Raith Rovers captain Jason Thomson hailed the team character at Stark’s Park after his dramatic injury-time winner against Morton kept the club’s 100% home record intact.
Raith lost their status as the last remaining club in Britain yet to concede a home league goal when Thomas O’Ware equalised with eight minutes left to cancel out Mark Stewart’s first-half opener.
That disappointment was quickly forgotten, though, as Thomson pounced in the 94th minute to lift Rovers into second place in the Championship, and make Ray McKinnon the first Raith manager since Peter Hodge in 1907 to win his first seven competitive home games.
Thomson said: “It’s not like me to be up there, but I was up for a few corners because Lewis Toshney had been struggling with his calf.
“I had two or three swipes at it, then I just thought, I’m taking everything in with me, defenders the lot.
“It shows great character from the boys.
“Again, it wasn’t our best performance. I think our last two have been a bit iffy, but it’s good to get those wins when you’re not playing at your best.
“It’s a good feeling to not play so well but get the winner at the end.
“You could play well every week and not win many games.
“We’re starting to get a winning mentality in our game.
“When we’re not playing well, we’re digging out results.
“It was a bit disappointing to lose the goal at the time but we showed great character to push on and get the winner.
“If you can grind out results, especially at home, then you’re going to have a good season.”
Raith recovered from a slow start to take the lead in the final minute of the first half.
Ryan McCord’s corner was headed down by Thomson to Stewart, who fired home on the turn from six yards.
Morton proved to be no pushovers, and after a period of second-half pressure the Greenock men levelled on 82 minutes when Bobby Barr’s corner dropped invitingly for O’Ware to volley high into the roof of the net.
Rovers introduced new signing, ex-Dundee United midfielder Scott Robertson, from the bench as they pushed for a winner.
The last chance appeared to have gone when Jon Daly’s 92nd minute header hit the net only for referee Bobby Madden to rule it out for a foul.
There was time for one more Raith attack. From Rory McKeown’s long throw, Daly’s header was saved by Derek Gaston and, after the ball landed in the six-yard box, Thomson miskicked before forcing the rebound over the line.
McKinnon was delighted with the three points.
“I thought it was gone but football is a brilliant game and we’re obviously delighted to get a last-minute winner,” he said.
“It was a tough game, but we showed great character and it’s a great three points.”