The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Stevenson denied clean sheet by exPars striker
ROVERS: El Alagui grabs Ayr winner – but Drysdale slams decision to play match
Raith Rovers midfielder Ryan Stevenson kept goal for the Stark’s Park side in last night’s Ladbrokes Championship clash against Ayr at Somerset Park after Rovers were hit by a goalkeeping crisis. The former Hearts star is pictured with Ayr striker Farid El Alagui, who grabbed the only goal of the game.
Raith Rovers midfielder Ryan Stevenson grabbed the gloves as an emergency keeper but couldn’t stop Farid El Alagui from sending Ayr on their way to their first league win since October 22.
The 32-year-old midfielder was forced between the sticks with Rovers’ regular keepers Kevin Cuthbert, Aaron Lennox and Conor Brennan all crocked.
And he looked on course for a clean sheet against his old club until former Dunfermline forward Alagui nodded his first goal since signing in January.
Ian McCall’s Honest Men are now one point behind Raith, who have gone 17 games without a win since October 29.
The SPFL had refused Raith’s plea for a postponement, leaving the experienced Stevenson to take the keeper’s shirt.
Despite a round-the-clock search for a replacement, boss John Hughes was unable to come up with a stop gap, forcing him to throw the keeper’s jersey to the former St Johnstone midfielder.
The wrangle was slammed by Rovers chief executive Eric Drysdale.
He said: “I believe it’s the wrong decision for many reasons. Last season Hearts had players with a virus and were left with only a 16-year-old keeper and the SPFL approved the postponement of that match. I don’t understand why this match wasn’t also postponed.”
A diplomatic Hughes refused to be drawn on the controversy.
He said: “For the respect of Raith Rovers and me as a manager you don’t want my answer on what I think. That’s a politician’s answer. I had no qualms about playing Ryan who acquitted himself well.
“The effort and commitment was fine but we are playing with trepidation and lack of confidence.”
Stevenson took his new role seriously and was out on the pitch 45 minutes before kick-off as he faced a barrage of cross balls.
His only previous goalkeeping experience was a brief stint off the bench for Partick against Hearts. Last night he was in action after just two minutes, getting down well to turn a header from El Alagui round the post for a corner.
Raith came close to grabbing the lead four minutes later when Ryan Hardie set up Chris Johnston but his effort was scrambled off the line by Nicky Devlin.
Ayr were failing to trouble Stevenson and they wasted a great chance when Brian Gilmour slipped a free-kick to former Dundee defender Daryll Meggatt who blazed over.
Hardie was inches away from giving Rovers the lead with a looping header from a Johnston cross but the ball smacked off the bar.
Stevenson was having an easy time of it and when Alan Forrest raced clear he lifted the ball over the bar without troubling the emergency goalie.
Raith were looking the more likely to score and Johnston wasn’t far away with a diving header. Stevenson was then called into action four minutes before the break when he got down well to push away a 20yard effort from Michael Rose.
However, Stevenson was finally beaten on 62 minutes when Brian Gilmour and Forrest worked a short corner and Alagui rose at the back post to head home.
It was a hammer blow for Rovers who tried to reply through Ross Callachan but his shot was well held by Greg Fleming.
Sub Bobby Barr headed over minutes after coming on but the Honest Men held on to move eight points clear of bottom side St Mirren. Attendance: 1,103.
Ayr United: Fleming; Devlin, McKenna, Balatoni, Meggatt, Gilmour, Cairney (Rose 6), Wardrope (Moore 57), McGuffie (Boyle 84), Forrest, El Alagui. Unused subs: Harkins, McKenzie, Hart.
Raith Rovers: Stevenson; Benedictus (Coustrain 70), Mvoto, C Barr, Thomson, Johnston (B Barr 80), Davidson, Callachan, McHattie, Hardie, McManus (Stewart 80). Unused subs: Matthews, Roberts, Skacel, Thompson.
Referee: Willie Collum.