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

Raith Rovers reprised an old 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 midfielder’s late intervention means that an astonishing 20 of their 37 points this term have now been secured after matches have ticked into the 85th minute.

And the victory – in front of the biggest crowd at Stark’s Park in almost 27 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, United threatened repeatedly and should have scored more than once. Moult, Tony Watt, Ross Graham and Glenn Middleton all might have netted as the visitors dominated much of the second half.

Instead, though, 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.

Rudden’s goal, getting across Graham to flick in Liam Dick’s cross, might have been ruled offside were this not a division unencumbered by VAR. And goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski made at least two terrific saves.

But Raith’s resilience was admirable, particularly after Moult flicked Graham’s header from a David Wotherspoon corner in to level before the break.

Given their recent troubles, some might have expected them to fold after that. But instead, they found the old knack of turning defeats into draws and draws into wins late in games to ensure the title race takes 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.”

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: “I’m struggling to believe we lost the game. Had we finished at 1-1, I’d have been disappointed given the good opportunities we had throughout. It’s probably the best we’ve played for a number of weeks.

“You can see the reaction… I’m not sure what time they’re giving the medals out at, but the celebrations will be pretty good by the sound of it. The result isn’t going to define what will happen at the end of the season.”

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.”

‘Raith win sparks title race back into life’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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