Statistical Preview: Raith Rovers vs Queen’s Park
A rematch of last season’s finale, Raith Rovers will be aiming to repeat the scoreline after their dominant 5–1 victory in that game. Missing out on the play-offs on the final day was a bitter blow after a strong late run of form, and Raith will be determined to put things right this season with a serious promotion challenge.
Queen’s Park, meanwhile, have undergone a major overhaul, losing 16 players from last season’s squad and appointing their B Team Manager Sean Crighton to lead the First Team. With so much change, fans can expect a very different approach from the visitors this time around.
Raith Rovers’ Form Guide:
Using the Raith Rovers v Queen’s Park Match Stats on Andy’s Bet Club, Raith Rovers have had a mixed League Cup campaign, showing both their quality and unpredictability. Convincing wins over Inverness and Elgin City underlined their attacking strength, but a chaotic five-minute spell turned what looked to be a 2–1 victory against East Kilbride into a 4–2 defeat. Interestingly, their final game of last season was also against Queen’s Park at Hampden, where Raith signed off in style with a commanding 5–1 victory.
- 1–5 Win vs Queen’s Park (A) – Championship
- 5–1 Win vs Inverness CT (H) – League Cup
- 3–1 Loss vs St. Johnstone (A) – League Cup
- 2–4 Loss vs East Kilbride (H) – League Cup
- 1–5 Win vs Elgin City (A) – League Cup
Queen’s Park’s Form Guide:
Queen’s Park also picked up two wins from their four League Cup group stage matches, including a convincing victory over Brechin City and a late winner against Cove Rangers. With both of their defeats coming away from home, Raith Rovers will be eager to extend that run of poor away form.
- 2–1 Win vs Cove Rangers (H) – League Cup
- 3–1 Loss vs Falkirk (A) – League Cup
- 5–0 Win vs Brechin City (H) – League Cup
- 2–1 Loss vs Spartans (A) – League Cup
- 1–5 Loss vs Raith Rovers (H) – Championship
Statistical Comparison:
Queen’s Park’s main issue last season was their lack of goals, averaging only one per game. A major factor was limited chance creation, with just 8.6 shots per match compared to the league average of 10.3. When they did get into shooting positions, however, their accuracy was solid at 37%, slightly above average.
Set pieces were another weakness, as they turned only 22% of corners into shots, well below Raith’s 37%. They may take some encouragement though from Raith’s defensive record, with opponents managing a high 42% shot accuracy against them. Ball progression was also a concern, with just 48 accurate progressive passes per game compared to the average of 53.
Defensively, Queen’s Park conceded 13.3 shots per match, well above Raith’s 10.3. Their weakness in the air was clear too, winning only 42% of aerial duels compared to the league average of 46%. One positive was limiting opponents to longer efforts, with six shots from outside the box per game compared to the league average of four. Raith, however, usually attempt just 3.5 long‑range shots, instead working closer chances.
They were also often caught playing out from the back, losing the ball in their own third 28% more than average. With Raith recovering possession in advanced areas more often than most sides, there’s a clear opportunity to press high and overwhelm Queen’s Park’s defence.
Going forward, Raith will look to stick with their purposeful style, keeping lateral passes 18% below average and back passes 7% below average to progress quickly into dangerous areas. This approach has been key to their success, helping them maintain an average shot distance of just 17 metres, one of the shortest in the league.
Queen’s Park’s Players to Watch:
Top Goal Scorer – Josh Fowler: Five goals in four League Cup matches
Best Performing Player – Calum Ferrie: Their goalkeeper, who famously saved a last-minute penalty to secure a historic win over Rangers last season, combines shot-stopping ability with real leadership at the back. He finished the campaign with a 71.4% save percentage and remains a reliable last line of defence.
One To Watch – Josh Fowler: Leading the line is their striker, a relative unknown who left Scotland in 2023 to test himself abroad with spells in the UAE and Australia. Now back in Scottish football, he has hit the ground running, scoring five goals in just four League Cup matches. His sharp start suggests he will almost certainly be trusted to spearhead the attack on Saturday, and his eye for goal makes him a real danger that Raith will need to keep close tabs on.
Last Season’s Head-to-Head:
2nd May 2025, 1-5 Win (A): A fantastic away win, with two goals coming from penalties. Raith dominated the ball, recording 28 touches in the penalty area to Queen’s Park’s 12. Although the hosts managed seven shots, Raith were far more clinical in turning possession into goals.
1st March 2025, 0-4 Loss (H): A stark contrast in the result, although Raith still controlled 60% possession and registered eight shots to Queen’s Park’s seven. However, six of those efforts came from outside the box, posing little threat to Ferrie’s goal and ultimately proving costly.
20th December 2024, 1-2 Win (A): Another dominant display with 61% possession. Queen’s Park focused on crossing, delivering 23 in total, but Raith produced a season-high 11 shots from outside the box to secure the win.
19th October 2024, 1-1 Draw (H): A more even contest, with 17 corners and 34 crosses between the sides, with Queen’s Park’s goal coming indirectly from one of these crosses. Raith had the edge in the air, winning 51% of aerial duels compared to Queen’s Park’s 37%.
Final Thoughts:
As Raith Rovers prepare to face Queen’s Park, belief will be high after a solid League Cup campaign and the memory of last season’s emphatic 5–1 victory at Hampden. Raith have shown they can dominate this fixture, consistently creating more chances and controlling possession, while limiting Queen’s Park’s attacking threat.
With the visitors struggling for consistency and still adapting after a major squad overhaul, Raith will look to press high and exploit their defensive weaknesses, particularly their tendency to lose the ball in their own third. Raith’s purposeful passing style and ability to work the ball into dangerous areas should provide plenty of opportunities, especially if they remain sharp in the final third.
If Raith can carry their recent attacking intent onto the pitch and maintain their defensive discipline, they’ll be well placed to secure another strong result and send out a clear message that they are aiming for the play-off spots this season.
This article was written by a data analyst at Andy’s Bet Club. You can find more previews like this, as well as Football Tips and Free Bet offers, over on ABC.
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