RAITH RAGE OVER KEEPER FARCE AS RYAN STEPS IN
From Back Page Park club were close to securing the services of Celtic’s reserve keeper Logan Bailly, but that fell through at the last minute. Their urgent approach to the SPFL board to plead their case was also rejected, with Drysdale insisting the decision ‘compromised the competition’ given how the result impacts those clubs battling at the bottom of the Championship. ‘I just cannot begin to understand the rationale for it,’ said Drysdale, speaking before last night’s match. ‘We are talking about a very important game here and it doesn’t just affect Raith Rovers. If I was a St Mirren supporter, I would be incandescent because what does it do to St Mirren’s hopes, what does it do to our own hopes, what does it do to Dumbarton’s hopes? ‘It compromises the competition.’ Raith manager John Hughes was furious after the match: ‘You do not want my answer on the goalkeeping situation. I’m angry and, out of respect for Raith Rovers and myself as a manager, I have nothing to say.’ Farid El Alagui headed home the only goal on 61 minutes as Ayr moved to within a point of eighth-placed Rovers.
RAITH ROVERS have reacted with fury after the SPFL ignored their plea to postpone last night’s game with Ayr United. The Kirkcaldy outfit were forced to play midfielder Ryan Stevenson in goal, with all three of their goalkeepers ruled out through injury. As it was, the makeshift stopper performed admirably in a 1-0 Championship defeat at Somerset Park. But Raith chief executive Eric Drysdale revealed he had pleaded with the SPFL to call off the game after all attempts to bring in a loan player had failed. It is understood the Stark’s