Gary Naysmith was rightly proud of his East Fife side despite watching them go down 2-0 to Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.
Goals either side of the break from Dean Shiels secured the win for the runaway league leaders but nobody could fault the Fifers, who were unlucky to leave Ibrox without at least a goal.
Had it not been for some last-ditch defending at times from Rangers, East Fife could easily have threatened the men from the west’s undefeated streak. Naysmith was quick to acknowledge the efforts of his side.
He said: “We got off to a disappointing start with our first three passes out from the back going to Rangers players and that gave them the initiative.
“But we grew into the game and had a few half chances and Rangers had to make a few good blocks.
“When it was 1-0, Gary Fisher had a good chance and Liam Buchanan had another and that would have made it a really interesting game.
“It showed we’re getting better as a team and I’m really, really proud of their effort.I don’t think they could have given any more.”
The cliched golden rule at either half of the Old Firm is not to concede an early goal but, for the second time at Ibrox this season, that’s exactly what East Fife did.
Craig Johnstone prevented a certain goal by clearing the ball off the goal line for a corner.
From the set-piece the ball broke kindly to Shiels and, with just a couple of minutes on the clock, the Gers forward fired through a ruck of bodies and into the net.
Any worries of a potential Fife collapse were unfounded as the Methil men forced their way back into the game.
Liam Buchanan posed a threat up front and only a Lee McCulloch block prevented him from pulling East Fife level.
The Fifers were far from afraid to knock the ball around the large Ibrox surface and some good build-up play allowed Ryan Stewart a sight of goal.
His strike, though, was held. They continued to press forward and Buchanan really should have made it 1-1 when he was picked out by Blair Henderson 10 yards from goal.
Buchanan had time to pick his spot but his tame effort was blocked by Bilel Moshni.
Gary Fisher found Cammy Bell equal to his close-range effort, with Buchanan again unlucky to see an effort cleared following some last-ditch Gers defending.
Shiels, however, wrapped up the win when he netted from close range.