BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Raith Rovers skipper Jason Thomson admits the galling prospect of hosting Rangers’ title party at Stark’s Park inspired the Fifers to grab a shock leveller.
The Gers looked destined to capture the flag when Wes Foderingham saved Harry Panayiotou’s injury-time penalty to ensure the score remained 3-2 to the Ibrox outfit.
However, moments later the Rangers defence woefully failed to clear a Lewis Toshney delivery, allowing Panayiotou to poke the ball over the line from point-blank range.
More than 5,000 travelling supporters were stunned into silence and Thomson concedes that, having affording Gers fans three sides of Stark’s Park, the Rovers players had a burning desire to be party poopers.
He said: “That was a big thing, you don’t want anther team coming to your ground and having a party on your pitch.
“You could hear by the fans’ reaction that something was happening at the Hibs game – they were losing or drawing – and they were sensing that it would be their day. They probably just wanted to see the game out.
“But we managed to get the goal we needed. The manner in which we got the draw is something we can be very proud of and I think we got what we deserved against a really quality side.
Raith’s goal threat and never-say-die attitude further underlined their status as dark horses for the playoff race.
With a 14 point lead over Queen of the South, who have five games left, Raith are all-but assured their place in the top four and, reflecting on a run of just one defeat in 11 games, Thomson reckons no-one will relish facing the Fifers.
He added: “If you look at our games against Falkirk and Rangers this season, they have all been pretty close. If we do get there, then I’m sure they will be good games and we’ll give a good account of ourselves.
“We are on a good run and we want to keep the run going and build momentum for those playoffs.
