The Good the Bad and Raith Rovers 

 

With both clubs recording their first win in 2022, this clash could go a long way to deciding who has the bottle for the battle. Saturday 3:00pm at Starks Park should reveal all as good takes on bad, or Inverness versus Raith Rovers, a club apparently with the morals of Michael Gardyne. Both clubs have underperformed over the last three months but surprisingly still find themselves in contention for a play-off spot, realistically fourth place.

MATCH/TICKET/STREAMING/BUS INFO

SUPPORTERS BUS 07462218717

Raith Rovers bus 19th March leaves Caley Club 10.30, stadium 10.45. Picking up in Aviemore and Pitlochry. £20 and £15 for under 16s. Book through Facebook or on 07462218717

Venue Head2Head

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	19	13	4	2	37	14	+23
Away	14	7	4	3	27	17	+10
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	33	20	8	5	64	31	+33

Yes, the stats are not faulty: Raith Rovers have not beaten Inverness for almost twenty one and a half years. Incredible run of results going back to October 28th 2000 when we went down 1-2 in Inverness. Back to August of 2000 for their last win at Starks park and here is Ian Broadfoot's match report from that game, a 4-1 win for Raith: Caley Thistle's bad run continued against a sharp Raith side. Jay Stein set up the opening goal in 10 minutes with a run down the left and a cut back which deflected to Ray McKinnon and he scored with a low drive. The visitors best first half effort came in 27 minutes when Van de Kamp spectacularly saved a Davide Xausa 25 yard shot. On 44 minutes a free kick was touched to Kenny Black and Les Fridge tipped his shot over the bar. Raith killed the game off in a four minute spell in the second half. In 50 minutes a low ball from the right was punched by Fridge into the path of Paul Tosh who hit it home. Four minutes later Alex Burns beat three men in the box before scoring at the second attempt. Iain Stewart clawed one back with a close range header in 59 minutes after a Xausa shot had been blocked by the keeper. This sparked a revival with good efforts from Xausa and lively substitute Barry Robson. All efforts produced no more goals and Raith made it 4-1 in 82 minutes. Alex Burns crossed from the right and found Gerry Creaney who scored with a low shot from 15 yards. 

Decent teams back then 

Raith: Van de Kamp; McCulloch, Opinel, Gaughn, Browne, Black, S Tosh, McKinnon, P Tosh, Burns, Stein

Inverness: Fridge; Tokely, Mann, Hastings, Golabek, Christie, Sheerin, Byers, McBain, Stewart, Xausa

Subs: Calder; Robson, Bagan, Bavidge, Wyness

Last 10 Competitive Meetings

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

0 - 0 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

3 - 3 (A)

4 - 1 (H)

2 - 1 (H)

Saturday 3:00pm kick offs

Arbroath v Ayr United

   Killie v Queens

Partick v Accies 

  Rovers v Caley J's

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts      DUNFERMLINE Ath v MORTON (Fri 7:45pm) 1. Kilmarnock 29 16 5 8 39 20 53 2. Arbroath 29 13 12 4 40 22 51 3. Partick Thistle 28 12 9 7 41 26 45 4. Inverness CT 29 11 10 8 38 27 43 5. Raith Rovers 29 10 12 7 35 34 42 6. Morton 29 8 10 11 32 39 34 7. Ayr United 29 8 8 13 30 43 32 8. Hamilton Ac. 29 7 11 11 31 45 32 9. Q.O.S. 29 6 8 15 29 42 26 10. Dunfermline 28 4 13 11 26 43 25

Last Time Out

Inverness broke their eleven game run without a win by beating title challengers Arbroath with a somewhat flattering but nonetheless welcome 3-0 win. An early goal by Man of the Match Shane Sutherland was followed soon after by a Reece McAlear strike following a neat move involving Shane and David Carson. We reverted to type after that and the ball was like a hot potato as it was battered skywards with great regularity. However we repelled the advances of Arbroath without too much hassle and Billy Mckay sneaked a third goal as we started to dominate with twenty minutes left.

Get in Reece as he finishes off a tidy move down the right...

Raith also ended a similar barren spell (first win in twelve) by beating Queen of the South 1-0 at Palmerston to remain only one point behind Inverness in fifth place. The only goal of the game came in the first half through Matej Poplatnik.

