The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ten-man Raith exit cup despite a gutsy showing
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aith Rovers were treated to the disco lights experience at Celtic Park. However, there would be no dancing in the streets of Raith this time after the Hoops swept to a 3-0 victory.
The Kirkcaldy club turned in a gutsy showing — particularly frustrating the hosts during the opening 25 minutes — but when Jota broke the deadlock, the writing was on the wall.
It eased the nerves as Celtic started to purr.
Goals from Liel Abada and a stunning strike by David Turnbull added a sheen to the scoreline and assured Ange Postecoglou a maiden visit to Hampden for the Premier Sports Cup semis.
While never in danger of replicating the Coca-Cola Cup icons of 1994, there was no shame in either the result or the performance.
Both St Mirren and Dundee have lost 6-0 at Parkhead this term.
When Postecoglou’s charges get motoring at home, they are a juggernaut.
Far from parking the bus at Parkhead, McGlynn’s starting XI showed just one change from the side which defeated Morton at the weekend — and it was an attacking alteration.
Aidan Connolly, returning from a hamstring strain, was deemed fit enough to start following a 15-minute cameo at Cappielow and replaced Brad Spencer.
While Celtic made three changes from their disappointing defeat at Livingston on Sunday, one of those was to call on £4.5 million signing Carl Starfelt — further underlining the gulf in resources between the sides.
Once the spectacular light show which preceded kick-off came to a halt, it took just three minutes for Jota to wriggle into some space on the edge of the box and whip a dangerous drive inches wide of the post. That anxious moment aside, Rovers started well.
Birthday boy Blaise Riley-Snow was breaking up attacks; Connolly was a brave carrier of the ball and Dylan Tait and Ross Matthews were effective.
Tait even saw an effort from the edge of the box trundle wide after a neat exchange with Ethon Varian.
What a shame no visiting fans were permitted into the stadium to sound their appreciation.
However, it was only ever going to take one moment of quality to break the Rovers resistance and it came via James McCarthy; much maligned for an ineffectual showing against Livi at the weekend.
The Ireland international carved open the Raith defence with a simply sublime pass and Portuguese forward Jota did the rest, firing beyond the onrushing Jamie
MacDonald. McGlynn’s men did not wilt. Connolly stung the palms of Joe Hart from 20 yards following some dallying in defence by the Bhoys. But they were undone again as half-time approached.
Jota, a constant menace drifting in from the left flank, unleashed a stinging drive that was superbly saved by MacDonald — only for Abada to react quickest to nod home the rebound from point-blank range.
The game gone, it was now a case of damage limitation.
With that in mind, Rovers endured a nightmare start to the second half when Turnbull surged forward unchecked, before curling a sumptuous effort beyond MacDonald’s despairing dive.
The task was made tougher when Dario Zanatta was dismissed for a second yellow card. It is to their credit that the visitors
regained their composure and stemmed the tide.
Ultimately, the Stark’s
Park outfit bowed out with their pride intact and can look back on a fine Premier Sports Cup run which saw them claim the scalp of Aberdeen.
But it was always a bonus, an adventure. Now, it’s back to the bread-andbutter — the visit of Partick Thistle on Sunday as Rovers’ challenge for a Championship playoff place continues.
Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Montgomery, McCarthy (Bitton 69), Turnbull, Abada (Juranovic 61), Rogic (Soro 69), Jota, Ajeti (Scales 61). Subs not used: Giakoumakis, Bolingoli Mbombo, Urhoghide, Bain, Welsh.
Raith Rovers: MacDonald, Tumilty, Benedictus, Berra, Dick, Connolly (Fotheringham 71), Tait (McKay 71), RileySnow (Arnott 80), Matthews (Spencer 63), Zanatta, Varian (Poplatnik 63). Subs not used: Lang, Thomson, Mitchell, Young.
Referee: