Ross County failed to make further inroads on Dundee’s six-point lead at the top of the First Division table, losing to Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy last night just four days after having defeated the Fifers at the Victoria Stadium.
As well as knocking a dent in County’s promotion aspirations, the result will have done little for the confidence of the Dingwall players as they look ahead to Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against Hibs, whose management team of John Hughes and Brian Rice were at Starks Park.
Rovers, who will also feature in the last eight of the cup on Saturday when they face Dundee at Dens Park, found themselves forced into an early substitution when full back Craig Wilson left the pitch in eight minutes with an arm injury after falling awkwardly.
County looked to be controlling play during the early stages but Raith squandered an opportunity to take the lead in the 19th minute when Iain Williamson ran on to a well-placed flick from Graham Weir, but sent his shot well wide when faced with only Staggies goalkeeper Michael McGovern to beat.
Ross County quickly regained the initiative and took the lead after 28 minutes, Saturday’s goal hero Andy Barrowman driving the ball home from close range after the Raith defence had failed to clear Brittain’s corner.
Although the County looked more comfortable than their Fife opponents on the rapidly deteriorating pitch, Raith continued to cause problems in the County defence and were almost gifted an equaliser just before the interval when Michael McGovern allowed a free kick from Grant Murray to squirm from his grasp.
Gregory Tade, recalled to the Rovers side from suspension, was unable to take advantage and County’s one-goal advantage remained intact at half-time.
Raith began the second half aggressively, forcing four quick corners in the minutes which followed the restart and it was from the fourth such award that they equalised, Allan Walker firing an angular shot past McGovern after the County defence had failed to clear the danger from the Raith midfielder’s own flag kick.
Barrowman should have restored County’s lead 13 minutes from time when he rounded McGurn only for his shot to be blocked on the goal line, a miss which proved to be particularly costly, when six minutes later, Tade drove home the winner from Stephen Simmons’s cross.