The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Keatings stuns Rovers with late winner
‘Cruel’ defeat leaves Raith a point ahead of Buddies
Raith manager John Hughes insists his side only have themselves to blame after they left Easter Road without anything to show for their efforts.
Striker James Keatings notched an injury-time winner for a second-string Hibs after Rovers substitute Ryan Hardie brought the visitors level for a second time in the 85th minute.
Former Hearts player Keatings opened the scoring in the first half before Declan McManus restored parity in the 67th minute.
Grant Holt gave Hibs the lead again in the 81st minute just moments after being introduced. It was Championship winners Hibs who emerged victorious after Hardie and Keatings traded goals.
Hughes, whose side remain a point clear of ninth place St Mirren ahead of Saturday’s trip to Paisley, insists his side shot themselves in the foot.
He said: “It was cruel. I felt we did enough to win the match. I feel for them but we need to do better than we did at their second and third goals.
“Hibs were the better team in the first half but we were better after the break.
“We were on the front foot and showed great courage and character to come back twice.
I feel for them but we need to do better than wedidat their second and third goals. JOHN HUGHES
“But we can’t defend like that. “It was petulance from Jordan Thompson. He felt he was pushed but you need to be streetwise and if you feel you are pushed then maybe go down and let the referee make a decision.
“You can’t handle the ball there in the 90th minute like he did.
“What compounds it is Keatings has whipped the ball into the goalie’s side. I don’t mind if he reverses into the other side. But it’s been like that since I’ve come here.”
Rovers were given what appeared to be a pre-match boost when the team lines showed that Hibs boss Neil Lennon made 10 changes to the side beaten by Aberdeen in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
On loan Celtic defender Efe Ambrose was the only survivor from the 3-2 loss but with the exception of 17-year-old midfielder Fraser Murray, who made his league debut, there was still plenty of experience in the home team.
Raith formed a guard of honour for the league winners before the game and appeared to take their respect for the Leith side too far during the early stages after inviting incessant pressure.
From his elevated position in the directors’ box after being handed a twomatch touchline ban for his part in the melee during the clash with Morton, Hibs boss Lennon would have been encouraged by his side’s start.
Midfielder Murray and striker Brian Graham both went close for Hibs during the early exchanges as Rovers struggled to stop Chris Humphrey’s crosses.
Hibs kept on coming. Stand-in captain Andrew Shinnie launched a right-footed shot over from outside the area before Murray’s left-footed drive from 20 yards also cleared the bar.
After withstanding constant pressure, the Kirkcaldy club then conjured up a chance of their own after 28 minutes – and it was a good one.
Bobby Barr fed the ball into the unmarked Chris Johnston inside the box but the playmaker’s low drive was comfortably saved by former Raith keeper Ross Laidlaw.
Raith gained confidence from that and McManus struck a half-volley on the turn wide. But the away side were dealt a sucker punch just three minutes before the break when Keatings found the net.
Humphrey raced down the right flank and his dink beyond Pavol Penksa was volleyed into the gaping goal by Keatings.
Raith striker McManus was then aggrieved that he had a goal chalked off after being penalised for a shove on Alex Harris before finding the net.
But the travelling support were on their feet in the 67th minute. Barr picked out the unmarked McManus in the area and the striker fired a first-time effort past Laidlaw from close range.
Raith weren’t finished there, with a delicate curling effort from McManus coming back off the post.
Holt then made another timely impact from the bench after he lifted Keatings’ long ball over Penksa with a sublime touch in the 81st minute.
But Raith sub Hardie was sent clear by Jonny Court and coolly rounded Laidlaw to level four minutes later.
Just when it seemed liked the game was heading for a stalemate, Keatings notched the winner in injury time , firing a low 18-yard free-kick into the corner of the net past Penksa. Attendance: 13,604
Hibernian: Laidlaw, McLean, Forster, Ambrose; Humphrey, Shinnie (Bartley 77), Martin, F Murray (Mackie 87), Harris, Keatings, Graham (Holt 78) Subs not used: Dabrowski, I Murray, Waugh, Donaldson
Raith Rovers: Penksa, Thomson, M’Voto, C Barr, McHattie, Johnston (Hardie 84), Thompson, Matthews, B Barr, Stewart (Court 63), McManus. Subs not used: Brennan, Benedictus, Robertson.
Referee: Greg Aitken.