Raith Rovers vs Airdrie United Match Preview

By Simon on March 14th, 2008

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Airdrie United travel to Kirkcaldy to face Raith Rovers on Saturday in a match which has taken on added significance after Ross County’s shock 4-2 home defeat by Ayr United in midweek.For the first time in a long while, Airdrie and Ross County have both played the same number of fixtures with Ross County nine points ahead with eight games to go. One way to look at that situation is that County can only throw it away, however we have nothing to lose and if we’re going to go into the play-offs we want to do so with momentum so that means treating every game between now and the end of the season as a cup final.

With County still to come to New Broomfield, we could potentially cut the gap to 6 points and it is not impossible that they will drop points. As we remember from our promotion season, as the season enters it’s final few games, matches which seemed like an easy 3 points early in the season suddenly become difficult.

This week is a major test for us and a potential dress rehearsal for the play off finals. It’s also the first time we have to go into battle without Allan Russell who is suspended, as is Marc Smyth who begins a three game ban.

Steven McDougall has suffered a setback in his recovery from an Achilles injury and will be sidelined wfor a further two weeks while Graeme Holmes has still not recovered from his hamstring strain. The plus side though is that these two key players will be coming back fresh for the beginning of the playoffs.

I’d envisage us lining up something like this tomorrow:

GK: Robbo

RB: Campbell
LB: Lovering
CB: McKenna
CB: Donnelly

RM: Smith
LM: Waddell
CM: McDonald
CM: Andreoni

ST: Prunty
ST: Noble

Kevin Watt will likely drop to the bench after struggling against Berwick last week, but could be a very useful impact player later in the game.

It will be a tough game against Raith as although John McGlynn’s team are struggling at the moment they are well organized and until they self-destructed at Broomfield in the 3-0 game, they were perhaps unfortunate not to be in the lead.

Although I feel we need to win this game, I don’t think we will and will therefore go for:

Prediction: Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Airdrie United

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