Updated: 0-0 draw ends losing Fife derby streak for Raith Rovers
Entertainment might have been in short supply for the 6,756 fans watching but the point earned by Raith Rovers from their goalless derby draw at home to Dunfermline Athletic yesterday, November 6, was enough to take them to the top of football’s William Hill Championship on goal difference ahead of today’s fixture card.
It left the Kirkcaldy club level on 25 points with second-placed Partick Thistle and their third-placed visitors, both sets of Fifers having played 14 games to Partick’s 13 at that time.
Saturday’s 1-0 Glasgow derby win for Thistle away to Queen’s Park put them back in pole position, however, on 28 points, with Raith dropping to second place.
Friday’s stalemate ended a four-game losing streak for Raith against their neighbours stretching back just over a year.
Rovers last got the better of their kingdom rivals in August 2025, by 2-0 hosting them at Stark’s Park, but had ended up on the wrong side of their scorelines in their prior four meetings since, by 2-1 at home in December and by 2-0, 3-0 and 1-0 away last October, in March and in August respectively.
Managing only a 46% share of possession despite having home advantage, manager Dougie Imrie’s hosts registered just one shot on target to their visitors’ two.
Imrie, 43, was happy enough to see his side end their losing run and pick up a point, telling the club’s Facebook page: “I thought it was a decent game without too much goalmouth action for both teams.
“Overall, I think a draw was a fair reflection of the game for both teams.
“We started well and got our tails up but then allowed Dunfermline into the game a wee bit.
“We knew that would be the case as they’re a really decent possession-based team, but I thought, with our shape on and off the ball, they never really hurt us. I thought we dealt with their crosses really, really well.
“Everybody did their job well and that has to be the standard going forward.
“I’m just delighted for the group. These games are never easy for both teams – it’s a derby with a lot of pride at stake – and I thought they handled the occasion really well.
“I thought it was a really tasty encounter.
“I thought it was a really good game, a really competitive game, with both teams going at it.”
Though mostly uneventful, Friday’s game didn’t pass by entirely without incident, with referee Calum Scott coming in for criticism from visiting manager Neil Lennon for rejecting a penalty appeal over what he insisted was a foul on Pars striker Olly Thomas by home goalkeeper Josh Rae.
“It’s a penalty and it’s an awful decision,” said the 55-year-old.
“I don’t know how you can not deem that a penalty.
“I know he hasn’t got the benefit of TV cameras, but we knew at the time it was a penalty.
“The linesman’s right there. The goalkeeper’s made contact on the 18-yard line and gets nowhere near the ball, so I don’t know what other decision he can give.
“I just thought he was poor all night.”