Season Review 2010/11: Raith Rovers

Click here or read below for my season review of Raith Rovers. It was published on The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast.

Raith Rovers: So Near, Yet So Far

Starks Park - the home of Raith Rovers

Watching your team miss out on promotion to your fierce local rivals after sitting at the top of the league for months on end is tough to take. Some may say that Raith Rovers possessed a squad that were never good enough to challenge for the title anyway, but having come so close it does not make it any easier to accept.

After winning promotion to the First Division in 2009, Raith finished seventh in their comeback season. It was a good achievement, especially after reaching their first Scottish Cup semi final in forty-seven years during the same campaign. However, even the most enthusiastic Rovers fan would not have predicted a title challenge in the 2010/11 season.

Despite comfortable wins over Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic at the start of the season, followed by an SPL scalp in the League Cup, the expectation was that Raith would eventually lose their form and tip-toe down to their more natural position in the middle of the league. As it turned out, Raith never slipped down further than second place - a quite remarkable feat.

The key to Rovers success was their solid defence. Only eight league goals were conceded in the opening fifteen games. Craig Wilson, Grant Murray, Laurie Ellis and new signing Willie Dyer quickly gelled together and opposing teams struggled to break down their resistance. At the other end, striker John Baird would pull opposition defences all over the place with his neat technique and pace. His comrade Gregory Tade acted as the physical and acrobatic target man, causing absolute chaos amongst enemy lines. Although Baird and Tade were not the most clinical of finishers, the team possessed endless amounts of desire. Raith would time and time again force their tiring opponents into mistakes and find injury time goals to grind out an extra point or two.

A November fixture against Dunfermline would be a prime example. After a woeful eighty minutes, falling behind by two goals, Iain Williamson pounced on an error by goalkeeper Chris Smith to bring the deficit back to just one. Williamson hit the bar just minutes later, but Rovers were not done yet. Deep into injury time a speculative cross by Dyer was flicked on by Allan Walker and the ball just happened to loop into the top corner. This was not just an example of a comeback though. Walker's goal was one which kept Raith at the top of the league. Rovers fans made the short journey back to Kirkcaldy delirious with their team's spirit and it was this time that most started believing something special could be on the cards.

However, in typical Raith fashion the club crashed out of the Scottish Cup the following week at the hands of Second Division Alloa Athletic and went on to produce two mind-numbingly dull 0-0 draws against Partick and Falkirk.

The players regrouped however, and turned over the Pars in the New Year derby. Rovers then went up to Dingwall, claiming a narrow 1-0 victory, but it was here that the promotion train appeared to de-rail. Raith only managed to keep three clean sheets in the remaining nineteen league games. All of a sudden Rovers could no longer rely on just scoring one goal to win a match. This was a problem. Baird appeared to have lost some confidence, Tade was and always will be a poor goalscorer, Graham Weir had yet to score since May 2009 and Gary Wales was rarely fit. Now, Raith had to find even more desire and commitment to grind out results.

The Starks Park side managed to keep up with fellow title challengers Dunfermline for most of 2011, but ultimately the deciding game for the top position took place at East End Park on Saturday 23rd April. Raith looked jaded and one dimensional falling to a 2-1 defeat. The end result was Dunfermline gaining a four point advantage over the Kirkcaldy side with two games remaining. The Pars sealed the title seven days later cruising past Greenock Morton 2-0, while Raith lost 1-0 to Queen of the South, ironically falling to an injury time goal.

As the silent Starks Park troops walked home dejected, they tried to evaluate just how their side had missed out on a place in the SPL. Some blamed manager John McGlynn after he tinkered with a steady defence just before the New Year, bringing Mark Campbell into the centre of defence and shifting Ellis out to the left. However, to blame McGlynn for the sudden leaking of goals would be unfair as the outgoing Dyer lost his place due to injury and in the following months Ellis too, would struggle with his fitness.

More likely to be the significant two reasons for Raith's eventual downfall would be first: pressure and second: Dunfermline strengthening their squad.

