Raith @ home April2024

[tm4tj]

Great Escape is still on

 

The great escape coninues on Friday night at the Caledonian Stadium as we host Raith Rovers in a game that will also be screened live on BBC Scotland with Raith trying to cling on to the coat tails of Dundee United and the Caley Jags looking to slither away from the play-off zone. What could possibly go wrong? Savage and Carragher will be joined in the squad by a welcome returnee in Sean McAllister who has returned fit from Everton after about six weeks out. That's a nice wee bonus for Big Dunc. However, he has the wrath from Arbroath after his "tools down" comment in his pre-match interview. As long as he has not got the wrath from Raith. Keep the faith!

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Match/Ticket Info

Bring a friend for a Fiver

Alex Chisholm

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Venue H2H v Rovers

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	22	14	5	3	41	17	+24
Away	19	10	5	4	37	24	+13
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	41	24	10	7	78	41	+37

We hold a massive advantage over Raith Rovers in all games played since the universe was created. Only 7 defeats in 41 encounters and two of them have come this season, our darkest for many a year. However, normal service resumed when we won the last game at Stark's Park on the 27th of January thanks to a 14 minute first half hat-trick from Alex Samuel. Little did we know that would be his last goal for the next eleven games until he popped up with the winner against Arbroath on the 6th of April.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Rovers

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

0 - 1 (A)

2 - 0 (H)

2 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (A)

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

Cast your mind back to January 12th 2002, and the scene of our biggest win over Raith Rovers with an attendance of 1822:  Report from Ian Broadfoot:  Prior to the match the Kevin Bisset Enclosure was officially opened. The first goal came in seven minutes when Russell Duncan crossed from the right and Ross Tokely sent a looping header into the top corner. Simon Miotto had a number of good saves before, at the other end, a Darren Henderson header came off the post in 33 minutes. Goal number two came in 36 minutes after a scramble which included the ball rebounding off the woodwork. Roy McBain was well placed to take advantage and he hammered home from close range. On the half-time whistle a strong 25 yard shot from Dennis Wyness took a slight deflection and Miotto made a flying save. 30 seconds after the restart a long Nicky Walker kick-out reached Barry Robson on the left well inside the Raith half. He took a touch then crossed for Martin Bavidge to head home from six yards. Raith's best second half effort came on the hour mark when a Darren Henderson header was cleared off the line by Stuart McCaffrey. In 67 minutes Robson's inswinging corner reached a ruck of players and it went in off the head of Bobby Mann. The best goal of the game came with 10 minutes left when substitute David Bagan surged through the middle, played a one-two with Wyness and hit a low ball past Miotto from 12 yards.

Starting XI: Nicky Walker; Ross Tokely, Grant Munro, Bobby Mann, Stuart McCaffrey, Charlie Christie, Barry Robson, Roy McBain, Russell Duncan, Martin Bavidge, Dennis Wyness. 

Subs:  Jim Calder; Stuart Golabek, Graeme Stewart, David Bagan, Paul Ritchie

 

Last Couple

The Caley Jags claimed their first back to back wins of the season last weekend, having beaten Arbroath 2-1 a fortnight ago thanks to goals from Wallace Duffy and Alex Samuel. That was Duffy's second goal in recent weeks having also netted at Tannadice. Last weekend was massive for us as we scraped ourselves out of ninth place and above Queens Park in a huge six-pointer at Hampden. Cammy Harper made the difference with a superb free kick in the 25th minute, a strike fit to win any game at the National Stadium. Those two wins have placed our destiny within our own hands. Last Six: D L  D L  W W 

Take a bow Cammy Harper>>>

 

Raith Rovers have lost ground at the head of the table in the last fortnight. They began April with a 2-1 win over Ayr United. Easton and Hamilton either side of the break with Logan Chalmers notching the United goal. That result was followed by a home defeat from Airdrieonians, going down 3-1 at Stark's Park. Josh Mullin was the Rovers scorer that night as Raith never got to grips with a lively Airdrie who scored through Frizzell twice and McGregor. Last week they had a no score draw against Partick Thistle to allow the gap at the top to open further. Last Six: W D L  W L  D 

