MacLean won’t pay attention to title foes

Striker fired leaders to victory as loan man ended his wait for first goal

Steven MacLean insists Raith Rovers are best ignoring their title rivals after his first goal for the club kept them a point clear at the top of League 1.

The on-loan Hearts striker got off the mark with the crucial winner against Clyde coming just 12 minutes from time.

With the rest of the top four all winning, the pressure remains on the Kirkcaldy side at the top of the table, but MacLean is only focused on what Raith do.

“A lot of people are talking about Falkirk putting pressure on us, but it’s important as a team and staff we just concentrate on ourselves,” he said.

“It sounds boring, but the next game is the biggest game, and we’ve got a cup final to come as well.

“It’s something to look forward to but the most important thing is the league, and we’ve got to keep picking up points and concentrating on the next game, and everything else will take care of itself.”

MacLean was glad to break his

Rovers duck in his fourth appearance since taking the step down from the

Premiership.

“First and foremost it’s good to get the win, but to get my first goal for Raith is good as well,” he said.

“Strikers want to score, but overall since I’ve came I’ve probably contributed in different areas.

“Hopefully the goals will flow but I’m not just here to score goals. I’m here to contribute in other ways.

“If I can do that and win games then I’ll be happy, but obviously I want goals as well so hopefully it’s the first of many.”

A blustery wind made for difficult playing conditions, and Raith were fortunate to survive a first half dominated by Clyde with Ross Cunningham guilty of wasteful finishing, blazing two good openings over the bar, while Chris McStay saw a 20-yard effort deflected on to the post.

The home side took a firmer grip in the second half and Ross Matthews was inches away from the opener when he stretched to reach a Regan Hendry cross, sending his effort just wide.

The breakthrough came in the 78th minute when substitute Armstrong hit the byline and drilled the ball across the six yard box for MacLean to finish at the back post.

Clyde almost snatched a point in the last minute when John Rankin met a David Goodwillie cut-back in the box but Robbie Thomson made a wonder save to preserve Raith’s place at the top of the standings.

Raith boss John McGlynn, who

“Hopefully the goals will flow but I’m not just here to score goals. I’m here to contribute in different areas. STEVEN MACLEAN

needed a ball boy to retrieve his cap after it blew off his head, was relieved to win a tough match.

“We didn’t play well at all in the first half, gave the ball away far too much and that created opportunities for Clyde, who would be annoyed they weren’t in front by half time,” he said.

“That’s going to be the story going forward that teams will be raising their game when they come to Stark’s Park and we’ve got to be ready for that.

“I thought we dominated the second half, but I still felt we needed something more and making the changes made a big difference.

“There was an impact with Dan coming on, talking the full back on, and that’s where the goal came from.

“I’m delighted that we got the clean sheet, battled through it and got the win.”

● Forfar Athletic’s game away at Dumbarton was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. The Loons are due to play at Peterhead tonight.

Steven MacLean was the Rovers hero as his first goal for the Kirkcaldy side sealed a crucial three points against Clyde.