My boys get 10 for effort
John: We dug deep after red
Proud Raith boss John McGlynn heaped praise on his side after they held Championship leaders Inverness with 10 men.
Midfielder Ross Matthews was controversially sent packing just before the interval to bring a dour battle to life.
Aidan Connolly then stunned Caley Thistle with the opener on the break in the 62nd minute.
But Sean Welsh played a captain’s part for the Highlanders when he drilled in the equaliser with 11 minutes to go.
It means Rovers drop back down to third ahead of their Fife derby with Dunfermline on Tuesday but McGlynn was happy with his side’s battling display.
He said: “Great credit to the players for their work- rate, their spirit and their organisation to make themselves hard to beat – and at the same time have an attacking threat.
“Dario Zanatta did magnificently well for the goal and it was a great finish from Aidan Connolly.
“I thought we were real ly disciplined but they got a lucky break with their goal. The extra man told.
“If you’re going to play 50 minutes with 10 men against the leaders, you’ll be happy to take a point.”
Ref Colin Steven stunned Raith and enraged the home crowd by showing Matthews a red card for a lunge on Billy Mckay. McGlynn added: “From what I can see it seemed like an honest attempt to go and play the ball.
“I’ll need to see from a closer-up angle and then we’ll decide whether we’re going to appeal it or not.”
The flashpoint was the only real incident of note in a poor first-half.
Roddy MacGregor shot over the bar and Shane Sutherland curled an effort just past the post as Inverness tried to make their man advantageg count after the break.
But Raith were not without their moments and Mark Ridgers hadd to touch a fierce drivee from Reghan Tumiltyy round his upright.
Then the 10 men of Raith stunned theirir visitors with the opener.er.
Zanatta took a passss f r om sub Matej Poplatnik just inside thehe Inverness half and raceded to the bye- line. His lowow cross picked out fellow winger Connolly and he directed his first-time left-foot shot into the top right-hand corner.
Mckay’s header tested Jamie MacDonald in the Rovers goal, as did a free-kick from sub and former team-mate Manny Duku.
But the home keeper was finally beaten in the 79th minute.
Michael Gardyne’s direct run took him into the Rovers box and his low cross was swiped at by MacGregor. Welsh was perfectly placed to pick up the scraps and he drilled low into the bottom corner.
Killie’s win takes them to within three points of InverInverness but b o s s Bi l l y DodDodds wa s fairly content. HeH said: “ThThere were stagesstag where I would ’ve beenbee sad we didn’tdid take t hhe t h re e points.poi “Bu t beforebe it and af ter it , a drawdr is a decent result.”re