Dunfermline Athletic carry a three-game winning run into Friday's Scottish Championship clash with Raith Rovers. The match at Stark's Park pits the third-placed Pars against their second-placed rivals in a key fixture for the promotion race, with the visitors knowing a win would see them leapfrog their opponents in the standings.
Dunfermline sit third in the table with 24 points from 13 games, just one point behind leaders Partick Thistle. Their recent form has been strong, with three wins and two draws from their last five outings. The sequence includes a commanding 5-1 home victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle last Friday, where Owen Shaw scored twice and Abdulai and Kieran Corbally were also on target. Shaw's goals arrived in the 17th and 49th minutes, with Abdulai scoring in the 22nd minute and Corbally in the 66th minute.
Head-to-head edge
Dunfermline secured a 1-0 win at East End Park on August 28, giving them a recent head-to-head advantage ahead of the trip to Kirkcaldy. The victory was secured by a 78th-minute goal from midfielder MacLeod.
Raith's mixed form
Raith Rovers, managed by Ian Murray, have experienced inconsistent results lately. They recorded a 4-0 win against Arbroath last time out but suffered a 2-0 defeat to Inverness CT the week before. Their last five matches show two wins, a draw, and two losses, leaving them two points ahead of Dunfermline in the standings.
Both managers have settled line-ups. Dunfermline's last starting eleven against Inverness featured Oxborough in goal, with a back four of Lobban, Donnelly, Abdulai and Fraser. The midfield and attack included Oyirwoth, Amade, Bray, MacLeod, Adams and Tod. Raith's side that thrashed Arbroath was built around goalkeeper Rae and experienced defenders like Hanlon and Stevenson.
With 15 goals scored and only seven conceded this season, Dunfermline possess the division's joint-best defensive record. Victory on Friday would see Dunfermline leapfrog Raith Rovers into second place.