The Rovers players were never expected to be challenging for promotion and after defeating Dunfermline at New Year, suddenly found the media turning up the heat, labelling them as real contenders for the title. Raith simply could not cope with the pressure. A second half capitulation to Morton at Starks Park in late January appeared to cause serious mental scarring amongst the Raith defence. In fact, it was at Starks Park that Rovers faltered most. Six defeats at home is simply not good enough for a team seeking the league title and the impact of the statistic looks all the more overwhelming when comparing it to Dunfermline's single loss at East End Park.

However, it was more than good form that emerged from East End Park. Dunfermline strengthened their squad quite considerably in January. Although talented winger Willie Gibson left to join Crawley Town, gaffer Jim McIntyre used the funds gained to bring in Liam Buchanan, Martin Hardie and Kevin Rutkiewicz. Buchanan went on to make seventeen appearances, Hardie fourteen and Rutkiewicz twelve. Contrast this to Raith's only January signing, Gary Wales, who featured just seven times from the bench.

Ultimately, Dunfermline were better equipped for promotion. McIntyre had his side playing neat, attractive football, while possessing the required desire and commitment in the latter stages of the season to grind out results when necessary. Raith melted as the levels of expectation rose, especially when playing at home and simply did not possess the required quality to see out the latter stages of the season.

Mid-table is once again the benchmark for Rovers next season, but with significant budget cuts this summer and fifteen departing players, there will be no miracle title challenge this time around. In fact, there is a possibility that the team could struggle to cope with the lengthy list of departures and come 2012, be flirting with relegation back to the Second Division.

written by Will Lyon

Fifteen Players Leave Raith Rovers

Click here or read below for my article on the recent player cull at Raith Rovers Football Club. It was published on Scotzine.

Financial Turmoil at Raith Rovers?

On Tuesday this week it was announced that fifteen players had left Scottish First Division side, Raith Rovers. This followed just hours after the startling news that fellow league side Falkirk had asked eighteen players to depart their club. However, are Rovers simply shedding excess players, or are the Kirkcaldy club really in serious financial difficulty?

Gregory Tade: Off to pastures new

Recently, Chairman Dave Somerville offered an honest assessment of the club’s finances on the official website. He admitted it is a “myth” that the club are debt free and that certain Directors and a Shareholder have been adding personal funds at critical times of the season, but that “this practice cannot continue.” It seems that even Rovers, a club with a modest First Division budget, are struggling to sustain full-time football without outside investment.

However, while fifteen players does sound like a major cull (especially at a level where fellow First Division side, Queen of the South, often struggled to field eleven senior players throughout the season), the cuts to Raith budget do not appear as severe as first thought. Seven of the released players were from the under nineteen squad and four were ‘squad players’ or ‘bench warmers’. Of the four first team players released, Gregory Tade had been offered two contracts but had rejected them both, as he wanted to test himself at SPL level. Therefore the remaining three: Craig Wilson, Stephen Simmons and Mark Campbell are the only first team players who have actually been culled. Yes, just three.

Mark Campbell has left Raith after five years at the club

 So after looking a little closer at the cuts, it becomes apparent that while there are obvious budget cuts, the negative newspaper headlines and downbeat interviews from Rovers manager John McGlynn, are perhaps a little exaggerated. With the loss of promoted Dunfermline Athletic’s sizeable away support, there was always going to be a reduction in Raith’s budget and if Directors are having to subsidise the club during harsh winters, then obviously, re-adjusting the finances is required.

Clearly, it would be wrong to label Raith Rovers as a club in crisis, but simply one re-adjusting to the financial climate and factors out of their control. Indeed, if it is true that Raith have signed Greenock Morton’s top striker, Brian Graham, the cuts are not even close to being catastrophic.

John McGlynn and the Raith board are quite rightly lowering the expectation of fans, especially after a season of pushing above their weight, but perspective must be retained.

written by Will Lyon

Saturday 16th April 2011 - Stirling Albion 1 v 2 Raith Rovers

Please click here or read below for my match report from this afternoon's fixture between Stirling Albion and Raith Rovers. It was published on the official Raith Rovers website.

Baird Keeps Rovers Challenge On Course For Derby Day Showdown

An 80th minute John Baird header clinched a vital three points over already-relegated Stirling Albion this afternoon at the Doubletree Dunblane Stadium.

 

The winning goal sets up next week’s Fife derby between Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic perfectly, but when Josh Flood cancelled out Allan Walker’s 15th minute free-kick, mid-way through the second half, it looked like Raith’s title challenge was close to capitulation. 