The honours are favouring Inverness this season in league games. Inverness edged the first one in the Highlands with a Roddy MacGregor special doing the damage, but the two subsequent meetings ended in draws. There was also a drawn Challenge Cup game at Starks Park which Raith eventually won on penalties. 

Latest Team News

Allardice and MacGregor out long term, but unless there are any new issues Dodds should have a relatively injury free squad. Cammy Mackay could well continue in goal as he has done well since getting his opportunity through Mark Ridgers downtime. Sam Pearson has been called up to the Welsh u21 squad for forthcoming games against Switzerland and Bulgaria. Read Here Unfortunately it rules him out after the Raith game and he is unavailable for the Dunfermline game on 26th March.

Raith 

 

Eric the Stats Raith round up.

In: Sam Stanton, midfielder (Dundalk); Jamie Gullan, forward (Hibernian)

Loan: Ben Williamson - midfielder (Rangers).

Sean Mackie - a left back on loan from Hibernian FC, originally joined Raith in 2015 from the Fife Elite Academy before moving to Hibs the next season, according to sources his last 2 years at Hibs has been blighted by injury.

And last but not least; In & Out;  the Hokey Cokey saga of David Goodwillie. Yes, the in-out, in-out, shake it all about transfer that rocked the club back onto it's heels and brought out some embarrassing grovelling apologies. He went back to Clyde (loan) and his career is on hold as a footballer I believe as he is not welcome there either.

 

Out:

Adam Masson - Centre back on loan to Thornton Hibs JFC

Blaise Riley Snow - Midfielder on loan to Alloa Athletic

Kieran Mitchell - the 18 year old is on loan to Bo'ness United

Luke Mahady - a centre forward loaned out to Burntisland Shipyard FC

Quinn Coulson - left wing player farmed out to Cowdenbeath

 

 

 

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Raith must detest the sight of us.

Thankfully for our league position we seem to have found a couple of fortunate results.

Unfortunately it's papering over the cracks and keeping Dodds and his Diddy Men in a job.

Quite superb result from a bizarre game! Very interesting run in

Is this the first time that our last two opposing managers have been given red cards? Are we seeing a trend starting? Is Yogi next???🤣

I am still feeling positive about everything. 

 

I think I am ill. 

 

I said before the Ayr game if we got 26 points from last 11 games we would win the league. 

 

I don't think we will win it now as our max points is now 25 from last 11 games. 

 

But I still think with the fixture clashes between Raith arbroath Partick and killie we will finish second  as we win every game in our run in. 

Happy Clappy Chappy

 

 

We have to be realistic that Raith are in some turmoil after the David Goodwillie situation.  Dunfermline are now up for a fight. Yogi will have them really pumped up. One would hope, that after our very dismal run, and good fortune against Raith, that the team responds positively. We need to win this game partly because the week after is free because QOS have the cup final. 

On 3/20/2022 at 8:18 PM, STFU said:

Thankfully for our league position we seem to have found a couple of fortunate results.

Unfortunately it's papering over the cracks and keeping Dodds and his Diddy Men in a job.

Agree : the first 89 minutes were torture (again). We have no shape and certainly no plan in matches.

I really hope consecutive wins give the team a bit of belief for the run in.

I really hope Billy Dodds has a game plan for the game against Dunfermline, and not just the usual punt the ball up the park. Yogi will have a game plan, and he will have three of our former players in their ranks, Col Donaldson, Liam Polworth and Joe Chalmers, they might have had four, but Owain Von Williams has been released, but I'm sure those three will be fired up. So let's be on it from the first whistle and please please please pass the ball and shoot more!

Totally agree,We need to practice passing and pass from the back out. You don't need to be a Rocket Scientists to know high balls to small strikers = no chance of getting the ball. It is that simple. High balls might work if we still had a White or similar up front,but when he was with us he couldn't jump and now he is like a kangaroo with County.

We surely must have a game plan, because Yogi is the master tactitian and strategist and he will have Dumfermiline fighting all the way. We need to realise that we have been lucky these last two games and overall we are a shadow of the team we once were. We need to have players who can read the game and take up the right positions to receive passes. Finally, as Chalmers showed, shooting when near the goals is always an option rather that trying to pass it into the net and getting bogged down.

Dunfermline host Partick Thistle tonight. Game is live on the BBC Scotland channel, kick off at 7:05pm.

Significant game for us in more than one way with Pars coming North on Saturday and Partick on our heels in fourth place.

