DAFC - RRFC Preview

Pride, points, and bragging rights are on the line this Friday evening as Dunfermline Athletic host Raith Rovers in the first Fife Derby of the William Hill Championship campaign at KDM Group East End Park.

With both sides desperate for very different things, Match-Day 4 has all the ingredients for a classic, under the lights, in West Fife.

Dunfermline Athletic - 8th, 2 points:
It’s been a frustrating start for Neil Lennon’s Pars. Three games in, and Dunfermline are still searching for a first league win.

The season opened with a 0-0 draw away at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Athletic then picked up another point at home to Ayr United on 8th August, with Andrew Tod opening the scoring after 14 minutes from a Shea Kearney assist before Luke McBeth equalised on 45 minutes. 5,551 were at East End Park that day but left frustrated after Harry Stone denied a Keith Bray winner right at the death.

But Match-Day 3 brought a first defeat of the campaign in Scotland`s second-tier for Dunfermline. A 2-0 defeat away to Livingston on Saturday, with Bradly van Hoeven scoring on right on half-time, before Robbie Muirhead sealed the win for Glenn Whelan`s men bang on 90 minutes. Despite dominating spells and creating plenty chances, the Pars were punished for a lack of cutting edge in both boxes.

That leaves Dunfermline on 2 points from 3 matches played, with a -2 Goal Difference. Lennon will be desperate for his sides first victory in the Championship this term. There’s no better stage than a Fife Derby to turn the corner and kick-start DAFC`s season!

Raith Rovers - 2nd, 7 points:
It’s been the opposite story down the A92 in Kirkcaldy. Raith have made a flying start and sit 2nd in the table, level on 7 points with leaders Stenhousemuir but behind on Goal Difference.

They began with a 1-1 draw at home to newly promoted Stenny. Ex-Par, Paul McMullan, put the Rovers ahead on 19 minutes, from a Lewis Stevenson assist, before Lewis Hodgkiss hit back - quite literally - for Marvin Bartley`s side, after a clearance smacked against the face of the young St Mirren loanee, finding the back of Josh Rae`s net.

Match-Day 2 saw Raith pick up their first win: a 2-1 victory away at Queen’s Park. Charlie Telfer struck on 39 minutes to open his account for Dougie Imrie`s side, before Anton Dowds converted a 58th minute penalty to secure the points despite a late Ross Maclean reply.

They backed that up in style last weekend with a 2-0 home win over Ayr United. Dowds was again the hero with goals on 8 and 15 minutes, with assists from Zak Delaney and McMullan. Leon King had earlier saw red for Ayr on 5 minutes, after a last man challenge on McMullan. 3,249 watched at Stark’s Park, with confidence growing in the Lang Toun that a successful season could be on the cards.

Imrie’s side have scored 5 and conceded just 2 in 3 games. They’ll arrive at KDM Group East End Park full of confidence.

But, this is the fixture that defines the season for both sets of supporters. Form goes out the window when the Fife Derby comes around.

For Dunfermline, it’s a chance to ignite their season in front of a packed home end. The Pars have shown they can create chances - they’ve just failed to convert many of them so far. Lennon will be looking for that “ruthlessness” and “power” he called for after Saturday`s loss in West Lothian.

For RRFC, it’s an opportunity to lay down an early marker and go top of the table, at least temporarily. With Dowds and McMullan in fine form, they have the firepower to hurt the Pars. New signing Scott Tiffoney adds further quality and experience to an attacking line that is missing George Oakley and Lewis Vaughan for this weekend`s fixture.

A win for Dunfermline would lift them off 8th position and could give their campaign the beginning of some real momentum. Another defeat leaves them adrift, early on in the 26/27 term.

For Raith, 3 points would send them top and pile pressure on the rest of the division to try keep up with them. Lose, and the chasing pack - including Dunfermline Athletic - close in.

The Fife Derby is back. And with both teams having so much to play for, Friday night at KDM Group East End Park promises to be a cracker.