Poor decision making to blame for Raith Rovers defeat says assistant Smith

The Dumfries side arrived in Kirkcaldy sitting bottom of the Championship table with only one win to their name so far this season but took all three points in a 2-0 win with goals from Connor Shields and Thomas Goss.

Rovers slipped down a place to fourth in the table after the loss which Smith described as “the poorest performance we've had this season”.

He said: “It was very disappointing. I think we had our best chance in the very first minute (a shot from Ethan Ross). We could maybe have scored there then after that we didn't play our normal brand of football.

“We didn't get the ball down and play it and got our just desserts at the end of the day.

“Queens deservedly took the three points”.

Smith said there were a number of factors that contributed to a surprisingly poor showing from a side that has been in such good form this season.

“We didn't click. Our passing was poor and our decision making was very poor as well.

“We just didn't click as a team but I think it's the first time we've had that this season.

“We're a possession-based team and we didn't keep the ball well enough.

“It's very disappointing but we don't get too excited when we're winning games, so as disappointed as we are, we'll dust ourselves down and get ready for the big derby on Saturday”.

Smith and manager John McGlynn made changes during the match as Rovers desperately tried to find an equalising goal, ending the match with three strikers playing as a front line.

“We usually try and pass the ball but that wasn't working for us so we stuck the three big guys on and hoped that something would maybe drop in the box and we'd get a chance.

“We had one but Manny (Duku) handled it, it was probably the correct decision from the referee.

“We changed the shape on three or four occasions, we tried everything, but whatever we did it didn't make any difference.”

A defeat to a team at the foot of the table isn’t ideal preparation for this Saturday’s derby against Dunfermline on paper, but Smith says it could work in their favour.

“It's probably a good game to have to bounce back in.

“It was a good game when we played the derby here a few weeks ago so we'll get back in on Thursday and get ourselves ready for it.”