Match Preview: Raith Rovers v Cowdenbeath

It's the final derby match of the season for Cowden as we take on Raith Rovers at Starks Park in a game of vital importance for both sides. 

Rovers know a win will put them top of the table again while a win for us would elevate us above Ross County and drag ourselves out of the Relegation Play-off spot. With games running out for both sides, any points obtained here will help get the confidence flowing and put pressure on the sides rivals.

Jimmy Nicholl travels with the same squad as Tuesday night with John Armstrong (ankle), Joe Mbu (knee), Dene Droudge (knee), Bob Malcolm (back), Colin Cameron (ankle) and John Dempster (knee) still on the treatment table.

Visit Kick Talk radio to listen to pre-match chat with Jimmy Nicholl.

It will be the 5th meeting of the two sides this season with Raith holding the better record so far.  In the opening match of the season in the Alba Cup we sprung a surprise by sneaking a 1-0 win thanks to a driven shot from John Armstrong after a scramble following a corner.  The other games this season have resulted in late wins for Rovers in 2 of the games and a comfertable 3-0 win at Central Park back in February.

With no wins picked up against Dunfermline either this season it could be the first time since season 89-90 that Cowden go through a whole league campaign (with a Fife rival in the league of course) without picking up a derby victory.
 
One good omen going into the game is that our last match on this date saw an easy 4-1 win be recorded against Albion Rovers in 2005. Goals from Gary Fusco, Liam Buchanan, Darren Gribben and John Paul Kelly helped us stay in 4th place in the 3rd division on our way to a 3rd place finish behind Gretna and Peterhead.  Cowden have come a long way since then with numerous promotions but even back then few Cowdenfans would have imagined that we could be in the position that we are now.
 
Our recent form has shown signs of improvement and our win over Ross County during the week will have only added to the confidence in the Cowden camp. In our last 8 games we've managed to pick up an average point a game with importants wins against County and Partick. 

Raith have done better by picking up 14 points including a 2-1 win over Dundee to end their mammoth unbeaten league run.  Raith rarely lose at home but with that Alba Cup win still in the memories of the Cowden faithful there is hope that a repeat performance may well be on its way.
 
Match of the day fact of the week:- Raith have conceded the 2nd least amount of league goals in Scotland this season (26) with only Celtic having conceded fewer (18). Cowden on the other hand sit tied 39th with 63 goals conceded - tied with Dumbarton and Peterhead!