Despite the equaliser from the home side, the large travelling support roared their team on and paid tribute to the recently departed Ronnie Coyle, chanting “One Ronnie Coyle” throughout the match.

The captains lead the teams out

Indeed, all at the ground observed a minute silence for Ronnie prior to kick-off.

Rovers started the first half as the better side, with Grant Murray heading wide from an early corner.

Albion hit back through Paul McHale whose 18 yard strike was tipped wide by Andrew McNeil.

After 13 minutes Raith should have taken the lead. Gregory Tade flicked the ball to Walker at the back post and his pass was diverted to Stephen Simmons who, with keeper’ Calum Reidford nowhere in sight, somehow managed to blaze his effort over the bar.

Just 3 minutes later, Raith were able to take the lead. Walker was brought down on the edge of the box and the midfielder picked himself up to curl the free-kick past the helpless Reidford.

Stirling were determined to keep fighting and shortly after falling behind, had a chance through Gordon Smith. The young striker received the ball in the box and shot for the bottom corner, only to be denied by the sprawling McNeil.

Rovers fans in the away stand

Craig Wilson and Baird both had shots at goal before Mark Campbell forced a strong header at Reidford from a Walker corner and before half time, Campbell had another decent headed effort, this time from a Walker free-kick. 

The second half started in a slightly subdued atmosphere as Stirling tried to impose themselves on the game, with Tom Brighton and McHale striking weak efforts towards goal.

Just 4 minutes after the break Campbell managed to haul himself onto another free-kick smashing a firm header at goal and Reidford did well to stop the ball crossing the line. 

Raith kept up the pressure and although Kevin McBride is not known for his attacking prowess, after latching onto a Baird flick, he half-volleyed the ball at goal, only to see it creep inches past the post.

The teams get ready to line up

Rovers would regret their missed chances on the 63rd minute when a Walker freekick was cleared to Mark Ferry, who conceded possession. Stirling pounced on the mistake and winger Flood, ran the length of the pitch, slotting past McNeil with ease to bring the hosts level.

The Rovers fans urged their players on and many felt their luck was out when Reidford pulled off a fantastic save with his foot to deny Baird on the 70th minute. 

Five minutes later, Raith suffered a scare when Flood tried to double his tally, but McNeil was able to tip wide for a corner and from the set piece, Sean Welsh could only head into the keeper’s arms.

However, with 10 minutes remaining, the roof of the away stand was raised. A Walker free-kick was cleared to Simmons who headed the ball back towards goal and Baird nipped in, ahead of Reidford and dinked a header into the back of the net for what turned out to be the crucial winning goal.

Raith began to slow down play, but they were still able to force another chance right at the end when Baird set up Walker at the edge of the box. The midfielder connected first time and looked up to the heavens in disbelief when the ball rattled the crossbar and came back into play.

To the Rovers fans’ delight, referee Frank McDermott blew the full time whistle and the result means Raith stay just 1 point behind Dunfermline, with the two sides set to meet in a crunch tie at East End Park next Saturday.

written by Will Lyon

Saturday 9th April 2011 - Raith Rovers 2 v 2 Cowdenbeath

Please click here or read below for my match report from this afternoon's fixture between Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath. It was published on the official Raith Rovers website.

Rovers Bounce Back Twice To Claim Point 

Raith Rovers failed to knock Dunfermline Athletic off the top of the table this afternoon after a 2-2 draw with relegation strugglers Cowdenbeath, but in truth, the situation could have been worse.

The teams

Greg Stewart opened the scoring for Cowdenbeath on the 55th minute, only for Rovers centre-half, Grant Murray to slam in an equaliser four minutes later.

However, on the 70th minute, a mistake by Raith keeper’ Andrew McNeil led to Stewart nipping in and scoring his second, into an empty net.

With the clock ticking down, it looked like all three points would be heading to Cowdenbeath, until Mark Campbell scrambled the ball over the line for a last minute leveller.

The game was frantic from the word go, with play thundering from end to end and it was remarkable that both teams were unable to score before the break.

Last week’s hero, Allan Walker, was first to strike at the Cowdenbeath goal and Stewart was quick to reply for the visitors, but neither could find a way past the opposing keepers’.

