Raith Against The Machine

Five points from our last four away games. You can point to the weather at Stranraer and Dumbarton, but a better side would've found ways to win. Not Championship form.

That's absolutely as Raith Rovers as it gets.

We needed to score before half time. We've done nothing into the wind second half. Absolutely no ideas all afternoon.

Wind causing the Rovers real bother now. Three corners in a row: MacDonald tried to head the first clear, it came down off the back of his head and out. Then Miller had to head one over the bar, it was going straight in. The third went straight from the takers boot onto the roof of the net.

MacLean on up front, Anderson on right wing. Dingwall still somehow on the left.

This game has not improved since half time. Dingwall is an empty jersey, and Quitongo won't let Armstrong get onto his left foot. Rovers have managed one decent bit of passing, and Baird finished well, but the flag was up very early.

The pitch is starting to hold water in a few places, although the rain has eased up very slightly. If it starts to really come down again, we could be in a little trouble.

Coupla fannies. Are these not the boys who were lifted a year or two back, because they were having a pagger in Camelon at the same time the Rovers were playing in Falkirk?

The Rovers have dropped off a little. A couple of passes went astray and now the patience has dissipated. Trying too hard to force it. As has been the case quite often this season, we need more from Dingwall and Armstrong.

Possession must be about 70/30 to the Rovers in the first fifteen minutes. Hendry is dropping right into the back line to start moves off, and the Rovers passing has been fairly crisp so far. Two or three half chances already. Dumbarton struggling to get the ball down, particularly with the wind in their faces. I know he plays for East Fife now, but I still can't shake the feeling that Scott Agnew is going to score the first goal.

Looks like a better grass pitch than most in the country at present. Excellent work. (Will retract this post if a bobble leads to a Dumbarton goal.)

No McKay at all is a bit of a blow, even if I don't particularly encourage his use at right back. Still a 4-3-3 like the one we have been using, but with two wide forwards and a proper dedicated number 9, rather than the three fluid strikers.

Ihih and whit was the changing room like then ihih bet there wis some characters eh ihih were you there when Gravesen was there?

I don't like Dumbarton FC's "only opening one turnstile" policy, but I do like their "only excluding the bad eggs" policy.

Opening day I had to squeeze past Nando Mendy to get to my seat in the right end of the stand. I've only just recovered.

Anderson is an excellent player, and I'm delighted to have him back. Although on balance, I'd probably rather e without him than have the return of this "GAndo" and "SAndo" nonsense.

Jamie Watson, Tony Dingwall, Steven Anderson, Iain Davidson and Nando Mendy, by my count.

You could well be right, but I think that's incredibly harsh, if so. It was nigh on impossible to have a good game in those conditions. Incidentally, as with last week, McKay was better after half time, but I'd still prefer Miller in there. I've been a huge proponent of the 3-2-1-2 that'd let you play both, but I can understand McGlynn not wanting to lose any of his current front six. Bowie's maybe due a rest, though.

The substitutions turned the game for the Rovers. Armstrong had his best game since coming back, replacing Bowie who possibly his worst. Bowie was bullied by Lang early on, and didn't really seem to recover. He snatched at the couple of half chances that came his way, and wasn't picking his passes. Spencer was calmer and a little more expansive than Tait, which helped bring Armstrong into the game, and seemed to move us 10-20 yards further up the park. And Dingwall caused a bit of grief, particularly after the goal, with his tricky running. Baird never quite settled into the game, and he was dropping deeper and deeper to try and have an effect. I'd probably have Matthews down as my man of the match for the Rovers, he was the one just about holding things together in the first half, and he was doing well keeping things going in the second. Tom Lang was undoubtedly the best player on the park this afternoon though. Shame he ended up on the losing team.

Huge save from Thomson. Goodwillie tied Bene in knots and left him on the floor, cut it back, and it looked for all the world like a goal. Bringing Tony Dingwall on to do pirouettes in the corner as we see out narrow leads is becoming increasingly effective.

Armstrong, unsurprisingly, the creator. Lang's taking everything in the air so he hit the byline and zipped it across the face of goal instead. MacLean tapping it home at the back post. He's so cool. Nearly two. McKay underlaps Armstrong and Mitchell closes his legs just enough to prevent a nutmeg at the near post.

Lang, again, winning some crucial headers. Rovers looking like a changed side with Armstrong on the park, but the more we push on, the more dangerous that counterattack becomes.

Armstrong looks lively. Biggest impact he's had since returning from injury, certainly. Just forced a great save from Mitchell.

Referee giving a lot of really soft fouls, both ways. He's not a fan of a contested header.

Rovers have shown more intent in the final third since half time than they did in the 45 minutes before it. Still nothing concrete, but a couple of crosses and some possession in and around the box.