Striker lauds Hughes for turning the tide

Championship: Ryan Stevenson says Raith’s new boss has already made big impact

RAITH ROVERS 1 HIBERNIAN 1

Raith Rovers striker Ryan Stevenson hailed the impact of John Hughes after his goal helped the new boss claim a point against Hibs in his first match in charge.

Stevenson broke his duck for the Kirkcaldy club with a spectacular opener early in the second half but the league leaders rescued a draw thanks to Jason Cummings’ free-kick.

The spirited Raith performance was a considerable improvement on recent showings and put a stop to straight six league defeats – a run which cost Gary Locke his job.

Stevenson said: “I’ve seen my fair share of managers come and go, but the new gaffer has been top notch.

“I’ve been majorly impressed with the way he’s gone about his business.

“He’s infectious and he tells you exactly what he wants of you.

“Before you go on the pitch you know what your job is.

“It was difficult with the old manager going because he brought me to the club and I’m good friends with him, but the new manager has come in and been first class.

“There were a few boys there who probably needed picked back up and the manager’s done it this week. He’s left no stone unturned.”

Stevenson’s strike showed the quality he still possesses and the 32-year-old was delighted to grab his first goal for the club since moving from Dumbarton in early January. “It was an enjoyable goal,” he said. “With the new manager coming in we wanted to play as well as we could, and pay the fans back because it’s been a long, disappointing run we’ve been on.”

Hibs boss Neil Lennon branded his team’s performance “disgraceful” but Stevenson believes Raith should take credit for making life difficult for the title favourites.

“We have to take plaudits for not letting them play,” he added.

“We knew if we gave them a minute or a yard they could hurt us, but we were right at them.”

After a goalless first half where Raith more than matched the runaway leaders, Stevenson opened his account seven minutes after the break.

The ball broke to him 25 yards out and he thumped a sweet strike on the halfvolley that flew into the corner of the net past a despairing Ofir Marciano.

Hibs levelled on the hour mark – just seconds after Hughes made a triple substitution – when Ross Matthews tripped Cummings 20 yards out and the striker stepped up to curl the free-kick over the wall and beyond the reach of Connor Brennan.

Rovers had to hang on at times as Hibs upped the pace in the final 20 minutes, but Hughes was satisfied with his opening 90 minutes in charge.

“The effort and commitment was there,” he said.

“I went for it with three subs but it probably put us on the back foot a bit.”

I went for it with three subsbutit probably put us on the back foot a bit. JOHN HUGHES

Picture: SNS. Raith Rovers’ Ryan Stevenson celebrates his goal.