As far as presents go, Raith Rovers boss Grant Murray could be forgiven for wishing the Kirkcaldy club’s injury woes away over the coming days.
The Rovers manager has, however, refused to use his growing absentee list as an excuse for his side’s inability to take all three points at Cowdenbeath’s expense at the weekend.
Murray went into Saturday’s game devoid of keeper David McGurn, defender Paul Watson and winger Grant Anderson through injury, as well as winger Joe Cardle through suspension.
Their problems only deepened during the fixture when both defender Laurie Ellis and striker Greig Spence were forced off with knocks although Murray reckons his side should still have seen it through after being 3-2 up.
“We had to change our shape but that’s no excuse at all,” he said.
“We’re capable of winning games like that but it was credit to Cowdenbeath for going right to the dying seconds,although I thought we had won it at the end when Callum Booth caught it brilliantly and there was a player on the line to get it clear.
“Obviously we got ourselves into a good position so to lose a goal so late it feels like a defeat.
“We would have loved to have hung on but it wasn’t to be so we certainly feel like it was two points dropped but we’ve got to pick ourselves up after a game like that.”
Anderson is expected to train later this week and could well be available for Saturday’s trip to Livingston although the winger will be assessed nearer the time.
Ellis and Spence are also likely to be assessed after the Christmas break although Murray will again be without winger Cardle, who is due to serve the second game of his two-match ban this weekend.
Meanwhile, former Raith and Dunfermline midfielder Iain Williamson has been training with the Kirkcaldy club in recent days.
The 25-year-old plays for Icelandic side Valur and is back training in Scotland over the Christmas period as Iceland’s league season is played in the spring and summer months.