The Importance of Brad Spencer to Raith Rovers

Since returning from injury Brad has made an instant impact to the Raith team, there has been an uplift in results for Ian Murray’s side which has been clear to see. The midfielder made his comeback from a broken metatarsal in the victory over Cove Rangers in the SPFL Trophy back in August. The 26-year-old agreed a contract extension two months prior to his comeback keeping him at the club for the 2022/2023 season.

Substitute appearances prior to his first start of the season, against Inverness and Ayr United followed by 34 minutes against Queens Park was enough to ready him for the SPFL Trophy. Since then he has started every one of the six matches under Ian Murray with the club winning four, drawing one and losing one.

The stats show Brad’s influence since his return – Raith have won 66.7% (four of six) of their Scottish Championship matches with Spencer in from the start. They have won just 37.5% (three of eight) of the matches he hasn’t started. Of the games Brad has been named in the starting line-up they have lost one of those six (16.67%), when he hasn’t, they’ve lost five from eight (62.5%).

Having endured a frustrating time last season due to injury the stats are still evident to see on how big a part the midfielder is in the Raith side. Before picking up a long term injury last December, Brad was part of the Rovers team that was on form – that was until he dropped out of the side. Of the 14 league matches he started between August and December last year, Raith won seven, drew six and lost on just one occasion. That’s a win percentage of 50% with Spencer.

It wasn’t until April this year that he made his return. Of the 15 matches without him, Raith won twice (13.37), drawing seven.

There is no denying the impact Brad has on this team and with Ian Murray’s coaching method’s now starting to come into effect, hopefully the midfielder can keep up his performances having now returned to full fitness.