Heroics giving Rogers his own moment in the sun
IF he wasn’t on loan with Falkirk, Danny Rogers would be spending this week in a warm-weather training camp in Dubai with Aberdeen. The goalkeeper would also have had the previous week free to jet off for a short family break.
Instead of planning a trip up the world-famous Burj Khalifa, the Dubliner found himself fielding questions in a portable cabin in Kirkcaldy on Saturday evening.
But he’d far rather bask in the limelight in Falkirk’s first team than be a Dons squad man training in soaring temperatures of the Middle East.
He was the hero at Stark’s Park after a breathtaking save from Declan McManus with the score finely balanced at 2-1 in the visitors’ favour.
It was Rogers’ finest moment in a Bairns jersey since his fingertip save from Martyn Waghorn’s late penalty in a 2-1 win over Rangers at Westfield in December 2015.
And his big moment on Saturday proved to be the game’s turning point as, seconds later, Craig Sibbald made it 3-1 for Peter Houston’s side.
‘Most of the Aberdeen boys have been in Tenerife on family holidays before they arrive in Dubai, so that’s even more galling for me,’ smiled the 22-year-old.
‘It’s a nightmare. No, I’m only joking. I’d rather be playing first-team football.
‘Making big saves in big games, like this one today or against Rangers last season, are worth more than being in Dubai. Kirkcaldy instead of Dubai isn’t too bad anyway — as long as you win.
‘I can’t remember much about the save. It was a reaction stop but moments like that win you matches and we went straight up the other end and scored.
‘I was happy to help the boys out. It’s about time. I don’t think people have been looking at me but I’ve lost goals that, last season, I’d have been getting my fingertips to and saving. These are the big saves I want to be making.’
Falkirk fell behind when Chris Johnston’s shot spun up off Rogers and landed in the net.
But Myles Hippolyte’s beautiful 25-yard free-kick brought them level seven minutes later before Bob McHugh edged the Bairns in front with a fine thumping low finish.
After Rogers’ heroics, Rovers keeper Kevin Cuthbert blundered by letting Sibbald’s speculative 25-yard effort swerve past him into the net.
The excellent Sibbald scored his second three minutes after the restart when his shot from a cutback by teenage left-back Tony Gallacher took a deflection off Kyle Benedictus.
It capped a bad day for Rovers boss Gary Locke, who had earlier seen new signing Ryan Stevenson taken to hospital with concussion after an accidental clash with Rogers.
The Bairns keeper admitted he feared for the ex-Hearts attacker and was surprised to see him return to the pitch, where he set up Johnston’s opener before leaving the pitch complaining of double vision and headaches.
‘I thought I had seriously hurt him,’ said Rogers. ‘I saw blood coming out of his mouth and was scared I’d punctured his lung. It was a heavy, heavy contact. I hit him with my knee. The ref was acting all calm and I had to say: “Listen, get someone on to the pitch because he’s hurt”.
‘I couldn’t believe he came back on. I’m not the sort of guy who would want to hurt anyone, so I hope he’s all right.’
Afterwards, Houston challenged his Falkirk side to catch second place Dundee United, who are eight points ahead, as they try to revitalise a faltering bid for promotion.
And Rogers hopes Saturday’s win can help them regain the fear factor that helped them finish runners up last season.
‘We couldn’t have played any worse than we have at times this season with the players we have,’ he said. ‘I knew at some stage things would come good, but we need to kick on otherwise this win will be a waste.
‘We need to get the confidence and form back that we had last year, because I don’t think teams are afraid of us any more. They were last season. They came to the Falkirk Stadium and thought: “This will be a tough game”, so we need to get the fear back and go on a good run.’
Rovers are now five points adrift of the play-off spots but on-loan Rangers midfielder Jordan Thompson hopes to stick around to help.
And he believes that by impressing in the Championship, he can win a new deal at Ibrox in the summer.
‘It’s looking promising that I’ll be staying here until the end of the season,’ said the 20-year-old. ‘They put me here to see if I could cope in this league — and I think I’ve proved I can. Hopefully, we can get something sorted.’
Meanwhile, Rangers winger Fraser Aird has joined Falkirk for the remainder of the season.
The 21-year-old had returned to Ibrox last October following a previous loan spell with MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps in his native Canada.