BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Key defender Kyle Benedictus has been hit with a three-match suspension after Raith Rovers decided not to contest his weekend sending off.
The former Dundee stopper was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge on substitute Myles Hippolyte with seven minutes remaining in the 2-2 draw with Falkirk.
It is understood that Rovers, who withstood the dismissal to hang on for a hard-earned point against the Bairns, considered an appeal.
However, with video footage of the tackle not clear enough, the Stark’s Park outfit have been unable to build a case in favour of their stand-in skipper, who will be sorely missed in the coming weeks.
The 24-year-old has earned an immediate two-match ban for serious foul play for Saturday’s red card but, having been sent-off in the 1-0 defeat to Falkirk back in August, he has also picked up an extra one game in the stand from February 27.
The summer signing, whose importance to Ray McKinnon’s side was highlighted when he recently penned a 12-month contract extension, will now miss the forthcoming home clashes with Livingston on Saturday and Morton the following weekend, plus the trip to face Rangers on Tuesday, March 1.
“Benny’s a whole-hearted player and he wears his heart on his sleeve,” McKinnon told Raith TV. “He went in there with good enthusiasm – he’s a strong, strong player – and he said it certainly wasn’t a red card.”
