Rovers dig deep to make a point

TEN-MAN Raith Rovers earned battling point against leage leaders Inverness Caley Thistle yesterday.

A dour first-half encounter was brought to life just moments before the break when Ross Matthews was controversially shown a straight red card for a lunge on Billy Mckay.

Raith recovered their poise to take the lead in the 62nd minute courtesy of Aidan Connolly’s smart strike, but Caley Thistle’s extra man eventually told with Sean Welsh’s late equaliser.

Rovers boss John McGlynn said: ‘Great credit to the players for their work-rate, their spirit and their organisation to make themselves hard to beat -— and at the same time have a threat going forward,’ he said.

Matthews was convinced his challenge on Mckay did not even merit a free-kick never mind the dismissal that followed from referee Colin Steven.

‘From what I can see it seemed like an honest attempt to go and play the ball,’ added McGlynn. ‘I’ll need to see from a closer up angle and then we’ll decide whether we’re going to appeal it or not.’

Inverness boss Billy Dodds added: ‘We controlled it but it was a really soft goal we lost.’