Raith Rovers goalkeeper David McGurn made a long-awaited return to the first team in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Alloa.
McGurn, who has not featured since tearing his achilles tendon almost exactly a year ago, displaced Ross Laidlaw, who dropped to the bench after the 6-1 defeat at Ibrox.
The fit-again stopper justified manager Grant Murray’s decision to bring him back into the side with a number of good saves to deny an Alloa side that finished the match with 10 men.
“I’m happy with the saves, but I’m just glad I got through it,” McGurn said. “I was very nervous in the warm-up but once the game started and I got a touch of the ball I really enjoyed it.
“I never thought it would come around but I’m delighted to get a game. I’m disappointed with the result, but it was good to be involved.”
There was little McGurn could do to prevent Alloa from taking a 14th minute lead as Liam Buchanan pounced on Rory McKeown’s sliced clearance to loop a header over the stranded Raith keeper.
Raith struggled to break down a packed Wasps defence but the home side eventually made the breakthrough in the 34th minute after Grant Anderson powered home a header from Barrie McKay’s cross.
Rovers were looking for their first win in five matches, but it was the visitors who showed more urgency after the break.
McGurn was called into action just 60 seconds after the restart, making a stunning one-handed reflex save to keep out Ryan McCord’s powerful 16-yard strike.
McCord had another attempt a minute later but McGurn was up to the task again, pushing behind the midfielder’s 25-yard strike at full stretch.
At the other end, Raith were unable to force Alloa stopper Craig McDowall into a single second-half save. Mark Stewart had the home side’s only real glimpse of goal but was denied by a last ditch tackle before he could get his shot away.
The home side upped the pressure in the last 10 minutes once Kyle Benedictus picked up a second booking for a foul on Martin Scott to leave his side down to 10 men, however Rovers still could not create an opening and there were loud boos from the home fans at full-time.
Raith boss Murray said: “The fans certainly would be disappointed because we’re at home against Alloa and they would expect us to go all out and win the game comfortably.
“It doesn’t always happen like that in this league. They are fighting for their lives and they are saying there’s no way they should be at the bottom of the league with the football they’re playing.
“It’s up to us to go and beat that, but we didn’t have that urgency. We huffed and puffed but never really got a grip of the game.”