'If you're not cutting it, you're off': Raith Rovers' Dougie Imrie on taking Kai Montagu off at half-time v Stenny
After the high of sealing a two-year contract extension at Raith Rovers until summer 2029, 20-year-old midfielder Kai Montagu experienced a major low when he was hooked at half-time after a below-par display with the team 1-0 down at Stenhousemuir.
Raith manager Dougie Imrie, who rates Montagu extremely highly, told the Fife Free Press: “Kai’s not a wee boy playing men's football. He's started virtually every game of the season in the league.
"I had a chat with him on Monday morning. I took him off at half-time against Dunfermline, so it's not the first time.
"The thing is, everybody gets the opportunity. If you're not cutting it, unfortunately you've got to get taken off.
“I could have taken two or three off on Saturday with the first half performance. It wasn't for the lack of effort.
"Certainly, the running was there and the effort was there. I just mean in terms of the ball control, people making passes, people wanting the ball, people winning tackles, people winning headers.
"I'll never question the group in terms of their effort, their work and their running. That's always there.
"That's one thing I can never say about their group because they're fit.
"At times, what I can question is people going hiding, not wanting the ball, not making a tackle, losing a header, not making an angle to get a pass.
"I just felt I had to change something to get a reaction. Within 20 seconds, bang, I've got a goal.
"Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn't. That's the joys of being a manager.”