 

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
We are the Friday night game this weekend. Smokies are now Relegated
1.	Dundee Utd	33	20	8	5	68	22	68
2.	Raith Rovers	33	18	8	7	52	42	62
3.	Partick Thistle	33	13	12	8	58	50	51
4.	Airdrieonians	33	15	6	12	44	38	51
5.	Dunfermline	33	11	9	13	39	44	42
6.	Ayr United	33	12	6	15	50	57	42
7.	Morton	33	11	8	14	40	42	41
8.	Inverness CT	33	9	11	13	37	37	38
9.	Queens Park	33	9	9	15	43	56	36
10.	Arbroath	33	6	5	22	34	77	23

 

• Friday 19th April
• Inverness CT v Raith Rovers
• Saturday 20th April
• Arbroath v Morton
• Dundee United v Ayr United     
•      Dunfermline v Queen's Park 
•     Partick Thistle v Airdrieonians 

Latest Team News

Remi Savage is back training after concussion and James Carragher missed out last week with a hamstring injury but has also trained this week. Wallace Duffy has a niggle and has missed a couple of sessions. The good news is that Sean McAllister has returned from Everton after injury and could be good to go.

Here's Dunc winding up the Smokies.... and they are biting>>>   

Immortal Howden Ender is picking the team this week and here's his thoughts: It would not surprise me that Dunc will go for the same starting X1 as Hampden. That has positives, maybes and negatives. Playing the same 5 at the back will provide the stability required and hopefully another shut out. I can see this allowing Harper to be more of a wing back but Kerr is not really that type of player. Anderson and Longstaff ran and ran and tackled and tackled. But they are stuck in the middle of the park and with only Samuel as the forward option. Starting Doran and Billy is risky. Both can produce something different, especially from free kick positions, but they need to support Samuel more. That's why I would play Doran alternating wide right and left. Billy did have a couple of chances at Hampden but I would play him closer to Samuel. As for the Tinkerville Taz then same again please. He will not give the Raith defence any breathing space and he is a cert to win free kicks. And with Billy ploughing likewise for an hour both may get more clear cut opportunities. What we can't allow to happen is giving away an early goal. Raith at home is a far more difficult task than the Spiders away. But I reckon Dunc and his dogs of War will be howling at the end of 90 minutes AND I would take a point if offered now... 

 

Raith Rovers may have slipped up recently as their title challenge fades. However, they are still a dangerous side.

Raith team v Partick last week (0-0)

Dabrowski

 

Brown   Watson   Murray   Dick

 

Brown

 

Mullin (Connolly 86)   Stanton (Hamilton 77)   Turner (Easton 45)   Smith (McGill 86)

 

Rudden (Vaughan 59)

 

Subs Not Used: McNeil; Corr, Mathews, Byrne.

 

 

[KennySim93]

Haven’t been able to get to a game for a while. Just wondering are there any concessions available for disabled fans or is it just that the carer gets in for free? Can’t find anything on the website. Thanks.

[Robert]

That’s encouraging that McAllister, Carragher and Savage are all fit as it gives us options.

Will Kerr be back in midfield with Duffy at right wing back, or will McAllister start with Kerr reverting to wing back?

[IBM]

I bought a ticket for Eddi Reader who is on at Eden Court tonight before this game was changed for TV.  I have chosen Eden Court as I know it will be a good show, not sure what to expect the way our season has been.

After the show is over I will check the result hoping for another win and will be delighted if I read good reports later!  

[tm4tj]

Lovely evening for it...

[bishbashbosh]

53 minutes ago, IBM said:

I bought a ticket for Eddi Reader who is on at Eden Court tonight before this game was changed for TV.  I have chosen Eden Court as I know it will be a good show, not sure what to expect the way our season has been.

