Hearts v Raith Rovers: team news, starting XI, odds, how to watch

Hearts and Raith will meet for the first time in the league this season. Picture: SNS

The pair have met already this campaign in the Betfred Cup group stages but this will be the first meeting in the Championship.

It will be the first of two fixtures between the sides across four days with Hearts travelling to Stark’s Park on Tuesday for a rearranged fixture.

Rovers have not played since a surprising and disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Queen of the South at the end of 2020.

They were due to face Inverness CT last week but the match was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the Fife club which meant many of the first-team squad had to self-isolate.

There are few doubts over Saturday’s game at Tynecastle.

Hearts will be looking to make it back-to-back wins after their 3-1 success at Alloa Athletic last weekend.

Team news: Robbie Neilson will have close to a full squad to pick from. Against the Wasps the only two players missing were Aidy White and John Souttar, the latter isn’t expected to be back until next season. It meant striker Craig Wighton didn’t make the squad due to the options available.

Possible XI (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Smith, Halkett, Berra, Kingsley; Irving, Halliday; Mackay-Steven, Naismith, Ginnelly; Boyce.

Match details: Saturday, January 23. Kick-off 3pm, Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh.

What Neilson said: “We want to make sure the game goes ahead, so that means ensuring our players look after themselves. They get tested again on Wednesday and hopefully everyone comes through that again.

“I’ve no idea what team Raith will put out. They might have a full-strength team, they might now. We just need to make sure we’re ready for it. We got a good result on Saturday at Alloa but it means nothing if we don’t back it up the following week.”

How to watch: There are three ways for Hearts fans to watch their team in action. Season ticket holders who haven’t opted for the club’s alternative value season ticket package can watch the game via Hearts FC Pass. Fans of both teams can watch via PPV. International-based supporters can watch via Hearts TV if they are subscribers.

Last meeting: The sides met back in October in the Betfred Cup. Neilson fielded a much-changed side. Craig Wighton was the star of the show as he scored a hat-trick, including a fantastic solo effort to round off the scoring. He had given the home side a 2-0 lead, both goals from the penalty spot before Manny Duku hit back with a thunderbolt. Harry Cochrane, Scott McGill, Jamie Brandon and Lewis Moore were all given starts, while Stephen Kingsley and Peter Haring played at centre-back.

Key stat: The last 0-0 between the teams came in the top-flight in 1996 at Tynecastle. There have since been 13 competitive matches.

Referee: John Beaton – This will be the official’s second Championship game of the season and his first Hearts fixture.

Odds: N/A