'We gave ourselves a mountain to climb': Raith Rovers boss Dougie Imrie on 2-0 home league loss to Livingston

Robbie Muirhead’s second half double – a low left footed finish after a slick move and a penalty awarded after his shot struck the arm of Raith’s Arron Lyall – inflicted only Raith’s second league defeat of the season and they are second on 14 points from eight matches, eight points behind shock early leaders Stenhousemuir.

“I’m not going to sit here and try and sugar coat it,” gutted gaffer Imrie – who only named three players on the bench and had no substitute goalkeeper due to injuries and Luke Armstrong’s Wales under-21 call-up – told Raith TV post match. “It was a really poor night at the office, certainly second half.

"I thought first half it was pretty even. Both teams played some decent stuff without really threatening both boxes.

"We’ve probably got the best chance of the half with wee Arron (Lyall). He’s probably got to go back across the goalkeeper, he tried to go near post and the chance is gone.

"At half-time we tried to change a few things, talking through a few things.

"But to lose a goal so early in the second half you give yourself a mountain to climb.

"And that’s my frustration, one ball between full-back and winger and their full-back gets on the end of it.

"Yesterday I showed my players in the analysis a good few of Livingston’s goals. And if I go back over it, it’s the exact same goal as they’ve scored against us.

"Most of their goals this season are a cutback to the most prolific guy in their team standing free on the penalty spot.

"It’s so frustrating because I say the same thing week on week. Players have to work that bit harder to get back behind the ball to get against someone and we don’t.

"And we give Robbie Muirhead a free shot from 12 yards and the inevitable is going to happen – he’s going to put it in the bottom corner – and that’s what happened.

"It’s very similar to the second goal – same area of the pitch, cutback, he miskicks the first one, it comes back out, he gets on the second one and unfortunately for us wee Arron’s got his hands higher. And now with the letter of the law it’s a penalty.

"Then we kind of get back into the game a little bit, we start to huff and puff. But just not enough and that’s the bit that’s killing me at the moment.

"That’s the best three teams in the league – or the ones that should be up there come the end of the season – Dunfermline away, 45 minutes we weren’t at the races, similar to last week at Partick.

"And then again tonight, and these are the game where you have to stand up and be counted. You’re going to have to run, you have to tackle, you’re going to have to put your body on the line.

"I don’t want to be too critical because to have 14 points – and potentially 17 points after next week – which I know will be a tough game, is a good return. But we want to be better.”

Raith will bid to bounce back at bottom club Greenock Morton next Saturday in a 3pm kick-off at Cappielow Park.