After the show is over I will check the result hoping for another win and will be delighted if I read good reports later!  

What about recording the game on bbc Scotland and watching it “ live” when you get home.
you could be humming “PERFECT” throughout the game, it will be in your head anyway from the show.

[bishbashbosh]

6 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

Lovely evening for it...

I did my daily walk over that today, both ways, bloody freezing when the sun was behind the clouds.

 

[tm4tj]

Warmed up nicely now though

[IBM]

55 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

What about recording the game on bbc Scotland and watching it “ live” when you get home.
you could be humming “PERFECT” throughout the game, it will be in your head anyway from the show.

I am happy enough checking the score and seeing our goals online, hopefully we will all be singing "Perfect" tonight 

[tm4tj]

[Caleyjag]

Early thoughts: Aaron Doran, the poor guy - how many times do you see a player trying to run off his injury? We should be 2 nil up. Also the home end looks particularly sparsely filled.

[Yngwie]

Pretty entertaining game. We have been the better side and should be ahead. We certainly don’t look like a side that has relegation worries.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Well we are bossing it and should be at least 2 up. But what role has been given to Billy. I was fuming to see him near half way looking for short ball and knock offs. That should be the role of Anderson and Longstaff and now McAllister. What a waste. 

[Duke of Inverness]

You have to laugh, or cry, Dodds and Robbo on the BBC Scotland punditry team. Spouting of their p##h with no shame that they are a huge element of why we are where we are. Sums up the incestuous Scottish game!!

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Raif have 3-5-2 which suggests that they have sussed us out. We need to change now. 

[Duke of Inverness]

5 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Raif have 3-5-2 which suggests that they have sussed us out. We need to change now. 

Ferguson doesn't have a Plan B!!

[STFU]

Mckay playing his natural position is there to pick up that one off the post.  Why are we playing him in midfield?

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

22 minutes ago, Duke of Inverness said:

Ferguson doesn't have a Plan B!!

How about raising the crossbar 3 feckin inches

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

23 minutes ago, Duke of Inverness said:

Ferguson doesn't have a Plan B!!

 

16 minutes ago, STFU said:

Mckay playing his natural position is there to pick up that one off the post.  Why are we playing him in midfield?

So who and what are the alternatives on the bench ??

[STFU]

Don't need to look to the bench, we have players on the park to play a 442 or 532.

[Yngwie]

Unbelievable. It’s like it was ”Right lads, the aim tonight is that when you get a chance, get as close as you can to scoring but without actually scoring.” Job done. 

[Leaky Blinder]

Players at this level should really be two footed or at least willing to trust their weaker side. Macallister had two chances that needed him to stop just standing on his left foot. 

[STFU]

On another day we win that by 3 or 4.

Hard to take, but back to relying on scores elsewhere.

[hislopsoffsideagain]

Absolute sickener. We had enough chances to win three games. As ever, our lack of a reliable goalscorer is killing us. Samuel works like a demon and does so much in the build up but he has only scored in two of his eleven league appearances for us. Mckay has only scored from open play in one of his last 15 games (and frankly looks like a 35 year old striker whose game was based around movement and pace that he no longer has). And Pepple will never score.

 

If you're going to struggle for goals, you need to at least keep a clean sheet. That must be the millionth time this season that we've dominated possession but not got a goal from it, and then been hit by a sucker punch...usually involving one of the three big centre backs missing a header at some point in the build up.

 

McAllister was absolutely terrific - apart from his finishing - especially given he hasn't played in 7 weeks and had only trained for a few days. If we are somehow going to salvage this season, we need him to stay fit.

[Hiro]

That was wild. On another night we could have won that 4 or 5-1.   

Still think our biggest issue is a lack of midfielders running past Samuel when Mckay drops deep, it means we have to keep going sideways and letting the opponent get organised.

Thought Mcallister was outstanding once the 2nd half got going.  His ability to carry the ball could be useful in the final 2/6 matches now that he's fit again.