Josh Rae's four-save display earned Raith Rovers a hard-fought point away to Partick Thistle on Saturday. The 0-0 draw at Firhill Stadium keeps the Kirkcaldy side second in the Scottish Championship with 14 points from their opening seven fixtures.
Manager Dougie Imrie credited his goalkeeper for the result. "I’ve got Josh to thank for getting us in at half-time at nil-nil," Imrie said. "He made two or three great saves." The 25-year-old was called into action repeatedly against a Thistle side that had won their previous 23 home league games, a run stretching back to April 2025.
Defensive resilience
Partick Thistle managed 12 shots during the 92-minute contest, with four of them on target. Rae dealt with all of them, while the Raith Rovers back four, particularly the two centre-backs, handled the threat of Alex Samuel effectively. At the other end, Raith registered just a single shot, which was off target. The match was witnessed by a crowd of 4,154, with 604 travelling supporters making the trip from Fife.
Imrie praised his team's character in securing the draw. The point extends Raith's recent form to three wins, one draw and one loss from their last five outings. You can review the full sequence of results, including the 4-0 win over Arbroath, on the club's fixtures page. The clean sheet also means Raith Rovers have conceded only three goals all season, the best defensive record in the division.
Title race context
The draw has implications at the top of the table. While Stenhousemuir lead with 19 points, Raith Rovers remain in second place, five points behind. Partick Thistle sit third on 12 points, level with Dunfermline Athletic. This result solidifies Raith's position in the promotion chase early in the campaign. Their goal difference of plus eight, built on 11 goals scored, is another strong foundation.
Attention now turns to Friday night, when Raith Rovers host Livingston at Stark's Park. Livingston currently occupy fifth place in the table. A victory would further cement Raith's place among the frontrunners. The squad's current standings show how tight the race is behind the leaders. Raith Rovers will look to build on this resilient away performance when they return to home soil for the 7.45pm kick-off.
The original report is at Fife Today Football
