Raith Rovers face a race to find a keeper for tonight’s game at Ayr

Stark’s Park men do not have fit stopper to wear gloves against Ayr

Raith boss John Hughes is facing a keeper crisis ahead of tonight’s crunch Championship clash at Ayr United.

First-choice goalie Kevin Cuthbert is sidelined after having had a hernia operation while on-loan Aberdeen stopper Aaron Lennox is recovering from serious hand and facial injuries.

Conor Brennan, who was between the sticks on Saturday at Queen of the South, almost had to come off at Palmerston with a foot injury and he is on crutches.

Hughes now faces a race against time to find a keeper before the game against second-bottom Ayr, who are just four points behind Raith.

The manager said: “Conor has picked up an injury and is struggling. He’s the only goalie.

“At this moment in time we’ve not got a goalkeeper.

“We never had one on the bench at the weekend and that’s it, all the goalies are injured.

“Over the weekend, we’ve been trying very hard to get a goalkeeper in.

“But we cannot do a cross-border transfer, we’ve used up all our four loans and we’ve not got much money.

“So, we’re right up against it. But hopefully something will come up.

“We can do an emergency loan but it has to be an under-21 player because we’ve got four loans.

“There are wheels in motion to hopefully get someone in place for Tuesday.

“And whoever it is will just have to come in and get on with it.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to stand up and be counted and if they keep doing what they’re doing it will turn.

“In the first half against Hibs we were very good and in the second half against Queen of the South we probably just about edged it.

“If we can put it together for 90 minutes then we’ll be delighted.”

Raith have now gone 16 games without a win – a barren run that stretches all the way back to October.

Hughes admits the players’ confidence has been affected by the lack of a victory but he is looking for them to be brave and to express themselves on the ball.

He added: “We’re lucky enough we’ve got this game and we need to know the importance of it.

“I feel for the boys, for where we are at this moment in time.

“But they’re suffering in terms of confidence. It’s last October since we had a win and that’s affecting them.

“I think they’re trying hard enough but that’s maybe one of the problems, they’re possibly trying too hard.

“No matter the position we’re in, some of them still have to find that form to go and express themselves.

“That’s very difficult because of the run we’re on but you have to find a way to go out there and enjoy it.

“There are worse things in life than playing football and getting beat, trust me.

“They just need a wee bit of luck, a wee break, and it will turn – and the quicker the better.”

First-choice goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert is one of three keepers missing for Raith just now.