First Division: Raith Rovers bring survival into view

One player enjoying that attention was Raith Rovers striker Brian Graham, who scored a hat-trick in his side’s 3-2 win at Falkirk. It was a good day overall for the Kirkcaldy side as relegation rivals Ayr United and Queen of the South both lost.

Raith now sit six points clear of the Doonhamers and will avoid automatic relegation if they secure at least a draw when they face the Dumfries side this Saturday. A point would also see the play-offs avoided should Ayr go down in their home encounter with Dundee.

Farid El Alagui gave Falkirk an early lead, only for Graham to net from the spot midway through the first half after he had been fouled by Kieran Duffie. Right on half-time, Graham shot his side ahead, an advantage which lasted until Bairns substitute Blair Alston volleyed in on 68 minutes.

Within a minute, Graham fired the winner to leave manager John McGlynn beaming. He said: “To win at Falkirk is fantastic, especially after going behind early. This victory gives us a real lift, but we understand that all we have now is a cushion.”

To add to a disappointing day for Steven Pressley’s side, winger Willie Gibson left the stadium at half-time after being substituted and will not feature in blue again. The Falkirk boss said: “We have created respect and trust for each other at this club, but that has been broken. He will not play for this club again.”

It was a disastrous day for Queen of the South as they lost 4-0 at home to Livingston, for whom in-form striker Rory Boulding opened the scoring after 27 minutes. The hosts had defender Chris Higgins red-carded eight minutes later following a challenge on Mark McNulty and the striker made Queens pay when he added the Lions’ second before half-time.

John Hughes’ men made their numerical advantage count further in the second half with Keaghan Jacobs and Boulding both finding the net.

Ayr went down 3-2 at Hamilton, a sending-off also hurting the visitors, who had gone in front after 17 minutes through Mark Roberts, with Jon McShane levelling before half-time.

Eddie Malone was dismissed when he picked up his second yellow card and Danny Redmond fired Billy Reid’s side in front shortly afterwards.

Ayr rallied and Michael McGowan levelled, only for McShane to grab the winner from close range with the visitors convinced the goal was offside.

Ross County made it 32 games in a row without defeat in their 1-1 draw at Morton, where Colin McMenamin’s early goal was cancelled out by Marc Smyth just before half-time.

The point ends home fears of automatic relegation but Morton still need another one to avoid the play-offs.

Partick Thistle’s Paul Cairney grabbed a hat-trick as the Jags won 3-0 at Dundee. The midfielder recovered from missing a spot-kick to complete his treble from the spot in the last minute after the Dark Blues’ Neil McGregor was dismissed.