News

Match Preview – Raith Rovers

Published

6 months ago

May 25, 2024

By Peter Mackay

After two agonisingly shut misses to reaching our goal of ending tenth, it’s time for the Staggies to take their place within the Premiership Play-off remaining for the second yr in a row.

On Thursday night, Don Cowie’s Staggies journey to Kirkcaldy to face Championship runners-up Raith Rovers.

The match kicks off at 8PM.

On Sunday, Ian Murray’s males make the journey north for an early second-leg kick-off at 12:00PM.

Each of those matches are stay on Sky Sports activities.

Raith Rovers

The Fife facet have had a powerful season, and got here ever so near the Championship, with Dundee United pipping them to the title.

Rovers overcame final yr’s play-off facet, Partick Thistle. They gained the primary leg 2-1, and misplaced the second leg 2-1. An enormous 4-3 win on penalties was what it took to ship them into this tie.

Murray’s facet solely misplaced seven matches of their league marketing campaign this season, successful a whopping 20 and drawing an additional 9.

They’re in a wealthy vein of kind, and it will likely be no shock to listen to that they’re filled with confidence heading into this one.

Participant to Watch

A person with an inspirational story has been firing on all cylinders in Kirkcaldy this season. Lewis Vaughan, who has been suffering from severe accidents all through his profession, has had an incredible season in entrance of objective.

The 28-year-old has bagged 19 objectives this season, in addition to laying on seven assists.

He’s thought to be a hero at Starks Park and can be ever-so keen to guide his staff into the Scottish Premiership.

Ross County

As aforementioned, this isn’t the Staggies first dance with the play-offs. Final season, in case you have by some means forgotten, we have been concerned in one of many craziest ties in playoff historical past.

We defeated Partick Thistle on penalties after objectives from Yan Dhanda, Simon Murray and George Harmon drew us stage after being three objectives down.

After all, nobody on the membership needed us to be again on this demanding place, however you possibly can assure that interim gaffer and Ross County legend Don Cowie will make sure that he has his squad as ready as doable heading into this one.

We enter this match off the again of some first rate kind, unbeaten in our final two after drawing 1-1 with St Johnstone and 2-2 with Aberdeen. Regardless of these outcomes not being sufficient to complete tenth factors sensible, we are able to take a lot coronary heart from the shows.

All of the Ross County followers can be sincerely hopeful that we are able to keep our Premiership standing regardless of heading into what can be an inevitably difficult tie.

Participant to Watch

High scorer for the membership this season, Simon Murray has been on unimaginable kind all through the marketing campaign – and added one other unimaginable objective to his title on Sunday.

He has smashed the again of the web 21 instances this season, together with good finishes in our final matches towards Motherwell after which Aberdeen.

Not solely is Simon lethal in entrance of objective, he is without doubt one of the hardest-working gamers within the league, continuously charging after the ball and defenders. The previous Queens Park striker isn’t afraid to place himself about and get caught in with the uglier facet of the sport.

Murray has fashioned a robust reference to Yan Dhanda this season, and hopefully, we are going to see extra objectives forming from their robust partnership in attacking areas on Wednesday.

In addition to objectives, Murray may also flip supplier, having laid up 5 assists for his teammates this season.

Earlier Encounters

The Staggies haven’t confronted Raith Rovers since all the way in which again in 2018 in a second-round problem cup tie. The Countyran out 5 nil victors that day.

County typically has an excellent total file towards the Rovers, regardless of not enjoying a lot in any respect in current instances.

The Dingwall facet has gained 18 out of 37 matches performed.

Acquainted Faces

Present Raith Rovers gamers Josh Mullin and Keith Watson each had nice success at Ross County.

Kyle Turner is on mortgage to Raith Rovers from Ross County.

Present Staggies Ross Callachan and Ross Laidlaw had spellsin Kirkcaldy.

Ross County legend Richard Brittain additionally performed for Rovers.

Refereeing Staff

John Beaton

AR1: David McGeachie

AR2: Dougie Potter

Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid