McGlynn happy with Raith Rovers in top spot

Kyle Benedictus goes close with a header against Falkirk on Tuesday night (Pics by Walter Neilson)Kyle Benedictus goes close with a header against Falkirk on Tuesday night (Pics by Walter Neilson)
Kyle Benedictus goes close with a header against Falkirk on Tuesday night (Pics by Walter Neilson) | walter_ neilson
Raith Rovers boss John McGlynn said there was “no damage done” after Tuesday night’s top of the table clash with Falkirk ended in a draw.

Raith took the lead through Steven MacLean in front of an impressive crowd of 3235 at Stark’s Park, before Declan McManus pulled one back for the Bairns.

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Whilst admitting he was disappointed not to get the win he thought his side deserved, and widening the gap at the top, McGlynn said he was satisfied that Rovers kept their slender one point advantage over the second-placed opposition.

“We’re quite content with the performance we put in,” he said, “just a little bit disappointed that we didn’t get all three points.

Raith boss John McGlynn.Raith boss John McGlynn.
Raith boss John McGlynn. | walter_ neilson

“There’s no damage done, though we didn’t manage to make it four points.

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“I thought we were the better team throughout. We played some really good football.

“We got ourselves in front. It was a great goal, I thought it was really well worked.

“There was good passing with the ball down the side of the centre back and Steven MacLean has finished it really well.

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“We think there is a foul on the goalkeeper with their free kick at the goal so I’m aggrieved about that.

“It was a bit unfortunate that the first thing Ross Munro had to do was try to deal with the free kick coming in.

“Then we’ve hit the bar and the post in the same attack within seconds and Ross Matthews has had a great chance as well.

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“I actually thought it was a really good football game. Falkirk set up to have a 4-5-1 so you have to be patient.

“You have to pass the ball and I thought we did that.

“If you’ve got a football brain and you’re watching the game you can see how well we did to open it up at times.

“I honestly feel we deserved the three points, but you can look back at the final minute when Mikey Doyle gets a header at the back post and we could have lost it.

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“We expected a game that would be quite tight and it was but I was really pleased with the way we played and I thought our football was top drawer stuff - keeping possession, winning the ball back, going side to side, switches of play, I thought the standard of the game was very good.”

A downside to the hard earned point was the second half injury to keeper Robbie Thomson who had to be replaced by substitute goalie Ross Munro.

McGlynn says he expects Thomson to be out for some time.

“It’s a quad muscle injury from taking a bye kick, but he didn’t realise at the time.

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“He’s gutted because he’s been out for a long time with his Achilles and he’s only just got back into the team, so it’s a shame for him. It looks like he’ll have a few weeks out with that.”

The boss also paid tribute to home support who got right behind the team on Tuesday night.

“It was a big crowd for a Tuesday night, if it was a Saturday I reckon we could have got another thousand on top of that.

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“We thank everyone who came along tonight. I think there was some good entertainment there and both teams got good backing from their supporters.”

Rovers now turn their attention to Saturday’s crucial clash at home to relegation-threatened Forfar

“Every game is big and Forfar are they’re still lingering about that play-off position for relegation so they’re fighting for their life,” McGlynn said.

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“There are no easy games as we saw last Saturday at Dumbarton. Alright, conditions played a part, they’re a great leveller, but we know Forfar will give us a hard game.

“Every game in this league is tough and I’m sure Falkirk will face a few tough games before the end of the season as well.”