Maybe this Time

 

It seems like forever since Raith Rovers beat Inverness in a League Game. In fact the reality is almost longer than the legend. This Saturday Rovers get another chance to see if they can win all three points as we head to Stark's Park in a Championship encounter that is scheduled for a 3:00pm kick-off. We have an incredible near 23 year record to uphold. Can we continue or will depleted squads eventually take their toll? We missed out because of the weather last week in the Scottish Cup but Raith moved into the next round after beating Linlithgow Rose in midweek. Mid table supremacy or staying clear of the relegation scrap is up for grabs: Bring it on!

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Match/Ticket/Supporters Bus Info

Queens Park Cup rescheduled

Scottish Cup Draw

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Venue H2H v Raith

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	20	13	5	2	38	15	+23
Away	16	9	4	3	32	19	+13
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	36	22	9	5	70	34	+36

In all competitions it's an astonishing record to be honest. Only five defeats in thirty-six games. The last League defeat was on 28th October 2000. Last League defeat at Stark's Park was two months previous in August 2000. It's fair to say that Raith held the upper hand back then, but ooft, since then it's been mostly one way traffic.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Raith Rovers

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (A)

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

0 - 0 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

 

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts   1. Queens Park 21 12 4 5 44 27 40 2. Ayr United 21 10 6 5 41 29 36 3. Dundee 20 10 5 5 33 25 35 4. Partick Thistle 21 10 3 8 42 36 33 5. Morton 20 8 6 6 28 22 30 6. Inverness CT 21 8 6 7 30 28 30 7. Raith Rovers 22 8 5 9 28 29 29 8. Cove Rangers 21 5 7 9 30 42 22 9. Arbroath 22 3 9 10 20 36 18 10. Hamilton Ac. 21 3 5 13 17 39 14

FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY (19:45)

Cove R v Ayr Utd

SATURDAY 28TH JANUARY (3:00)

*Big game at Dens Park*

Dundee v Queen's

  Morton v Arbroath

Partick v Accies

Raith Rovers v Caley Jags  

This Month

Have we turned a corner or just steadied the ship? Two resounding wins scoring ten goals against Cove and Arbroath got us up and running in 2023. A home 0-0 draw against Queens Park followed but there was plenty to enthuse over in that game from both sides. The cup tie was postponed last week with the pitch still under the grip of winter. Nonetheless, a fairly productive start to the year with the prospect of more players returning from injury, so all is not lost yet.

Raith have been busy. A 1-0 win over Accies was followed by a 1-1 draw with Dundee. There was the small matter of a Challenge cup win over Queens Park, albeit with much changed squads. A 2-2 draw at Cove thanks to a 92nd minute equaliser from Cove's Neill and a midweek Scottish Cup win at Linlithgow Rose has set them up nicely for this encounter. Raith are unbeaten in their last six Championship games since losing 2-0 to Ayr United at the beginning of December.

Latest Team News

We are slowly getting numbers back but have released George Oakley (who has subsequently joined Morton and has a tale to tell on another day) and Aly Riddle who had been involved with ICTFC since he was 12. Here's hoping the release of Oakley will signal the return of Austin Samuels or another couple of attacking options with Shane Sutherland, Tom Walsh and Roddy MacGregor still on the crocks list. Samuels, Allardice, Harper and Sutherland are allegedly getting closer to a welcome return. Defensively we are in a better place with Duffy, Devine and Delaney back in the squad. Scott Allardice and MacGregor would be the icing on the cake for this season with Robbie Deas still to come later.

Here's Billy being a reluctant as ever to impart much info

 

Eck's Raith round-up: 

Not much transfer activity at Stark's Park

Out went defender Connor O'Riordan back to Crewe Alexandra after loan expired. Left winger Quin Coulson was transferred to Alloa and front man Kyle Connell returned to parent club Kilmarnock.

Joining from Heart of Midlothian on a short loan until the end of the season is Central Midfield Player Scott McGill. 20 year old Scott has progressed through the Hearts youth system since the age of fourteen, and had previously worked under Manager Ian Murray while on a loan spell at Ardrieonians.

 

Scottish Cup tie information>>>

   

Edited just now by tm4tj

3 hours ago, Huisdean said:

I really despair when I see posts like this. Supporters support the team and should do so. By all means have a go at the manager (I didn't want him either) or the board but the team on the pitch needs supported, not by far ns staying away. You don't go to football matches with a guarantee of entertainment but some fans seem to think that is their right. The players do, by and large, seem to be playing for the team hence they should have our support. We are no longer a Premier league team and some fans need a reality check on that. We are a Championship quality team and that is unlikely to change soon. 

Key to next season is getting the right manager in. 

I really despair at those who think fans should just hand over their hard earned and expect nothing in return.

The club have not delivered on a single promise, on or off the park, for a long time.  When things don't pan out, they're either ignored/conveniently forgotten or it's everyone elses fault.

The very least fans should expect is to be entertained...otherwise what's the point?

I'm not having a go at the players, I don't boo players, I clap them onto and off of the park.  They can only do their best and we don't often see players not trying.  However, if they are set up to olay boring football, then the best they can play is boring football.  That's not on them.

