Raith Rovers 2-1 Dundee United: Fifers go within point of Scottish Championship summit

Raith Rovers reprised their habit of scoring crucial late goals to reignite their Scottish Championship title ambitions with victory over league leaders Dundee United.

Ian Murray’s side had been in freefall in recent weeks, with five losses in eight since winning at Tannadice in December to go five points clear.

But Scott Brown’s outrageous late lash reared over Jack Walton to give the Fifers a potentially precious win, shift the title race momentum, and move them back within a point of the summit.

The victory – in front of the biggest crowd at Stark’s Park in 25 years – also ended United’s unbeaten away league record, which looked like being preserved after Louis Moult had cancelled out Zak Rudden’s early effort.

More than that, it looked like Jim Goodwin’s side might have upholstered their lead at the top to a near-insurmountable seven points at times during this frantic contest.

Although they trailed early, a dominant United threatened repeatedly and should have had more than Louis Moult’s close-range header to show for their efforts.

Moult, Tony Watt, Ross Graham and Glenn Middleton all might have made more of openings and the visitors dominated much of the second half without managing to eke out a lead.

Instead it was Raith, woebegone for much of 2024 and staring at a sixth consecutive defeat, who found the goal that ultimately separated the sides.

There seemed little danger when the ball dropped to Brown 25 yards out, but the midfielder tamed it with his chest before unleashing a ferocious effort that soared over a helpless Walton and fizzed into the back of the United net.

It was a moment entirely out of kilter with Raith’s second-half showing but one they will cherish all the same, not just for its beauty but for what it might mean in the story of their season.

United had only been breached three times away from home in the league before Rudden burst in front of Graham to divert in Liam Dick’s cross. The visitors howled for offside but their protests went unheard in a division unencumbered by VAR.

Jim Goodwin’s side were discomfited for a spell after the concession. Josh Mullin flashed attempt past an upright, then should have scored when through, but that squall blew through and United levelled.

David Wotherspoon’s deep corner was enticing. Graham corkscrewed himself towards it. And Moult cutely flicked the defender’s thudded header past Kevin Dabrowski from close range.

Brown’s goal will understandably grab the attention but Dabrowski contribution should not be overlooked. Were it not for him, Raith would have conceded more than once.

The Pole plunged to his right to thwart Watt after a coruscating early move, then sprung from his goal to strangle Middleton’s celebrations after the ball dropped to him in the six-yard box.

Further United chances came and went. Watt clattered over. Graham thumped a header wide, then another too high. Raith looked weary but then, from somewhere, found the reserves to go again.

A few late flurries in the United box came to nothing, but then Brown stepped up and the title race took another unlikely lurch.

‘It could be a pivotal win’ – reaction

Raith Rovers manager Ian Murray: “It was a very important win. It could be pivotal in terms of the season. It might not be, but to get us back in the pack with Dundee United gives us confidence.

“If we lost, it was going to make life very difficult for us going to win the Championship. Nothing is done yet, I am looking up the way but I am also looking down the way.”

Raith Rovers match-winner Scott Brown: “We were finding it a wee bit hard in the second half, but to come on and score the winner was really special.

“We have been through a wee sticky patch. I think if we had lost we would have been feeling like we were out of the title race. To get it back to just one point is great.”

Line-upsRaith Rovers

Formation 4-4-2

1Dabrowski

2Brown5Watson6Murray3Dick

14Mullin16Stanton21Byrne11Smith

29Rudden10Vaughan

Substitutes

Dundee Utd

Formation 4-3-3

1Walton

8Grimshaw6Graham4Holt33McMann

15Middleton10Wotherspoon14Sibbald

18Fotheringham9Moult32Watt

Substitutes

Referee:Don Robertson

Attendance:7,923

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