Dundee 0-1 Raith Rovers: Own-goal puts Dundee out

GARY Irvine, the Dundee defender, had an afternoon to forget as he was culpable, along with keeper Kyle Letheren, for the Dark Blues’ exit from the Scottish Cup.

Bad day: Gary Irvine scored an OG. Picture: SNS

Scorer: Irvine 8og

Irvine’s seventh-minute own goal was ultimately all that separated these two vying Championship sides in this hard-fought tie at Dens Park as John Brown’s side never recovered from their early set-back despite their best efforts to level proceedings.

Dundee were looking to make it back-to-back wins over their Fife opponents after recently beating them 2-0 in the league, but found themselves trailing early on. Raith full-back Jason Thomson went on a 50-yard solo run after dispossessing Craig Wighton and looked like he was about to go down for a penalty when he clashed with Declan Gallagher inside the box.

But the ball ran free in to the Dundee box and Irvine attempted to play it back to his keeper, only to stab it past Letheren at his near post.

It was no more than the visitors deserved for their bright start but Dundee almost hit back in 27 minutes. Wighton worked his magic inside the box to create some space for a shot, only for Rovers keeper Ross Laidlaw to fist his effort wide.

Then, on the half hour mark, Peter MacDonald latched on to a Gavin Rae knockdown but saw his 20-yard effort go just inches over the bar.

Gordon Smith had a great chance to make it 2-0 to Rovers but he watched in frustration as his half-volley from Thomson’s cross fizzed over the top. In 70 minutes, Letheren kept the hosts in the game with a fine save to turn Joe Cardle’s deflected shot over the bar for a corner.

Rovers struck the woodwork in the dying minutes when Calum Elliot’s left-foot drive cannoned back off the post but the Fifer’s had done just enough.