Raith Rovers boss Grant Murray insists his players are already focused on putting Saturday’s derby defeat behind them when they take on Airdrie United this weekend.
The 3-1 loss to Dunfermline will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons by the Rovers faithful as referee Crawford Allan found himself at the centre of attention, dishing out red cards to both Allan Walker and Dougie Hill after a flare-up near the end of the first half.
It emerged on Tuesday that midfielder Walker will serve an automatic two-game suspension, while defender Hill will miss Saturday’s game against Airdrie and the home fixture against Morton on December 8 after reaching the disciplinary points threshold.
Murray admits the sending-offs gave his side an uphill struggle they simply couldn’t overcome in the second half, but the player-boss reckons Rovers will have no problem putting a tempestuous 90 minutes out of their system this week.
And he believes his side can take plenty of positives from their nine-man second-half showing, with the depleted Rovers almost snatching an unlikely leveller when Pars keeper Paul Gallagher saved a Brian Graham header late on.
”It’s hard enough with 11 men, it’s even harder with 10, but to go down to nine it’s very difficult because you are setting up trying not to lose a goal,” he said.
”We lose a goal within two minutes and it’s a great strike from Joe Cardle.
”It’s a finish they are delighted with because sometimes playing against 10 men, not so much nine men, can be difficult.
”If you don’t work the ball properly and move the ball properly you can then start forcing things, but we’ve got to give Dunfermline credit because they’ve scored two goals that’s won them the game.
”For my lads it’s just about the effort and the commitment they showed going down to nine men.
”It took a lot out of them and we had a couple of flickers but you can’t defend and attack it’s as simple as that.