No excuses for Raith Rovers' league cup penalty shootout losses, says gaffer Dougie Imrie
Raith Rovers boss Dougie Imrie refused to make his side’s heavy early season schedule and high injury list excuses for the 5-4 league cup penalty shootout loss after a 1-1 draw at Hamilton Accies.
Imrie, whose side lost on spot kicks at Accies when Lewis Gibson’s effort was saved by Dean Lyness after Lewis Vaughan, Paul McMullan, John Robertson and Ross Millen had scored, told Raith’s Facebook page: "I don’t buy we played on Tuesday so we were tired, Hamilton had a full week of preparation and were fresher.
"With the numbers being so low, it’s taking a lot out of players. We’re only making two, three subs, four subs today, two on Tuesday night.
"We need more. We’ll get there. It’s the early part of pre-season but it’s a game we should have won.
"I need to be fair to the group, they gave everything. The final part in the final third is the hardest part of the game, scoring goals.
"We just never made Hamilton defend enough. The quality balls into the box just weren’t there.
"I think we maybe put in one decent ball the whole game. I don’t think their keeper’s had much to do, I don’t think he’s made a save from my own recollection. I know the two shots were over the bar. Obviously the penalty goes in but apart from that we never peppered their goalmouth enough.
“We’ve got four very good players up front in Easty (Dylan Easton), Robbo (John Robertson), Vaughany (Lewis Vaughan) and Kai (Montagu).
"Even when Arron (Lyall) went on, he’s good in that number 10 role as well.”