in the league.

Stephen Eve’s header sealed all three points in a 1-0 defeat at Ochilview in October, and while the next fixture at Stark’s Park in November saw Rovers create plenty chances to score, it was the visitors who took advantage of theirs, running out 5-2 winners.

Aidan Connolly scored a brace for Raith, but Simon Murray and Dom Thomas did likewise for The Spiders, with Jack Thompson scoring the other in a heavy defeat.

It was a far tighter match in their last meeting in February, with Connor Shields scoring the opener just after the break, but Rovers earned themselves a deserved share of the spoils thanks to William Akio’s goal with a quarter of an hour remaining.

That was the first draw between the two teams in 20 outings, with the last coming back in the old Second Division in 1987.

Despite Queen’s having the upper hand this season, Rovers have a good record in general over Saturday’s opponents, with seven wins and a draw from the last 10 meetings.

This weekend’s referee will be Grant Irvine.

Head to Head Record

Raith Rovers wins: 50

Draws: 26

Lost: 30

Reports

Rovers returned to league action after the disappointing result in the SPFL Trophy Final at Falkirk last week looking to regain the form that saw off Cove Rangers with 6 of the best last time at Stark’s Park.

Aidan Connolly returned to the starting line up after 2 weeks on the bench, and it was the Rovers’ number 7 who had the first chance of the match but his long range shot never really troubled Ferrie in the Queen’s goal.

Queen’s had a chance blocked before another shot from Connolly was weak and easily gathered by Ferrie.

Dylan Easton had a good shout for a penalty when he was barged off the ball as he made his way into the box, but no penalty said the ref.

Rovers were pressing hard and it seemed it was only a matter of time before they would see some kind of reward for their efforts and it came on the half hour when Aidan Connolly swung over a corner from the right where it was met by the head of the inrushing Tom Lang at the near post who duly despatched the ball into the net past Ferrie.

GOAL......TOM LANG HEADS THE BALL PAST FERRIE FOR THE OPENER

Minutes later, Queen’s were awarded a penalty after Ryan Nolan blocked Thomson with a raised knee just inside the box, but the Rovers fans' disappointment turned to joy when Jamie MacDonald pulled off a brilliant save low to his right to deny Thomson who elected to take the kick himself, and followed it up with a fantastic block, diving head first at the feet of Thomson to prevent the Spider's man from capitalising on the rebound.

JAMIES FLIES IN TO BLOCK THE REBOUND

Rovers began the second half as they ended the first with shots being attempted from all areas of the park and Lewis Vaughan was unlucky to see a lob from outside the box drift just wide, but he didn’t have long to wait to get his name on the scoresheet.

Tom Lang sent a long ball forward to Aidan Connolly on the right and he played it back to Vaughan on the edge of the box, Lewis took a touch before firing a shot low across goal and into the net past Ferrie to send the Rovers fans wild.

LEWIS VAUGHAN SHOOTS TO MAKE IT 2-0

Rovers were now shooting at everything from everywhere and Dylan Easton tried an audacious shot from the half way line when he spotted Ferrie off his line, but the Queen’s keeper managed to get back in time to prevent what would have been a spectacular goal.

Queen’s were clearly rattled as Rovers stifled everything they tried to do and tempers flared in the 79th minute when Fox challenged Sam Stanton for a high ball and as the ball broke away, the Queen’s defender clearly stamped on the Rovers man as a he lay on the ground, and referee Grant Irvine had no hesitation in flashing a straight red card.

The match finished with Willy Akio going for goal but his lob over the outrushing Ferrie from the edge of the box went just wide of the empty goal.

Photos

All the pictures from Rovers' 2-0 victory over Queen's Park.

PHOTOS © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after today's win v the league leaders:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome all! Huge game today for both teams at Stark's Park. After last night's result, Rovers still have a chance of making the playoffs.
0'
The Rovers squad is as full as it's been all season.
0'
Both teams on the pitch. Almost time for battle to commence…
0'
First half kicks off with Rovers shooting into North Stand (traditional away end)
2'
First attempt of the afternoon falls to Connolly. 20 yard effort high and wide.
9'
💬
Quiet start for both teams.
15'
Raith Rovers 0-0 Queen's Park
24'
Apologies for lack of updates. Both midfields cancelling each other out has left a battle of the neutral zone!
25'
Easton slips past the defender on the left, but ball knocked out for a Rovers corner.
27'
Stanton with an excellent cut back. McGill's attempt blocked. Corner Raith.
27'
Connolly fouled outside box. Dangerous place for a Rovers free kick.
28'
Vaughan shoots and must score! Somehow ball deflected over bar for a corner.
29'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
29'
Corner floated into box and LANG dives in and heads a cracker into the back of the net!
30'
Raith Rovers 1-0 Queen's Park
36'
Penalty Queen's Park
36'
Connolly booked for what looks like dissent.
38'
MacDonald saves! And then saves the rebound!!!!
39'
🤕️
MacDonald down in the box. Think he'll be okay.
43'
Thomson booked for a tackle on Millen. Looked a sore one.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 1-0 Queen's Park
45'
Vaughan kicks off the second half.
45'
↔️
Healy replaces McPake
50'
Vaughan tries his luck from the left corner of the box. Looked like a weak effort, but keeper had to dive to parry away.
51'
Attendance: 1,679
52'
Vaughan with the shot at the right corner of the box. Well over.
58'
Huge sliding tackle from Boateng saves the day for Queen's Park in their box.
61'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH ROVERS!
61'
⚽️
Wowsers! Some goal. VAUGHAN picks the ball near the right corner of the box. He slides a daisy cutter into the opposite side of the goal. Lovely.
63'
↔️
Henderson replaces Thomas
65'
Raith Rovers 2-0 Queen's Park
65'
↔️
Spencer replaces McGill
68'
Stanton through. Races into the box, left side. Tries a shot, but past the post to the keeper's right.
69'
Connolly sends Vaughan into a good spot in the box. Shot deflected over for a Rovers corner.
71'
Lang with a clean tackle, but maybe too physical. Receives a yellow.
74'
Brown booked for an earlier challenge.
75'
Raith Rovers 2-0 Queen's Park
75'
Easton sees keeper off the line a tries a chip from 40 yards. Keeper gets back in time to cover.
76'
↔️
Thomson replaced by Jarrett
78'
Healy booked.
79'
Fox sent off for QP for a stamp on Stanton.
80'
↔️
Eze replaces Savoury
82'
↔️
Akio replaces Vaughan
85'
Corner Queen's Park
86'
↔️
Ross replaces Easton
86'
↔️
McBride replaces Stanton
89'
Corner QP.
90'
McBride cross headed out for a Rovers corner.
91'
Lang shoots from just outside the box. Surprisingly it travels over the bar.
93'
Strong run into the box from Akio. Snapshot well saved.
93'
Matchday App MoM - Jamie MacDonald
94'
Akio sent clean through. Chips over the outrushing goalie. It sails just wide! Oosha!
94'
Full time: Raith Rovers 2-0 Queen's Park