Preview

After edging out Linlithgow Rose in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup on Tuesday evening, Raith Rovers return to league action this weekend, when they face Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Stark's Park.

A brace from Jamie Gullan saw Rovers into the next round, where they'll face a home tie against Motherwell on the second weekend of February.

Saturday's opponents go into this one in fine fettle, with a 0-0 draw against Queen's Park last time, following excellent wins over Cove Rangers and Arbroath, 6-1 and 4-1 respectively.

That sequence has helped ease relegation fears around the Caledonian Stadium, after eight league games without a win had seen them slide down the table.

However, in a tight division, they now sit sixth in the table, one place and point better off than Raith, and just three points behind fourth placed Partick Thistle.

Tuesday's win now makes it eight games without loss for Raith in all competitions, but they'll need to overturn a horrendous record against Inverness, if they're to get the three points.

Rovers have now went 30 matches without a win over Inverness in 90 minutes, with this season's fixtures producing a 2-0 defeat at Stark's Park in September, and a 1-1 draw in Inverness in November, with Sam Stanton opening the scoring after 13 minutes, only for Robbie Deas to equalise before half time.

Inverness have had some movement in the January window, with George Oakley leaving the club to join Morton, while right midfielder, Jay Henderson has joined on loan from St Mirren.

Saturday's match referee will be Scott Lambie.

Head-To-Head Record

Raith Rovers wins: 5

Inverness Caledonian Thistle wins: 17

Draws: 7

Reports

Raith continue unbeaten streak

At the start of the game Raith knew that if they could beat Inverness it would take them 2 points ahead of Inverness, which are one of the biggest top 4 rivals for Raith.

Raith started at an extremely high tempo and intensity which Inverness were having trouble coping with, and it showed in the 5th minute when Raith moved the ball quickly and the move ended with a header from Jamie Gullan crashing against the crossbar.

Although Raith were dominating the early parts of the match, Inverness had 2 chances on the counter that were well saved by Jamie MacDonald. The good start eventually paid off, with a Lewis Vaughan volley from around 25-30 yards beating Ridgers in the Inverness goal. GOAL 1-0 RAITH! 27 minutes.

GOAL!...Lewis Vaughan scores a screamer from 25 yards to put Rovers in front.

Raith continued to dominate the remainder of the first half without being able to create anything clear cut. HT 1-0 Raith.

Inverness started the second half extremely well with Henderson finding the back of the net from an acute angle to equalise. GOAL 1-1 INVERNESS! 47 minutes.

Raith took the lead only 13 minutes after conceding the equaliser, the build up to the goal started with a beautiful piece of skill from Dylan Easton, after which he found Lewis Vaughan and he in turn played a perfect pass through to Aiden Connolly where he did the typical Connolly finish where he cut in on his left foot to curl it into the far corner. GOAL 2-1 RAITH! 61 minutes.

GOAL!...Aidan Connolly makes it two with a trademark shot.

Raith continued to try scoring again rather than just trying to hold the lead; one of the best chances was from a corner that Ridgers made a fantastic save to keep Inverness in the game.

However Inverness capitalised on a bad habit of Raith conceding in the last 10 minutes of games and this one was to be no different with Billy McKay heading the ball in to equalise. GOAL 2-2 INVERNESS! 83 minutes.

FT 2-2.

Raith extended the unbeaten run to 9 games in all competitions. Man of the Match was Lewis Vaughan with 1 goal and 1 assist.

Photos

All the pictures from Rovers 2-2 draw with Inverness Caley Thistle at Stark's Park.

 

Pictures © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the 2-2 draw with Inverness CT:

Live Updates

0'
The teams are heading on to the pitch for the start of the match!
0'
Raith Rovers kick off the First Half, shooting into the South Stand goals.
0'
Early corner for Raith.
6'
Gullan with the header off the crossbar! Lovely cross from Millen on the right.
14'
Big rush out and save from MacDonald. He had to make that.
16'
Gullan wiped out by keeper, Ridgers. Ref gives a free kick to the goalie.
24'
Good work from Vaughan wins a corner.
24'
Connolly's corner nudged out for a second go.
25'
More pressure and a third corner for Raith.
28'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
28'
⚽️
Ball drops to VAUGHAN outside the box, the keeper caught in no-man's-land. He hits a nice shot to the keeper's right and it's good enough to end up in the back of the net.
36'
Walsh booked for a string challenge on Vaughan.
37'
Brown with a long ranger. Looks good, but deflected out for a Rovers corner.
38'
💬
Stats: shots Raith 3-1 ICT. On target Raith 2-1 ICT.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 1-0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
45'
McKay kicks off for Inverness.
48'
⚽️
Goal Inverness!
48'
⚽️
Bright start for ICT sees Henderson burst into the box and shoot low past MacDonald from the right.
53'
Duffy booked.
56'
Corner for Raith.
56'
Connolly with the shot from outside the box. Out for a Raith corner.
57'
Brown gets a yellow.
60'
Raith 1-1 ICT
61'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
61'
⚽️
CONNOLLY picks up the ball just inside the box, side steps to his left, looks up and curls a left footed beauty into the keeper's right corner.
64'
↔️
MacKay replaced by Allardice
64'
↔️
Hyde replaced by Shaw
65'
Corner Raith
66'
Huge claim from the Raith players that Nolan's header was over the line, but no goal given.
69'
Superb move from Raith. Ball falls to Easton whose shot is deflected out for a corner.
70'
↔️
Gullan replaced by debut boy William Akio
75'
Raith 2-1 ICT.
76'
↔️
Stanton replaces Easton
77'
Today's attendance 2,025
79'
Akio with the half chance. Runs down the left, cuts in and shots straight at the keeper.
80'
↔️
Doran replaced by Boyd
80'
↔️
Delaney replaced Harper
80'
↔️
Delaney replaced Harper
82'
⚽️
Goal Inverness.
82'
Free kick sent into the box and an unmarked McKay heads home.
86'
↔️
McBride replaces Vaughan.
86'
↔️
Nicolson replaces Henderson
87'
Lang gives away a free kick just outside the box.
90'
Matchday App MoM - Lewis Vaughan
91'
Brown with a shot from outside the box. Doesn't dip enough, but not far away.
92'
Full time: Raith Rovers 2-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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