- Raith have won 6 and lost 4 of their last 10 competitive games (all competitions).
- Stenhousemuir have won 8, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 10 games across all competitions.
An opening-week Championship clash
Raith Rovers will be determined to dominate on their own patch this season and Stenhousemuir will be desperate to make a statement that they belong at this level in their opening Championship game of the 2026-2027 campaign.
The hosts are the favourites here at 13/20, with Stenhousemuir at 17/4 and the draw at 5/2. In a game which promises to be cagey and tactical, the draw looks the best bet for Saturday's action at Stark's Park, Scotland.
Dougie Imrie has overseen a high-energy, front-foot approach since taking the reigns at Raith on 25 November 2025. His side are usually set up in either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 shape and press high up the pitch, looking to win the ball back quickly and exploit the opposition through the wide channels.
Marvin Bartley, who took the Stenhousemuir head coaching job on 9 June 2026, has clearly got some steel in his side already as they have remained unbeaten in five away matches (four wins and a draw) under his tenure. His preferred 3-5-2 system utilises wing-backs and features a compact back five, which has been excellent at soaking up pressure and allowing the visitors to counterattack through the wings.
A cagey opening-week clash
While Stenhousemuir have won four of their last five games, including a 1-1 draw away at Hamilton Academical in League Cup Group H 2026 and a 1-0 win over Peterhead at home in the same competition, they have conceded eight goals on the road, an average of 1.60 against per match, so they can be breached.
Raith Rovers have won six of their last ten competitive matches, but they have also lost four of those, so there are a few question marks over how Imrie's men will approach this opening fixture. Their home form has been impeccable with five straight wins and no defeats, but that's not enough to put punters off the visitors.
Bartley's side have been extremely sharp away from home across all competitions, unbeaten in five with four wins and one draw, so they should hold their own here. Raith are the more likely winner on the day, but their decent home record and Stenhousemuir's unbeaten run on the road means that this could be cagey for long periods.
A draw and under 2.5 goals make sense
Imrie's side have scored an average of 2.80 goals per home game and conceded an average of 1.20 per home game across all competitions this season, so they should be involved in some lively fixtures at Stark's Park.
The 67/100 about under 2.5 goals looks like a great fit for this fixture as Raith's pressing game and fast breaks should force Stenhousemuir back and lead to plenty of turnover balls in the opponents' half.
However, Stenhousemuir have won their last four matches in a row, so confidence is through the roof for the second-tier new boys and they may just have enough to hold out for a draw.