On the twelfth minute, Raith had a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring when Gregory Tade won a header and laid the ball off to John Baird who snatched at his shot, which failed to even find the target.

The teams warm up

Four minutes later, Cowdenbeath had just as good a chance when a suspiciously offside-looking Stewart latched onto a long ball and cut inside, only to be thwarted by McNeil. The ball landed at the feet of Scott Linton who had the goal at his mercy, but Craig Wilson made the all-important block and the danger was cleared.

Any neutrals at Starks Park would have been delighted with the excitement on show, which incidentally, was showing no signs of ebbing.

Cowdenbeath’s next great opportunity came to fruition 29 minutes in, when a cross into the Raith box was unable to be cleared by Campbell and former Rover, Stevie Crawford, nipped in, but McNeil pulled off a wonderful save to deny the thirty-seven-year-old.

Three minutes later, Tade and Baird linked again, with the latter outpacing another former Rover, Craig Winter, and he looked set to score, but Cowdenbeath keeper’ Ludovic Roy had other ideas, making a quality stop with his legs.

Tade lobbed a shot wide of the goal, before Roy made a second crucial save in the dying embers of the first half. Former Blue Brazil winger, Scott McBride, crossed a flush ball into the box, Baird connected very well and Roy made just as good an effort to save the shot.

The teams went back into their respective dressing rooms for a half-time refreshment and reflected on what might have been. With better composure and a bit of luck, the scoreline could have been 3-3 at this stage.

Some warm up music from Kirkcaldy High School

Thankfully, the second half started no differently. Both sides were intent on gaining the three points and it was Cowdenbeath who took the initiative on the 55th minute.

Stewart had been causing problems all game and he had Murray twisting and turning once more, deep in the Rovers half. With Murray left in tangles, the striker ran in on goal and beat McNeil on his near post to send the small band of travelling fans ballistic.

Two minutes later, Cowdenbeath had a strong penalty appeal turned down and sixty seconds later, their lead had vanished. McBride curled a corner right onto the head of Murray whose effort was so powerful that Roy’s right hand was unable to stop the ball crossing the line.

The home fans were now roaring and believing their side could go on to clinch the three points, but they almost found themselves pegged back immediately when Stewart got himself on the end of a cross only to be denied by a fantastic fingertip save by McNeil.

Raith fans in the South Stand

On the 66th minute, Baird missed yet another brilliant opportunity when he connected first-time to a Walker cross and he watched in agony as his shot dribbled past the post, with Roy rooted to the spot.

Two minutes later, Murray was beaten again, this time by Crawford who rolled the years back and turned the defender cleverly. However, McNeil looked in the form of his life, rushing out and pulling off a phenomenal block with his chest.

Almost before the Rovers fans had finished sounding their appreciation of their keeper’, McNeil went from hero to zero. A long ball over the top was left by Campbell for McNeil to clear, but he hit the ball straight at Stewart and it looped towards the Raith goal and the striker, with the goal lying empty, made no mistake from six yards out.

Graham Weir replaced winger McBride as Rovers pushed everybody up front. However, the long balls were not working, the chances were drying up and Cowdenbeath looked dangerous on the break.

With Raith fans about to start their exodus out of Starks Park, they were soon halted when a long ball into the box was not dealt with by the Cowdenbeath defence and somehow Campbell managed to scrape the ball over the line from 8 yards.

Cowdenbeath fans in the McDermid Stand

Unbelievably, Raith could have secured all the points three minutes into injury time when a Baird cross was met by Tade but the Frenchman could only head the ball into the ground and just wide of the post.

With both sides contributing to such a fantastic open game it was only fair that both came away with a point, but Rovers, particularly John Baird, may regret their missed chances.

The result means Raith are now one point behind Dunfermline with four games to play. Next week Rovers face Stirling Albion at the Doubletree Dunblane Stadium, the same location where Stevie Hislop fired Rovers top of the Second Division two seasons ago. Will history repeat itself?

written by Will Lyon

Terrace Travels #3: Queen of the South 0 - 2 Raith Rovers

Click here to read my article published on The Terrace where I describe a day out at the fitba' down Dumfries way.

Dees Do The Double

Click here or read below for my match report of the fixture at Starks Park this evening. It was published on the official Raith Rovers website.

