Pars take Kingdom rights, Jags held by the Spiders & Strapp saves Diamonds - William Hill Championship: Round 20 Review

William Hill Championship: Round 20 Review

Raith Rovers 1-2 Dunfermline Athletic

Easton (60' Pen); Tod (33'), Stewart (40')

Raith Rovers were looking for home advantage which has become very important in this meeting of Fife rivals; in the last six games between these sides the home side would go onto be the winning team. Dunfermline had lost their last five visits to Kirkcaldy, without scoring a goal. In fact, they have lost their last four visits at Stark's Park by the same 2-0 scoreline and you would need to go back to January 2017 for the last time the Pars left the Lang Town with three points.

Neil Lennon's men started off on the front foot and came close to scoring in the opening minutes; Zac Rudden tried his luck from outside the box but his effort clipped the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Raith, in truth, struggled to get going for the majority of the first-half but they would have the next big chance of the game; an excellent counter attack from Paul McMullan who ran towards goalward and set up Jack Hamilton but the striker's shot went well wide.

A great low cross from the Dunfermline right hand side resulted in the opening goal; Jeremiah Chiloka-Mullen with a cross into the Rovers box where Andy Tod was the first to get to the ball and slid the ball past Josh Rae and the Pars went ahead. They doubled their lead just minutes later, a corner kick on the right hand side was played in with Barney Stewart getting a free header in a congested penalty box and the Pars were 2-0 up, a perfect leaving present with Falkirk set to recall the Scotland U21 striker back from his loan spell at East End Park.

41' | RRFC v DAFC | 0-2

According to the tannoy, 'Falkirk's Barney Stewart' doubles the Pars advantage with a brilliant header from Todd's corner.

— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) December 27, 2025

Raith came out the blocks firing in the second half and should of got a goal back within a few seconds of the restart; Paul McMullan looked certain to give the hosts a route back but was prevented brilliantly by Deniz Mehmet in the Pars goal. It was clear that Dougie Imrie got into his players at half-time, the Rovers were fired up and were awarded a penalty when Dylan Easton was tripped in the box and Dan McFarlane pointed to the spot, Easton took the kick himself and sent Mehmet the wrong way and the Rovers were back in the Fife Derby.

Raith pushed Dunfermline all the way for a leveller, the closest the came was when Mehmet held well from a Hamilton effort and eventually the Pars would go and claim a rare away win in Kirkcaldy. Dougie Imrie's unbeaten start to life at the Rovers is over and will need some January reinforcements with five key players already out to injury before today's game and they lost Ross Matthews and Lewis Stevenson in the first-half to injuries as well. The Pars jump above Raith in the table and are in fifth place.

🎥 Watch both #DAFC goals from today's Fife Derby victory in Kirkcaldy!

Full Highlights Tomorrow! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/pn6Peq1485

— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) December 27, 2025

Queen's Park 2-2 Partick Thistle

Drozd (29'), Murray (81'); Stanway (12'), Murray OG (15'), Smyth 🟥 (41')

Partick Thistle have enjoyed travelling to Queen's Park in recent years, you have to go back to January 2023 for the Spiders' last home win against the Jags, however Mark Wilson's side are on a three game winless streak in the Championship and dropped points the title race last weekend.

Thistle started the brighter in this one and went in front after only 12 minutes played; Alex Samuel's shot was blocked but Ben Stanway was alert and lashed the ball beyond Callum Ferrie to put the visitors ahead. It was to get from bad to worse for Queen's Park; an excellent Jags move eventually lead to Logan Chalmers finding Aidan Fitzpatrick, however his cross was eventually turned by Euan Murray into his own net and it was 2-0 after only 15 minutes played.

Queen's Park needed a route back into the game and they got it from a penalty kick, a shot played into the Thistle box eventually hit the hand of Oisin Smyth. Josh Fowler took the spot kick but was saved by Josh Clarke but the ball was played back and following a scramble in the area the ball eventually was bundled home by Seb Drozd and the Spiders were back in the game. Then just before half-time the Jags were reduced to 10 men; Smyth was shown a second yellow card following an off the ball incident with Matthew Shiels before Queen's were about to take a free-kick.

Thistle started the second half brightly and could have re-stablished their two goal lead early on when Scott Martin was denied by Ferrie who saved at his right hand post. Queen's though started to make the man advantage count and hit the crossbar from Aidan Connolly's curling effort. But they wouldn't be denied their equaliser; a cross went deep into the Thistle penalty area and Euan Murray, this time scoring at the right end, levelled the game for the Spiders.

Another crucial point for Queen's Park in their relegation battle bid but for the Jags it's now four league games without a win and two points dropped at Lesser Hampden.

🎥 Highlights from our final game of 2025

Queen's Park 2⃣ Partick Thistle 2⃣

🤝 Sponsored by Turban Tandoori, Giffnock pic.twitter.com/mtoSFG8Esm

— Queen's Park FC (@queensparkfc) December 28, 2025

Arbroath 1-1 Airdrieonians

Pettifer (66'), Wilkie 🟥 (81'); Strapp (90')

Airdrieonians travelled to Arbroath having lost a key game in their relegation battle last week, a trip to Gayfield probably was the last thing the Diamonds would have wanted after losing 3-0 to Queen's Park last week. The Red Litchies have been impressive in their return to the Championship and won their last three games in the league.

