Chris Smith Post Raith

Raith Rovers Match Programme gave Chris the clue to penalty save.

Pars goalkeeper Chris Smith saved a Raith penalty just four minutes into the second half and although at the end of the match that save had no bearing on the result.

Chris insisted that the penalty should never have been given:-

"I went down but for me it wasn't a penalty. The ref obviously only has one view of it; I went down and the striker ran in to me. He has been a bit smart about it but it has happened and it's just one of those things that you have to take. What can you do? You just have to get on with it. I said to the ref when you see it again you might change your mind about it."

There was some satisfaction that the save came courtesy of the Raith Rovers Match Programme. Chris had played with John Baird while the two of them were at St Mirren and had seen his spot kicks before. So it was a challenge when the two of them went head to head at Starks Park:-

"He usually goes the other way" claimed Chris "but I saw the picture in the match programme before the game and noticed that he had put one that way two weeks ago so I just took my chance. Maybe it was just a wee bit of forward thinking, when I saw the picture I thought I'd take the gamble. It paid off but unfortunately it wasn't a winning save. Maybe they'll not print the picture the next time!"

The 24 year old keeper has saved several penalties in his career but he maintains that is merely what keepers are there to do. Smith kept out Raith until 17 minutes from the end when the Starks Park side struck twice in five minutes to secure their 100% league record, he continued:-

"We got punished for making mistakes and they were cheap goals to give away."

The second goal led to Chris having stern words with Nick Phinn whom the Manager had already pointed out failed to cut out the corner kick to the near post, but he claimed:-

"If you don't show passion on the park then you have a problem. I think the Manager would be asking questions if we weren't at each others throats. That is all done and forgotten about until we watch the game back again.

"We were unlucky to have a chance of our own cleared off the line and then just before Raith scored we had one hit the bar. On a day when those go in it could all be different but we just need to get on with it, put ourselves back together and work out what we should have done better. On the second half performance we didn't deserve anything.

"We are only three games into the league season, we have won two and lost one so we cannot be too disappointed. There is still a long way to go."

MATCH REPORT: Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 0

Managers Post Raith Rovers