Raith Rovers 1 v 2 Dundee

Dundee battled to a narrow win over Raith Rovers tonight for the second time in as many weeks.

Sean Higgins scored 2 goals for the Dees on either side of half time, while a curling Allan Walker freekick temporarily brought the hosts level for 4 minutes.

Overall, the Starks Park side failed to click while their opponents from over the Tay looked dangerous every time they attacked the table toppers.

Indeed, it was the away side who dominated the first 10 minutes, with playmaker Gary Harkins in deadly form. It was he who broke through the Rovers defence after 5 minutes, threading a neat pass to Craig Forsyth, but the winger's effort was well saved by Rovers goalkeeper Andy McNeil.

Minutes later, Harkins was creating move havoc and would have scored were it not for the diving McNeil just managing to tip his shot wide of the post.

Raith, struggling to get a foothold in the game, had a half chance on the 12^th minute when a long throw was received by Walker, but his 20 yard strike sailed over the bar.

The Kirkcaldy side began to force their way into the game and Dundee failed to threaten again till the 27^th minute. Trialist Craig Robertson ran down the left side of the pitch and crossed in a perfect ball to Higgins, but the 26-year-old almost lackadaisically swung a shot on goal and McNeil was able to gather.

On the half hour mark Harkins was causing trouble again as he drove at the Raith defence and played a through ball to Forsyth who was about to pull the trigger until Mark Campbell made a superb last ditch tackle.

However, in an almost identical move Raith conceded just 1 minute later. This time it was Forsyth who would sprint through the Rovers half crossing a decent ball into the path of Higgins who coolly slotted the ball past McNeil to send the away side a goal to the good at half time.

The second half was started at a frantic pace by Raith, who may have been on the receiving end of a few hastening words from manager John McGlynn at the break. Just moments into the second period, Gregory Tade did well to run through the Dundee defence and one-on-one with goalkeeper Rab Douglas looked set to shoot, but changed his mind and aimed a pass at Walker which was cut off by the ensuing Dees defence.

The home fans' groans turned to cheers on the 50^th minute after Iain Davidson was hauled down just outside the box and Walker stepped up to curl a superb 25 yard freekick into the bottom corner of the goal leaving Douglas helpless and the hosts back on level terms.

Unfortunately for the Starks Park faithful, Rovers were only level for 4 minutes as a Harkins cross was bundled into the net by Higgins for his second goal of the night.

The goal was a huge kick in the teeth for Rovers and were lucky to have 11 men still on the park when Davidson, already on a yellow card, committed a professional foul on the edge of the box, but referee Iain Brines, who took charge of the Old Firm derby on Sunday, decided the challenge was not enough to merit a booking.

The match started to become quite physical with both teams desperate to find another goal. However, it would be the away side who struck next with the chance falling to Stephen O'Donnell. On the 67^th minute O'Donnell received a pass into the box and found himself with just McNeil to beat, but the former Hibee pulled off a spectacular diving save. Thirty seconds later, O'Donnell received the ball again, this time on the edge of the box, but his shot was cleared off the line.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, Raith had Campbell to thank again as he made another goal saving challenge on Harkins. However, the former Blackburn youth continued to carve open opportunities for his side as he combined with Forsyth again, but McNeil made the save.

Iain Williamson, Gary Wales and Graham Weir replaced Stephen Simmons, Scott McBride and John Baird as McGlynn attempted to freshen his team up for a final push to equalise. It almost worked too when a Raith corner was cleared by Dundee only as far as Williamson who looped the ball back over the Dees defence to Weir who smashed the ball at goal, but Douglas spread himself to make a brilliant save.

Campbell, playing as a striker towards the end, had a headed chance in the dying seconds, but was unable to find a way past the dominate Douglas.

This was Dundee's fifth win in a row and their sixteenth league fixture unbeaten which is a phenomenal achievement, but questions will be asked if they can maintain this sort of form to the end of the season with such a small squad of players.

Meanwhile Raith will need to regroup as they have conceded 10 league goals already this calender year compared to the measly 8 they conceded from August till the end of December last year. The team struggled to pass the ball to a blue shirt tonight, but all is not lost as they still sit top of the First Division, three points clear of Dunfermline Athletic, who drew 0-0 away to Ross County.