National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Hearts or Raith Rovers that keep their silverware dream alive.
It’s busy days for these teams as both were in action only a few days ago. There’s no rest for the wicked, or in this case; no rest for Hearts and Raith Rovers.
Hearts form and stats
Last season, Hearts's League Cup journey ended in the semi-finals.Two draws in a row at home now for Hearts.
A good away victory last time out for Hearts, who won 1-0 against Cowdenbeath (placed 5th). Previous to that game, a League Cup home match hosting Inverness CT in a game that was won 1-0.
The home team are expected to win this game about three out of four times, according to the bookmaker odds. When checking the database for Hearts home games with this odds we find two games with a similar winning chance. Resulting in zero wins, one draw and one defeat. Looking at the victories, zero matches were won by at least two goals.
The match schedule is unforgiving for Hearts as they have a new game in only three days, a Championship match thankfully also at home. Dundee are visiting.
Raith Rovers form and stats
Rovers's mission in League Cup last season failed in the group stage.As the visiting team in League One matches, Raith Rovers have produced an overall stat of 6-4-4 so far.
Impressive finishing from R. Hendry and I. Duku secured the home win 2-1 against East Fife in their previous game. Preceding that match was the 1-1 draw at home vs Falkirk.
We have done a similar check as we did with the hometeam, looking up recent matches where Rovers played away with similar odds. This revealed three games. The visitors overcame the odds to win zero times, zero were draws and the home team won as expected three times.
After this away game Rovers return home for a Championship game against Arbroath. That game is only four sleeps after this.
Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Raith Rovers have scored 20 goals in 14 league games away. As opposed to that, Rovers have seen the ball go into their own net 19 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Last nine meetings between the teams: Hearts won six, Raith Rovers won zero and three draws. five games with over 2,5 goals, four matches with two goals or less.Hearts missing players
Raith Rovers missing players
| Hearts | Raith Rovers | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 14 | Played | P | 11 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 6 | Won | W | 4 | 14 | ||
| 6 | 4 | Drew | D | 4 | 7 | ||
| 10 | 4 | Lost | L | 3 | 4 | ||
| 32 | 23 | Scored | S | 15 | 41 | ||
| 37 | 16 | Conceded | C | 15 | 30 | ||
| 96% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 96% | ||
| 68% | 79% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 73% | 72% | ||
| 44% | 36% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 36% | 44% | ||
| 32% | 29% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 27% | 28% | ||
| 24% | 21% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 9% | 16% | ||
| 40% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 64% | 64% | ||
| 28% | 29% | Clean Sheets | C S | 18% | 24% | ||
| 36% | 21% | Failed to Score | F T | 18% | 16% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.8 | 1.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.2 | 1.7 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 3 | 6 | ||
| 269 | 192 | Total Shots | T S | 100 | 236 | ||
| 108 | 83 | Shots on Target | S O | 31 | 72 | ||
| 28% | 25% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 48% | 49% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Hearts | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | East Fife | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Raith Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Inverness CT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 5 | Cowdenbeath | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Raith Rovers | 28 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 49 | 33 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 53 |
| 2 | Falkirk | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 54 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 19 | 13 | 36 | 52 |
| 3 | Airdrieonians | 28 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 38 | 27 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 48 |
| 4 | Montrose | 28 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 48 | 38 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 47 |
| 5 | East Fife | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 44 | 36 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 45 |
| 6 | Dumbarton | 28 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 35 | 44 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 30 | -9 | 38 |
| 7 | Clyde | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 35 | 43 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 25 | -8 | 34 |
| 8 | Peterhead | 27 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 30 | 44 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 14 | 30 | -14 | 26 |
| 9 | Forfar Athletic | 28 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 26 | 47 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 25 | -21 | 24 |
| 10 | Stranraer | 27 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 28 | 57 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 37 | -29 | 16 |