An even opening period in this one with both teams having good chances but nothing to trouble the two goalkeepers on show. The Diamonds were the first to have a real quality chance to open the scoring; Sean McGinty's clearance resulting in an Airdrie attack but Chris Mochrie's shot went just over Aidan McAdams' crossbar. Arbroath started upping the pressure before half-time; Aidan Wilson with a superb goal-line block denied the Red Litchies the lead.

Taylor Steven could be recalled back to St. Johnstone after an impressive loan spell at Arbroath and he was the first to try his luck in the second half but his curling volley sailed just wide of Cade Melrose's goal. Then it was Airdrie's turn to threaten; Charlie Telfer with the shot resulting a real stramash in the box, it eventually came back to Gavin Gallagher who fired wide. Steven tried his luck again but his effort went just past the top corner, Cade Melrose was hurt after attempting to stop the shot and to be replaced by Andy McNeil in the goals.

McNeil had to pick the ball out of his net after Arran Pettifer looped in a brilliant shot from around 20 yards out and the Red Litchies were ahead in the game. A topsy turvy game went into another direction when Jack Wilkie was shown a straight red card after hauling down Jack Hastie who looked like he was clean through on goal. Both teams pushed for the goal but it was the Diamonds who got it, heading into stoppage time, Dean McMaster's shot was blocked but Lewis Strapp was set up nicely and headed home from close range.

Arbroath's winning streak is over but they still remain comfortably in the promotion playoff places. The Diamonds claim a good point on the road which could help in their boost to avoid the relegation places come the end of the season.

🎥 | The goals from today's William Hill Championship match against Arbroath. Full DiamondsTV highlights will follow tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/PWrVuXhaEv

— Airdrieonians FC (@AirdrieoniansFC) December 27, 2025

Greenock Morton 1-1 Ayr United

Lyall (47'); Dowds (25')

Gary Miller was still in interim charge of Greenock Morton who welcomed Ayr United at Cappielow, still no word on who the Ton's new permanent manager will be following Dougie Imrie's departure in November. Contrasting fortunes for these two last weeks; Ayr winning 3-2 at Dunfermline but Morton were hit for five in Perth v St. Johnstone.

Morton started this one on the front foot and could have went ahead early on when Arron Lyall's effort, from just inside the Ayr box, hit the bar with the ball eventually falling to Michael Garrity who put his effort over the crossbar. Lyall was in the mood and went for goal again but this time his effort was comfortably held by Liam Russell in the Ayr goal. Lyall then played Garrity who crossed in for Eamonn Brophy but his shot was blocked in the last moment by Scott McMann.

Good chances for the Ton which came without a goal was then punished by Ayr who took the lead; Jamie Murphy with a long range effort which was initially saved by James Storer but Anton Dowds was alert and pounced on the rebound to give the Honest Men the lead. Harsh perhaps on Morton who responded well; Lyall with a free-kick was saved from Russell but played back and Brophy was unable to get a final touch at close range to level the game.

No goals for the Ton in the first-half but they got one within two minutes of the restart; the bright Lyall with a brilliant finish with a volley, inside the Ayr box, went straight into the bottom corner. In truth the second half wasn't as eventful as the first and the closest that any team came to getting the three points was when Ayr's Ben Dempsey hit a volley, from outside the box, which hit the post.

Not for a lack of trying and not for the shortage of some good football but neither team could get a winner and had to settle for a point. The point should be a bit of relief for Morton after two straight defeats in the league and will be looking to end their managerial search sooner rather than later.

🎥 Match Highlights: Ayr United (H)

The key moments from this afternoon's draw against Ayr United. pic.twitter.com/3PhmxrAKHE

— Greenock Morton (@Morton_FC) December 27, 2025

Ross County 0-0 St. Johnstone

At the beginning of the season, before a ball was kicked, many would have predicted this game would be a vital matchup in the race for the title. Who would have thought Ross County would have been bottom and 29 points adrift of the Saints at this stage of the season?

St. Johnstone started the brighter of the two teams but with no real clear cut effort, the closest they came in the opening stages is when Jamie Gullan's shot from inside the box was blocked well by Randall. Then Ross County came very close to opening the scoring; Ryan Duncan at the back post was denied by Toby Steward who was alert and saved well. Just before half-time the Saints could have went ahead with Josh McPake with an excellent effort but Trevor Carson tipped the ball around the post to deny the Championship's top scorer.

Carson was alert early on in the second half, again denying Josh McPake whose shot was tipped by Carson over the crossbar. It would take a while for the game's next real clear cut chance to arrive and it was the visitors who were pilling on the pressure towards Carson's goal, McPake again trying his luck but Carson denied him once again.

Saints really went after the Staggies in the latter stages but just couldn't get a goal, McPake drilled a shot into the box but his effort was blocked and cleared. They could have got the win late on, Adama Sidibeh with the strike which finally beat Carson but not the woodwork, his shot hit the back post and the chance to claim the three points had come and gone.

With Thistle and Arbroath both dropping points, a point isn't the biggest disaster for the league leaders. A point isn't a disaster for County, it stops their losing run of four Championship games but are still without a league win in two months. John Robertson took charge of this one yet again for the Staggies, and looks set to remain for their match against Dunfermline next week. County will need to start winning games in order to claw back the five point difference between them and Airdrieonians, who are in ninth.