Dougie Imrie hails Raith Rovers’ first away league win since September
Raith Rovers manager Dougie Imrie said he was delighted his side’s poor away form throughout this season had at last been “thrown into the bin” courtesy of Tuesday evening’s comprehensive 2-0 victory at Queen’s Park.
Lewis Vaughan’s double – a first-half penalty which squirmed under Queen’s keeper Calum Ferrie’s body and a second-half shot on the turn – earned Rovers only their third William Hill Championship away success of the 2025-26 campaign and their first since they won 1-0 at Imrie’s then Greenock Morton outfit way back on September 6 last year.
The 30-year-old’s goals on 39 minutes and 55 takes his tally for the Kirkcaldy club to 101.
Imrie, whose side only had to play against ten Queen’s players due to the 42nd-minute red card shown to home defender Rickie Lamie for a foul on Jack Hamilton, told Raith TV post-match: “It was a really accomplished performance for the full 90 minutes.
“It was made a little bit easier obviously by the red card, but even when Queen’s Park had 11 men on the park, I thought tonight we were head and shoulders above them, against a very good team on top form at the moment as well.
“I could maybe have asked for some more goals but it’s great to see us getting back to clean sheets.
“They were another two good goals, one a penalty, maybe not the best of penalties but it goes in, but certainly Lewis’s second goal was a fantastic finish. I’m delighted for Lewis.
“He’s waited a long time – picking up injuries has not been great for him – but he’s a top player at this level and we’re delighted to have him.
“I’m just delighted for everyone. We spoke after the game on Saturday about our away form but that’s certainly been thrown into the bin tonight and everybody can go away happy.”
Fifth-placed Raith, now on 42 points from 33 championship matches, are now officially safe from relegation and just five points below third-placed Dunfermline Athletic and fourth-placed Arbroath as the battle for play-off places intensifies.
Rovers’ next match is a crucial one as they visit Arbroath this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.
Imrie added: “The game on Saturday now becomes probably the biggest game of the season.
“I’ve just said to them in there ‘if you keep playing the way you’re playing, then victories will come along as well’, but we can’t get complacent.
“It’s up to us now to keep pushing, but we’re in a good place now. I’ve said that for a number of weeks.
“The boys are full of confidence, they’re playing some good football and I thought the pitch was excellent tonight as well.”
Queen’s Park: Ferrie, Shiels, Lamie, Murray (Burke 73), MacKenzie (Waugh 54), Martin (Bradley 85), Longridge, Smith, Mclean (Rodger 85), Connolly, Ruth (McLeish 73).
Subs not used: Azfal, Goldie, Wills.
Raith Rovers: Rae, Stevenson (Wilson 67), O'Connor, Fordyce (Hanlon 68), Rowe, Nsio (Montagu 68), Brown (Matthews 46), Easton, Vaughan, Mullin (Chin 83), Hamilton.
Subs not used: Glavin, Winter.
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Crowd: 990