Tonight sees Queens play their game in hand at Raith Rovers. After our loss to Falkirk on Saturday combined with Dumbarton`s win at Raith this becomes potentially a crucially important game in the race for the final playoff spot. The Sons have pulled level with us on points and we play each other up at Dumbarton on Saturday. If we could win tonight ahead of that game then we`ll probably go into the last fortnight still in 4th spot regardless of the result on Saturday thanks to our goal difference. In fact, wins in the next two games would in effect tie up the playoff spot so there is every incentive to get a win tonight.
However, Raith will be smarting from their defeat at the weekend and are not yet safe themselves at the other end of the table. They will be keen to clinch safety before they face Cowdenbeath a week on Saturday. They were without most of their regular midfield against Dumbarton through suspension but Joe Cardle, Liam Fox and Kevin Moon will all be available again to face us. They will however be without centre half Dougie HIll who was sent off on Saturday and will await news on the fitness of Grant Anderson and Greig Spence. Queens have no fresh injury worries and it is hoped that Mark Kerr and Jim Atkinson, who both missed out against Falkirk through injury might be available again.
Rovers` league form since the turn of the year has been disappointing but it is worth remembering that in the whole season we`ve lost only three games to clubs outside the current top three and two of those were to Raith. Greig Spence scored the only goal of the game to end our year long unbeaten home record early in the season whilst Calum Elliot struck twice to turn around our previous visit to Starks Park after Gavin Reilly had given us the lead. However, Ian McShane`s 2nd goal of the season was enough to win us the last meeting between the clubs. We certainly will need to be at our best to produce a result here, though in recent years we`ve done better away to Rovers than at home to them.
This will be the first time our path has crossed with Lee Robinson since the charismatic goalkeeper departed the club at the end of last season. Lee turned down a new contract with us last summer to try life in Swedish football but returned to Scotland before Xmas when the Swedish season ended and joined Raith on a short term deal to the end of the season as cover for the injured David McGurn. Lee was a hero for us last season, particularly with his exploits in the penalty shoot outs against Rangers and Partick Thistle and we wish him well in his career of course but hope that his form is not too outstanding tonight!