Raith Rovers 1 - 1 Aberdeen: Mark McGhee doesn't agree, but last-gasp Gary McDonald leveller was cruel on Raith

Published on Sunday 7 February 2010 23:21

EVEN Val McDermid would have struggled to script the cruel twist in this Scottish Cup tale for her beloved Raith Rovers. The renowned crime novelist now sponsors the North Stand at Stark's Park where around 3,000 Aberdeen fans erupted in joyous relief on Saturday when Gary McDonald salvaged a fifth-round replay for the SPL team with his goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Mark McGhee may disagree, but it was harsh on the home side. The Aberdeen manager's view that defeat would have been a serious injustice for his team would not be readily recognised by any neutral observer.

The Pittodrie club would have been deserving of little sympathy had they slumped to yet another cup exit at the hands of lower league opponents. McGhee's post-match comments gave the impression of his team completely dominating the match, yet statistics show possession was only narrowly in their favour by 51 per cent to 49 per cent.

Aberdeen also did precious little with their share of the ball to merit their manager's homily. For, while Raith Rovers goalkeeper David McGurn enjoyed a fine match, he was no more influential than his opposite number Jamie Langfield whose excellent 69th-minute save from Stephen Simmons prevented Aberdeen from going 2-0 down and almost certainly going out of the tournament.

"I was hoping it would be a turning point in the game and I was happy with the save," said Langfield. "As the game went on, I was definitely thinking 'here we go again'. I could see the headlines already if we had lost to an SFL team in the cup again. I think that thought maybe spurred the boys on."

Raith, who went ahead through Iain Williamson's sweetly struck 32nd-minute volley from 20 yards, showed considerable tactical discipline and admirable defensive doggedness to subdue Aberdeen as an attacking force with a degree of comfort for much of the afternoon.

In captain Mark Campbell and his central defensive partner Grant Murray, the First Division outfit had an inspirational pairing who provided the bedrock for a ferociously committed team effort. In midfield, Allan Walker and Simmons combined industry and game intelligence to considerable effect, while on-loan Dundee United striker Kevin Smith ran himself into the rutted surface to keep the Aberdeen defence occupied.

Former Hearts player Simmons, who on this evidence could easily still be doing a job at SPL level, was left to reflect ruefully on being denied by Langfield's crucial intervention.

"It was the best chance of the second half and I thought I struck the shot well," said the 27-year-old. "I don't know how Jamie got a hand to it but it was a big moment in the game. If we had gone 2-0 up, the tie was maybe over.

"Credit to Aberdeen, they hung in there and got their goal right at the end, but it was a bit of sickener for us. We had played well and restricted them to very few chances. When their goal did come, I also felt there was a hint of offside about it."

Both scorer McDonald and his team-mate Steven MacLean did look as if they had strayed beyond the last defender when Charlie Mulgrew poked substitute Sone Aluko's cross towards goal. But linesman Tom Murphy kept his flag down as McDonald stabbed the ball beyond McGurn from close range.

"I thought a draw was the least we deserved," insisted McGhee. "I couldn't believe we were losing, it was such an injustice. I couldn't believe we were on the verge of going out, there was something very wrong. I'm thoroughly satisfied with the performance and I don't think our fans can be disappointed by it. I'm relieved to come away with a 1-1 draw in the end but not embarrassed by it. We are going back to Pittodrie now and we can finish the job."

Coming on the back of successive home SPL defeats against Motherwell and Falkirk, elimination from the Scottish Cup in Kirkcaldy would have seen McGhee's men lurch into something of a crisis. Goalkeeper Langfield, however, believes it may yet come to be viewed as a crucial moment in their season.

"I think we are a good team and have been very unlucky in recent weeks," he said. "Even some of the goals we are losing, they are incredible strikes from the guys scoring them, ones that would fly into the stand 19 times out of 20 but are nestling in the bottom corner.

"So I think today ended up as a great draw for us and we were all saying in the dressing room afterwards that it could be the turning point in our season."

While Aberdeen will be odds-on favourites for the replay on home soil on 16 February, however, Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn is well aware Pittodrie has hardly been an impregnable fortress during the current campaign.

"It is advantage Aberdeen, but the tie is still alive," said McGlynn. "They have lost seven times at home this season, so we are still in with a chance as far as I'm concerned. It was disappointing to lose the goal when we did but we are not going to cut ourselves up about it. You have to play to the last kick of the ball. We just have to deal with it and move on."