Raith Rovers 2-0 Queen's Park

Aug 10 2008 Chris Gallagher At Stark'S Park

PAUL CAIRNEY lost the plot to hand three easy points to Raith. The player on loan from Partick Thistle was sent off after 17 minutes for kicking out at Rovers skipper Iain Davidson.

Queen's Park were already one down at that point and there was no way back.

Angry boss Gardner Speirs hit out at Cairney and said: "I don't have any complaints about the red card, none at all.

"We can't do things like that and the player has been told so. It's a shame because he was a stand-out up to that point. It really put us up against it."

Raith's first came in nine minutes when Kevin Smith found space and fired a low strike past David Crawford from 12 yards.

Cairney's dismissal was a blow for the Hampden men but Adam Coakley should have equalised in 20 minutes but blasted straight at David McGurn from 16 yards.

Barry Douglas then tested McGurn with a free-kick from 20 yards.

At the opposite end Allan Walker drove over from 25 yards when he should have played in Mark Ferry.

Queen's were still threatening and in 40 minutes Martin Ure drilled just past.

Just after the restart Coakley came close again with a long-range strike that Mark Campbell deflected wide.

Ferry should have doubled Rovers' lead in 48 minutes but shot straight at Crawford.

Walker made the game safe five minutes later when he arrowed a low shot past Crawford after a fabulous run and cross from Craig Wilson.

The Spiders were hanging on now and Crawford's point-blank save denied Graham Weir after 55 minutes.

Smith could have made it three in 69 minutes but his volley from 14 yards was off target.

Six minutes later Smith came close again when he headed Ferry's cross against the bar from close range.

Rovers were also reduced to 10 men when Cook harshly received a second yellow for fouling Jack Henry 12 minutes from time.

Kirkcaldy boss John McGlynn praised his side who have the meanest defence in the league.

He said: "I was pleased with our football today. We've now had three clean sheets in our first three games this season so I'm delighted with our defence."