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Raith Rovers lost the battle of Interim management on Saturday after Paul Hanlon’s first ever managerial game ended in a 3-0 defeat against Airdrie in Kirkcaldy.

Airdrie opened the scoring less than 10 minutes from the break, before adding a couple more to their tally in the second half. A few moments of controversy sparked some protests from The Rovers’ end, but Airdrie’s net went almost entirely untroubled throughout the match.

Paul Hanlon’s options were limited in terms of his inaugural team selection, with Lewis Vaughan, Richard Chin, Ross Matthews, and Callum Fordyce all sidelined through injury, whilst Josh Gentles was absent on international duty. A singular change was made to the team that lost against Queen’s Park a week earlier, with Shaun Byrne replacing the injured Matthews. As well as taking over management duties, Hanlon started his 32nd match in a row for Raith on the day.

An air of optimism surrounded Starks Park as Airdrie got the match underway. This optimism was almost satisfied early on after Joshua Mullin got a promising-looking shot away in the 6th minute, but his effort ultimately hit the side netting after a deflection.

Raith should probably have been a goal up around the half-hour mark after a neat move saw Paul Nsio get onto the end of a cross to the back post. The Rangers loanee couldn’t direct the ball goalwards from six yards out though, much to the relief of the away support.

Airdrie started to look dangerous as the half progressed, with some encouraging moves leading to some shots on target for the visitors. Some routine saves from Josh Rae would keep the game goalless, but this didn’t last forever…

Raith struggled to clear after a coming together between Nsio and Euan Henderson in the 38th minute, which led to some fury from The Rovers squad after the ball seemed to hit Henderson’s hand in the resulting scramble. Airdrie made the most of it though, with Gallagher tucking the ball into the bottom right corner after a manic few seconds in The Rovers’ box.

Things didn’t get any easier for Raith in the second half. A lightning counterattack following a Rovers penalty claim saw Henderson take the ball from ten yards inside his own half to the right flank of Raith’s box. The midfielder had a couple of options open to him, but he somehow managed to thunder the ball into the top right corner of The Rovers’ goal from the angle, deflecting off the underside of the bar on its way in.

Airdrie’s quick attacking tendencies continued, with the team zipping the ball through the Raith squad in search of a third. Such a goal was found in the 62nd minute after some one-touch football saw Chris Mocrie neatly finish off the move he had started moments earlier for Airdrie’s third of the match.

A flurry of Raith corners made up the remainder of the half, but no amount of set-pieces or substitutes led to a Rovers goal before full time.

The defeat leaves Raith two points from the top four and six points clear of the relegation playoff place. An away trip to 3rd placed Arbroath awaits the team this Saturday.

Written by Hamish Rankine.

Live Updates

0'
Airdrie kick off the first half. They're in all red strip with a white diamond. Raith shooting into North Stand goal.
6'
Mullin collects the ball inside the box on the right. Melrose gets a touch and out for a Rovers corner.
7'
Easton cross/shot saved by Melrose. Corner Raith.
12'
McGinty with the chance after a Stevenson slip. Nice low shot, but Rae manages to palm away.
14'
Mochrie with a great chance, alone in the box. Rae does well and averts the danger.
16'
Important challenge from O'Connor. It's an Airdrie corner.
23'
Melrose saves from Hamilton. Corner Raith!
23'
Nsio heads over from the corner. That was a wee chance.
32'
Mullin crosses low from the right. Nsio with the open goal just can't connect properly and misses from close range.
33'
Airdrie with a lovely move on the break. Ball falls to McGrattan whose shot is saved by Rae.
37'
⚽️
Goal Airdrie
37'
⚽️
Easton dispossessed outside the box. As he screams for a foul, Airdrie attack, shots blocked, saved and finally falls to Gallagher who scores.
39'
🟨
Byrne challenge in front of ref. He's booked.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 0-1 Airdrie.
45'
Nsio kicks off the second half.
50'
Doherty wins the corner racing down the right. Unfortunately, a quick corner is taken that comes to nothing.
51'
Mullin cross deflected. Corner Raith.
52'
Double shout a Raith penalty. Raith fans screaming.
52'
⚽️
Goal Airdrie.
52'
⚽️
Henderson with an incredible strike in off the cross bar.
59'
Nsio plays Hamilton through. He loses control before he gets a shot away.
60'
↔️
McMullan replaces Byrne
62'
⚽️
Goal Airdrie
62'
⚽️
Another impressive break from Airdrie. Ball ends up with Mochrie whose shot slots home.
66'
↔️
Telfer replaces Gallagher
67'
Mullin cross from the right. Falls to Hamilton who controls well. He managed a goal bound shot, that's blocked to safety.
68'
Another move down the right from Mullin. His cross deflected for a Rovers corner.
69'
Hanlon with the header from the corner. Well held by Melrose.
71'
Corner Airdrie
72'
McGrattan attempt blocked and out for an Airdrie corner.
73'
↔️
Smith on for Hamilton
74'
Nsio with a great header low to keeper's right. Huge save from Melrose. Corner Raith.
75'
Second Raith corner in a row.
77'
↔️
Hastie replaces McGrattan
77'
↔️
Montagu on for Nsio
77'
↔️
Rowe replaces Mullin
79'
McMullan manages to force the Rovers corner.
80'
Melrose messes up a catch. Ball goes out for a Raith corner.
81'
💬
Only pro-Raith stat I can find is - Corners: Raith 11-3 Airdrie. #Clutching
82'
Raith corner.
83'
↔️
Cooper replaces Henderson
83'
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D Williams on for Barjonas
83'
↔️
Xavier-Jones replaces Mochrie
86'
🟨
Easton sees yellow.
87'
Somehow McGinty blasts over from 6 yards.
89'
Rowe with a header at the back post. Blocked and away for a Raith corner.
93'
Full time: Raith Rovers 0-3 Airdrie

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