Raith Rovers 2-1 Dundee: Raith win it at the death

BARRY SMITH, the Dundee manager, was embroiled in a row with referee Craig Charleston following his team's late defeat to Raith Rovers which resulted in Fife Constabulary becoming involved.

Smith was furious at Charleston for awarding a free-kick to Raith with seconds left, especially as Allan Walker used the knockdown to score a stunning winning goal.

He also took issue with the referee's decision to send off Craig McKeown for a second booking with eight minutes remaining.

Dundee were drawing after Stephen O'Donnell scored to cancel out Gregory Tade's first-half strike.

At the conclusion of the match Smith entered the field of play to remonstrate with the official before carrying on his 'debate' in their dressing-room.

Smith, until yesterday unbeaten since he took over in October, then spoke to the press before being shepherded away by the police for a chat.

No action was taken against the 36-year-old.

Speaking before the police intervention, he admitted his team were not at their best but made it clear he blamed Charleston for their defeat.

"I don't want to talk about the referee, he's not worth my breath, simple as that," he said. "The boys knocked their pan in and it wasn't their fault. Something has caused them to be defeated today. I am not saying we played well because we can play a lot better but we were worth a point until something decided it wasn't to be.

"We deserved better decisions than we got. I thought the sending-off was harsh, especially when there was a decision before it which didn't go our way.

"A boy who had already been booked came in late but didn't get sent off."

Forced to name Connor Rennie, Leighton McIntosh and Gary Bartlett from their youth team Dundee barely got going in a first-half which Raith, now a point behind First Division leaders Dunfermline with a game in hand, dominated. And it was no surprise when Tade gave John McGlynn's side, who had exerted sustained pressure throughout the opening 45 minutes, the lead two minutes before the break.

The impressive John Baird brilliantly flicked the ball over his marker on the edge of the box and it fell for the Frenchman, who thrashed a stunning low volley into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

Raith were forced into a change at the break, with goalkeeper Andy McNeil off and replaced by David McGurn.

Dundee had rarely shown what they could do in attack but, as so often this season, were clinical in scoring an equaliser. Played in by teenager Rennie, O'Donnell darted onto the ball at an acute angle before thrashing a shot across McGurn into the far corner.

Dundee were reduced to ten men with eight minutes left when McKeown was ordered off for a second booking.

The Fifers piled forward looking for the winner and saw defender Mark Campbell shoot narrowly wide.

And their agony turned to ecstasy with seconds remaining when Walker pounced upon a knockdown from a free-kick 25 yards from goal and sent a dipping volley past Douglas and in off the underside of the bar.