Vaughan wants promotion more than personal glory

Lewis Vaughan admits he would swap all the personal glory of a goal-laden season to help resurrect Raith Rovers’ promotion dreams this afternoon.

The Kirkcaldy outfit have it all to do in their play-off semi-final second-leg after crashing to a 2-0 defeat away to Alloa Athletic on Wednesday.

The surprise loss came just days after the crushing setback of their last-day draw with the Wasps that allowed Ayr United to clinch the League One title.

However, Vaughan insists there remains unflinching belief that the Stark’s Park side can turn the tie around and produce a famous comeback to progress to a final against either Dumbarton or Arbroath.

Rovers coach Kevin Cuthbert has recalled his dramatic 2014 play-off success with Hamilton Accies, when they roared back from two goals down to defeat Hibs in a penalty-kicks decider.

And Vaughan, whose 23 goals – including a run of scoring in 11 consecutive games – earned him a nomination for PFA Scotland player of the year, is desperate to do his bit to find the goals Barry Smith’s side need.

The 22-year-old said: “Ultimately, it’s only half-time in the tie and it’s only two goals. We’ve come back from two goals down already this season, so there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.

“Plenty of teams have been losing 2-0 at half-time before and come back to win games.

“So, we’ve still got 90 minutes to put it right and hopefully we can do that.

“Kevin Cuthbert has been speaking about his experience at Hamilton. They were 2-0 down after the first-leg and they went on to win promotion to the Premiership.

“So, it’s up to us to take the game to Alloa and do all we can to get at least the two goals, and qualify for the final.

“I would give up all the goals I’ve scored so far this season if I could get a couple this weekend to help us through to the final.

“It’s the big games you want to play in and it’s the big games you want to score in, and I’m sure the boys will be fired up for it.”

Raith have failed to score at home in just one game all season – the goalless draw with Alloa that cost them the title.

But their unbeaten league record at Stark’s Park is a comfort that Vaughan insists the Fife side can draw on this afternoon.

He added: “At home, we’ve only drawn three games all season and won the rest at Stark’s Park. And we’ve only not scored once at home all season, which was in the pivotal game on the last day.

“We’ve got to take confidence from that record, and before Wednesday night we were unbeaten in our last seven.

“So, we go into the game full of belief, knowing we’re capable of scoring plenty of goals in 90 minutes. Hopefully the home fans can get behind us and cheer us on to get the win.

“It was brilliant to play in front of 4,500 last week and hopefully they come out again and act as our 12th man to push us over the line.”

Lewis Vaughan reacts after a missed chance against Alloa last week.