🤷‍♂️

Both Raith goals were very well placed/taken shots. There's always an argument for closing down quicker however for us to respond from both and to get a point out the game was excellent. Surely Raith must realise by now it is impossible for them to beat us 😂😂

I rewatched the goals and you have to look at the central midfield for both of Raith's goals.  The first, a fairly simple long ball through the middle is headed clear by Devine.  Maybe you could argue that he should have sent it clear but given the nature of the ball and his body position I think knocking it back into that area is a fair enough clearence, it's reasonable to expect our midfield '2' in a 4-2-3-1 to cover there.  However, both Hyde and Welsh are out of position, leaving a gap for Vaughan to pick the ball up.  It's exactly the sort of position that a player like Vaughan loves, the half space between the midfield and defence and he punished us with a clever hit, early before anyone could pressure him.  You can see the back four looking to cover the forward runs of Raith's other attackers, a very hard position for them to defend.  Hyde is a few yards back, Welsh is miles behind out of the screen when you watch on YouTube.  Poor from them.

For the second goal, Hyde has possession in the centre circle and tries a very ambitious pass, looking to hit Henderson to feet.  It's trying to slide it past two Raith players but the fullback intercepts it and immediate transitions into attack, feeding his midfielder.  Hyde then has to put pressure on the ball but completely fails to block or slow down play, he slips.  This then causes Welsh to have to come across and defend, which pulls him out of position giving space to Vaughan.  Again, our back four are faced with Raith's most dangerous player on the ball in space, in front of them with multiple players making runs at the defence.  This time Vaughan turns provider to Connolly, who takes advantage of the space for a good finish.

Mistakes in the middle from us were very costly - we were outplayed in that area the whole game really.  Allardice coming back is a huge boost.

 

Don't think Delaney showing a left footer inside was the smartest move in the book.

After Hydes pass and slip he then chased back, crossing/overtaking Welsh like he was running in slo-mo.

We still had a box full of defenders and surely pushing connolly onto his right side would have averted the danger.

Lessons to be learned .

On 1/29/2023 at 6:31 PM, STFU said:

I really despair at those who think fans should just hand over their hard earned and expect nothing in return.

The club have not delivered on a single promise, on or off the park, for a long time.  When things don't pan out, they're either ignored/conveniently forgotten or it's everyone elses fault.

The very least fans should expect is to be entertained...otherwise what's the point?

I'm not having a go at the players, I don't boo players, I clap them onto and off of the park.  They can only do their best and we don't often see players not trying.  However, if they are set up to olay boring football, then the best they can play is boring football.  That's not on them.

🤷‍♂️

Come on now.

Look at how much communication has improved.

Also I'm certain the the roof on the west stand is getting really close to being built. Remember that it just wasn't possible earlier because of the concerts. 🤣

11 hours ago, Fraz said:

Come on now.

Look at how much communication has improved.

Also I'm certain the the roof on the west stand is getting really close to being built. Remember that it just wasn't possible earlier because of the concerts. 🤣

Who cares about the west stand roof? Honestly if the club spend any of their money on that it will be an absolute waste. Fair enough if it gets fundraised but that shouldn’t be a priority.

1 hour ago, ICTPAISLEY said:

Who cares about the west stand roof? Honestly if the club spend any of their money on that it will be an absolute waste. Fair enough if it gets fundraised but that shouldn’t be a priority.

Don't you think Fraz may have been taking about an irony roof???

22 hours ago, roarer said:

Don't you think Fraz may have been taking about an irony roof???

Yes that’s why I gave him a funny emoji, just letting my opinion out that the west roof is stupid. 

4 hours ago, ICTPAISLEY said:

Yes that’s why I gave him a funny emoji, just letting my opinion out that the west roof is stupid. 

Gotta give the young team some cover. West Stand would look so much better with a roof as well. Yes it's hardly our number one priority and some might argue that it is stupid but they have been promising that certain section of our support a roof for months now. Not a good look that in January 2023 the club are nowhere near to fulfilling that promise. 

Maybe get them all a bus shelter to huddle under....the same as fans in wheelchairs are made to do 🤷‍♂️

2 hours ago, Super Caley Man 94 said:

Gotta give the young team some cover. West Stand would look so much better with a roof as well. Yes it's hardly our number one priority and some might argue that it is stupid but they have been promising that certain section of our support a roof for months now. Not a good look that in January 2023 the club are nowhere near to fulfilling that promise. 

I thought the young team had to raise the £25,000 themselves?

6 hours ago, STFU said:

Maybe get them all a bus shelter to huddle under....the same as fans in wheelchairs are made to do 🤷‍♂️

The suggestion from the supporters trust just before Christmas in a meeting with the club was that as part of the West Stand improvements was that the area near the half way line was made into a proper raised and covered area for people in wheelchairs. This way they would actually have a decent view and be properly covered. 

The club apparently accused them of trying to hijack the improvements and that it will be looked at in a 'future phase'. 

There have been no improvements made to the stadium in all the years I've been going to games and personally it's not a case of this group v that group but little will be done when the club doesn't communicate, doesn't follow through on this things it says it will do and stonewalls folk at every opportunity.