Raith Rovers -V- Inverness CT - Tuesday - Preview

[RiG]

After all the doom and gloom two pretty encouraging performances against a decent Championship rival. It would have been nice to have bagged more than one goal but any win will do right now.

We were on top from the off with a neatly taken corner drifted to the edge of the box where Allardice met the ball and headed goalwards but it came off the bar. When the ball was played back into the penalty area it fell to Sutherland but he took too long to get a shot away and when he did it was too weak to trouble MacDonald. With Raith just as willing to try and attack there was plenty of space for both sides to exploit.

That changed when Davidson was shown a straight red when he tussled with Todorov for a high ball . There didn't look to be too much in it but with Todorov on the floor and ICT players incensed the referee showed Davidson a straight red. Davidson then channelled his inner Alex Bone and started shouting at Todorov whilst he was lying on the ground and then grabbed Sean Welsh by the throat before shouting at anyone who would listen to him as he stomped off the pitch.

Raith started to sit back a little deeper after this and we struggled to break them down, as we have done so often against teams who are more defensive minded. Danny MacKay almost grabbed the opener when he collected the ball on the left and drove past his man into the box before attempting to curl the ball in at the back post but MacDonald was equal to it and pushed the effort away.

Raith threatened when Regan Hendry turned a couple of ICT players inside but his resultant cross evaded all of his team mates. Welsh and MacGregor then linked up to play in Sutherland but he was snuffed out before he could get a decent shot away.

Raith opened the second half strongly when Kennedy teed up Hendry who lashed a long range effort on goal from about 25 yards but Ridgers tipped it over. From a Rovers corner ICT then grabbed the opener. Ridgers sent a long ball downfield for MacKay to chase and, under pressure from a Rovers defender and MacDonald rushing out to meet him, he coolly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.

MacKay had another great chance when MacGregor poked a ball through to him but as he cut in from the left he again tried to curl and effort in at the back post but he didn't place it far enough away from MacDonald to trouble him. Ridgers was called into action again to tip over a Benedictus header from a corner as Raith looked to draw level but Welsh almost killed the game off when he tried to pass a shot in from just outside the box but it drifted wide.

A Keatings free kick found Deas in space at the back post and he was able to turn the ball back across goal but no one was on hand to turn it and we were almost made to pay when Vaughan dragged the ball away from Mckay and tested Ridgers who palmed the ball away.

Plenty of changes for both sides and it is a bit surprising that there weren't more goals but three points and a clean sheet are hugely welcomed at this stage in the season.

[caleyboy]

great 3 points. here's hoping we can keep it going. well done guys.

[tm4tj]

 

[Ronaldo]

We seem to play better in pink

[Scotty]

18 minutes ago, Ronaldo said:

We seem to play better in pink

 

[Robert]

Decent highlights package, but didn’t really demonstrate just how much on top we were in the first half, although it makes the second seem more even than I recall!

Credit Ridgers for the goal. He clearly saw Mackay would be one on one with the defender and wasted no time getting it upfield, and Mackay duly obliged with the cool finish. 

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Yes, I see Ridgers was credited with the "assist" on the BBC stats.  Can't be often that a keeper gets an official "assist".  Well done to him!

[The Mantis]

Good honest interview from young Dan post match
https://fb.watch/4i33FhV_iL/

 

[SteveA]

Delighted for Dan Mackay to get the goal. Seemed to get a bit of stick for his performance on Friday. I think we forget he is only 19 years old. He's not gonna be a world beater and be on it 100% every game. Not many teams, if any, in the Championship will be starting the majority of games with three 19 year olds that have come through their youth programme. 

[tm4tj]

Danny boy special for St Patrick's day