The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Season may be over for Raith star after freak arm injury
John McGlynn fears Jamie Gullan may miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining a serious arm injury.
The former Hibs youngster collided with fellow frontman Ethon Varian during Rovers’ breathless 3-3 draw against Arbroath last month.
Gullan, who has scored one goal in 12 outings since returning to Stark’s Park, was sporting a sling on Sunday as he watched Raith lift the SPFL Trust Trophy against Queen of the South.
McGlynn has confirmed the setback is a relatively serious one.
“Jamie and Ethon Varian both went for the same ball and clattered each other,” confirmed McGlynn.
“Jamie came off the worst. His shoulder is in a bad way, as is his chest.
“It is certainly a few weeks (out) and possibly season-ending.
“He went to hospital and they said that, while it hadn’t popped out, there was ligament damage. It was very painful and he can’t raise his arm above his head.”
While undoubtedly a blow, Rovers were still able to see off Queens on Sunday and take a cup back to Kirkcaldy following their 3-1 win.
However, there is scarce time for celebration, with Raith facing fierce foes Dunfermline at East End Park tonight.
McGlynn added: “Will the cup win carry us into the final games of the season?
“We are hoping so. “Wednesday night is going to be difficult.
“The Pars have had 10 days to prepare for this match. We’ll have three.
“They are fighting for their lives and they are not a bad side.
“Their performance against Morton was good and they battered Partick.
“Going up to Inverness and getting beat won’t have been great for them, but John (Hughes, Dunfermline manager) will be looking for a response.
“But we want to kick on and we know that five wins will secure a play-off position.
“It’s a tall order but one that we are capable of doing.”
Ross Matthews helped ensure his friends and family enjoyed a cup final party with the Raith Rovers fans at the weekend.
But he knows he and his team-mates simply had to put their Champagne on ice after claiming tonight’s Fife derby is even bigger than Sunday’s SPFL Trust Trophy final.
With skipper Kyle Benedictus suspended and vice-captain Christophe Berra not fit enough to play, Matthews was handed the captain’s armband for the cup showdown with Queen of the South.
It turned into an unforgettable day for the Stark’s Park stalwart, who was in his first year as a professional when Rovers last clinched the trophy in 2014.
The 26-year-old was able to count on the personal support of a coach full of friendly faces in Airdrie before jointly raising the silverware aloft following Raith’s 3-1 victory.
But while the ‘party bus’ headed back to Edinburgh to celebrate, John McGlynn’s squad found the prospect of a crucial league clash with Dunfermline a sobering thought.
He said: “I had a group of 20 of my family and friends who were at the game. My dad hired a bus to bring them all through.
“People have said it was a ‘party bus’ but it was really just a minibus.
“They left early on Sunday to get through but it was probably a party bus on the way back!
“We were training on Monday, so we weren’t able to join in the celebrations and we didn’t even have a drink as we had the Fife derby to prepare for.
“It was frustrating as we wanted to go out and enjoy Sunday, but it had to be done.
“The league has been our main focus and we have to get into the play-off spot, that’s the minimum we expect.
“We have been looking for that boost and we haven’t been on a great run. In the last few games we were maybe lacking some luck.
“Hopefully the final can get us going and give us a push to get ourselves into the play-offs.
“People talk about having a hangover after winning a final but we couldn’t have a bigger game to go into than a derby with Dunfermline.
“That game is even bigger than the cup final.”
Matthews, then just 18 and in the stands that day, managed to sneak into the on-field celebrations when Raith defeated Rangers to lift the Ramsdens Cup at Easter Road eight years ago.
The midfielder was front and centre when Rovers – who can pull level on points with Partick Thistle in fourth with a win against Dunfermline – emulated that success on Sunday.
He joined Benedictus in lifting the trophy in front of 2,500 Raith fans and
“Sunday was different to 2014 and I actually felt part of it
admits it was most definitely a career highlight.
Matthews added: “I’m delighted. I have been at the club almost nine years and Sunday was my proudest moment, being able to captain the team.
“It was such a special moment in front of the fans and all my friends and family.
“Sunday was different to 2014 and I actually felt part of it. Kyle lifted it with me but he deserved his moment as well; he played in all the rounds before and he is a great captain.
“I found out I was going to be captain on Saturday when the gaffer named the team and Christophe wasn’t fit enough to start. “It was an honour for me. “It didn’t change anything for me, it was just more special to get to lift the trophy.”