I have no doubt that Dodds will have a game plan.  The problem is that it will be the same game plan as he's had all season.

3 hours ago, Douglas Mackenzie said:

We surely must have a game plan, because Yogi is the master tactitian and strategist and he will have Dumfermiline fighting all the way.

Have you seen how Dunfermline are playing and performing under Hughes?

Edited March 22, 20224 yr by RiG

And Dunfermline with three ex ICT players on the field and an ex ICT manager, it’s certainly time for correct tactics or the goodwill from the last two results will evaporate.  

They are 3 - 1 up against Partick just now 

1 hour ago, RiG said:

Have you seen how Dunfermline are playing and performing under Hughes?

lol @ me. 

1 hour ago, RiG said:

Have you seen how Dunfermline are playing and performing under Hughes?

Seems to be doing well tonight.Hughes  has always had a good knowledge of the game and knows tactics.He did win us a cup at Inverness more than any other recent Manager has managed since. My point is now with three ex ICT players,Hughes is turning it round and if they play on Saturday like they are playing tonight we better be at our best.

Probably need to get to grips with Thomas and Polworth- they are prominent in the Dunfermline Partick game- creating. Whoever is right back needs to nullify Thomas.  Think Dunfermline are shaky at the back. 

5 hours ago, Douglas Mackenzie said:

Totally agree,We need to practice passing and pass from the back out. You don't need to be a Rocket Scientists to know high balls to small strikers = no chance of getting the ball. It is that simple. High balls might work if we still had a White or similar up front,but when he was with us he couldn't jump and now he is like a kangaroo with County.

We surely must have a game plan, because Yogi is the master tactitian and strategist and he will have Dumfermiline fighting all the way. We need to realise that we have been lucky these last two games and overall we are a shadow of the team we once were. We need to have players who can read the game and take up the right positions to receive passes. Finally, as Chalmers showed, shooting when near the goals is always an option rather that trying to pass it into the net and getting bogged down.

I would be interested to hear the views of Raith Rovers fans on the proposition of John Hughes as 'master tactician'.

That said, Dunfermline looking the better organised team so far this evening.

20 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

I would be interested to hear the views of Raith Rovers fans on the proposition of John Hughes as 'master tactician'.

That said, Dunfermline looking the better organised team so far this evening.

Oh well that's what makes us all fans I guess, different opinions.If he wasn't any good why has he managed so many teams at so many levels with his fair share of success.At least he has a plan and is tactically aware.Not sure we have at times.

Edited March 22, 20224 yr by Douglas Mackenzie

When Dunfermline win, that will be three defeats in a row for Partick, joining us and Raith in messing things up once in a strong position in the league.

We’ve not beaten Dunfermline this season so now is the time to change that.

I agree with all the comments above. We need a game plan and a plan B, neither involving hopeful punts up the park.

This is only the third time this season we have won two (or more) league games on the trot but there is no better time to put a winning run together. The target should be catching Arbroath so we finish second and have a better chance in give play offs. They have Raith and Partick in their next two games so teams around us will drop points. It is up to us to ensure we don’t drop any. 

Edited March 22, 20224 yr by Robert

1 hour ago, lizi said:

And Dunfermline with three ex ICT players on the field and an ex ICT manager, it’s certainly time for correct tactics or the goodwill from the last two results will evaporate.  

And I forgot they have Todorov as well.

2 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

And I forgot they have Todorov as well.

Who Dunfermline fans I know say has fallen out of favour with Hughes and is always on the bench. 

Watching dunfermline tonight play like Brazil has me nervous about Saturday. 

 

But we will win the last 5 games to finish second and macgregor will be back to win in the playoffs. 

It just shows you how unpredictable football is. When Partick had all their games in hand, I thought they would be up with Killie and Arbroath, but they have dropped points in them all. It shows you that we must be at it on Saturday or the last two wins will be meaningless. 

A good result for us in that it keeps us ahead of Partick who's goal difference has taken a bit of a hammering in the last few days.

However, we will be facing opponents on Saturday who are running into some good form and who will have increased confidence.

Having, at last, dragged themselves off the bottom of the table, the Pars will be determined not to return there.

As has been said before, we will have to be on our very best form and fully committed for the entire 90 minutes if we are going to beat Dunfermline for the first time this season and maintain our recent winning run.