Ian Murray and his coaching staff have shouldered the blame for being “a wee bit unfair” on forward Ethan Ross.
The Raith Rovers boss used Ross last weekend for the first time since the 3-0 win over Cove Rangers at the start of October.
The 21-year-old just missed out on making the squad the week before Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to Queen’s Park.
In the absence of Dylan Easton he was selected on the left of the attack, a position that Murray says he demands a lot from.
No surprises
“We perhaps, due to circumstances, hung Ethan out to dry a wee bit,” said the Raith boss.
“He hadn’t had a full week’s training, he’d done some every day and we threw him in.
“We discussed it with him, it wasn’t a surprise to him.
“But it was maybe, looking back, a wee bit unfair.
“It’s a very important position on the park for us where we demand a lot of work rate both ways.
“So we’ve acknowledged that.”
Hindsight
With the score at 3-1, Ross was replaced in the second half by Jamie Gullan – himself returning from injury.
“Ethan came off but it was probably our fault that we did that,” added Murray.
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“We maybe should have put another player in there.
“That’s decisions and hindsight – but he wanted to play, he was ready to play.”
Easton will return this weekend after recovering quicker than expected and Tom Lang could be included in the squad for the first time since February.
Murray was speaking as his side prepares to take on Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup third round on Saturday, a side with a proud record in the competition.
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