Skacel rolls back the years to grab victory for Rovers

RAITH manager Gary Locke hailed Rudi Skacel’s instant impact from the bench after he set up Mark Stewart to hand the hosts an unlikely stoppage-time victory over Queen of the South.

The Czech midfielder was introduced in the 89th minute and dug out an inviting cross that was turned in by Stewart, who played with a broken wrist, at the far post.

The victory moves the Stark’s Park outfit above the Doonhamers, who have now gone 460 minutes without scoring a league goal, into third in the Championship ahead of next weekend’s Fife derby at Dunfermline.

‘It was a wee bit of quality that won us the game,’ said Rovers manager Locke.

‘Rudi is an experienced player. He knows he’s at a stage of his career that he’ll not play every single game, but it’s important for me and the backroom staff that we know we have a player of his quality.

‘I’m delighted he’s gone in there and put in that cross. Sometimes as a manager you get lucky with your substitutions.’

This was a smash and grab performance from Raith after the visitors created enough chances to collect their first three points since beating yesterday’s opponents six games ago.

Raith keeper Kevin Cuthbert was Stephen Dobbie’s nemesis after keeping out a string of efforts from the Queens striker either side of half-time.

The Palmerston Park outfit also had a good shout for a penalty turned down in the first half after Grant Anderson fell to the ground under a challenge from Kevin McHattie.

‘With the effort and the way we played, we can’t ask for anymore,’ said Queens manager Gavin Skelton.

‘It hasn’t fallen for us. In terms of performance I thought we were excellent — we would have been disappointed coming away with a draw. It’s the one moment of quality from Skacel.’