Dunfermline unhappy with Raith celebrations after late goal

Emotions were running high after the Kirkcaldy side won the match 1-0 with a 93rd minute goal from Sam Stanton and there were angry words on the pitch followed by some pushing and shoving from both sides.

The bitter disappointment was even harder to swallow for Dunfermline as they were the better side throughout and created a hatful of chances to score.

Asked about the scuffle at the end, McPake said: “There’s emotion there. It’s not what I expect, but they’re trying to see a game out, we’re trying to get back into it.

"Flip it round, would we have celebrated in that way? Probably. Although maybe on the last day of the season we would have done that, certainly not at this early stage.

"Look, they’ve won the game, they’re at home and they're in a derby. Good luck to them but I’d certainly be disappointed in my staff if that was the way they behaved.”

Sam Stanton's goal in the 93rd minute won the Fife derby for Raith Rovers. (Image: Craig Brown)

He also said: "It’s not sour grapes. We should have won the game but, credit to them, they kept at it and it’s a great finish from Stanton in the end."

Raith manager Ian Murray denied they had goaded Athletic players and management by celebrating too much in front of them, although the clash will add some extra spice to next month's Scottish Cup tie.

"No, that's not the case," he said. "You'll see it for yourself.

"We've got a dug-out camera - the footage will probably be on social media soon enough - and people can judge for themselves.

"There's nothing in it, absolutely nothing. It's emotions, heat of the moment.

"They've lost a derby in the last minute, we've won a derby in the last minute, something generally happens."

The dug-outs are very close together at Stark's Park but Murray said that wasn't an issue, but he did have a run-in with Dunfermline's assistant boss, Dave Mackay, with both men booked by the ref after their confrontation.

Murray explained: "Dave Mackay didn't shake my hand properly, simple as that, and if he denies it that's up to him.

"He tried to pull my arm away, I gave it a couple of seconds and thought 'Nah, that's not for me'.

"You shouldn't get involved in those things at our age and with our experience. It's just one of those things.

"They're bitterly disappointed, I get it. Sometimes emotions run high and things are said that shouldn't be said.

"We sit back a couple of hours later and shake our heads at our behaviour.

"It's not something you want to see although I'm sure the supporters will love it and dress it up to be bigger than it is."

To make matters even worse, the Raith boss agreed that Dunfermline were very unlucky not to take anything from the game.

He said: "It was a really close game and a draw probably was fair to be honest.

"They caused us a few problems and we didn't create anything in the game but we got one moment of real quality and we win."

Murray added: "We've not played very well against them but we've found ways to win the game.

"They're a good side. We've found it hard against Dunfermline this season, there's no doubt about it."