Preview: Raith Rovers vs Inverness Caledonian Thistle - prediction, team news, lineups

Inverness Caledonian Thistle will be looking to seal their place in the Scottish League Cup second round when they travel to Stark’s Park for Saturday’s meeting with Raith Rovers.

The visitors are sitting in second place in Group F, while the hosts are in fourth spot and cannot advance to the knockout rounds.

Match preview

Raith have suffered their third group-stage exit in four seasons despite starting their Scottish League Cup campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Elgin City.

However, they fell to a disappointing 4-2 defeat to fourth-tier East Kilbride on matchday two, before they suffered another defeat in Tuesday’s away meeting with St Johnstone.

Jack Hamilton’s effort proved to be a mere consolation in the 3-1 loss, confirming Raith’s elimination before the final group game.

While they cannot progress, Barry Robson’s side will be looking for a strong showing in their final outing before they kick off their Scottish Championship campaign with a home clash against Queen’s Park.

The Rovers have won three of their previous four games against Inverness, including a narrow 1-0 away victory in their most recent meeting in April 2024.

In contrast to their hosts, Inverness still have a chance of progressing to the second round, having collected six points from their first three group matches.

Inverness kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 home victory against Elgin, before they conceded in the 90th minute in their 1-0 defeat to St. Johnstone on matchday two.

However, they produced an emphatic response in their third group match, cruising to a dominant 6-2 victory against East Kilbride, thanks to Luis Longstaff’s brace and goals from Billy McKay, Paul Allan, Calum MacLeod and Alfie Stewart.

Caley Thistle will enter the final group game with a three-point deficit to leaders St. Johnstone, meaning that they will only secure top spot and automatic qualification if they win and the Saints lose to Elgin.

If St. Johnstone avoid defeat, Inverness could still clinch one of the best second-placed spots, although that would most likely require a win and results elsewhere to go in their favour.

Raith Rovers Scottish League Cup form:

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Inverness Caledonian Thistle Scottish League Cup form:

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Team News

Hamilton is pushing for a starting berth after coming off the bench to score in Raith’s recent defeat to St. Johnstone.

The 25-year-old could feature in a forward line with Lewis Vaughan and Dylan Easton if Robson opts for a 3-4-3 formation.

At the opposite end of the pitch, the Raith boss could select a back three made up of Jai Rowe, Callum Fordyce and Paul Hanlon.

As for Inverness, they will have to assess the fitness of Ross Millen, who has missed the last two matches through injury.

David Wotherspoon is hoping to earn a recall after having to settle for a substitute role in the midweek win over East Kilbride.

McKay will continue to lead the line for the visitors, with the experienced striker looking to add to the two goals that he has already scored in the group stage.

Raith Rovers possible starting lineup:

Rae; Rowe, Fordyce, Hanlon; Doherty, Matthews, Brown, McMullan; Vaughan, Easton, Hamilton

Inverness Caledonian Thistle possible starting lineup:

Munro; MacLeod, Savage, Devine, Strachan; Allan, Chalmers; Lonstaff, Wotherspoon, Stewart; McKay

We say: Raith Rovers 2-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Inverness may be three points better off than Raith, but they have lost three of the previous four head-to-head meetings, and with that in mind, we think that the hosts will do just enough to wrap up their Scottish League Cup campaign with a narrow victory.

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