Raith boss forced to apologise for tannoy as Ross County suffer sorest night amid 'carnage'

A 3-2 defeat at Stark's Park condemned County to League One just 12 months after dropping out of the Premiership and Rovers rubbed salt in the wounds by playing the Paul Johnson song 'Get Get Down' over the speakers at full-time.

There were also angry scenes on the pitch at the end with players from both sides involved in heated exchanges, with County defender Akil Wright shown a red card by referee Duncan Nicolson after the final whistle.

County were staying up with 15 minutes left as they led 1-0, but the Highlanders conceded twice in four minutes before eventually going down 3-2 to finish bottom of the table and drop to the third tier of Scottish football for the first time in 18 years.

“The game becomes absolute carnage, and we do what we did to ourselves all season," a dejected Kettlewell said. “We ended up conceding two goals from cross balls, free headers inside our penalty box which we’ve seen before.

"It’s a position where we know results are changing elsewhere and victory puts us in the driving seat, and we shoot ourselves in the foot. That last period of the game becomes symptomatic of what Ross County have become.

“I take ownership for that, that’s my responsibility, but we’ve had three managers and numerous players coming and going. There’s been a lack of stability on the pitch, and I think it all culminates in what we see at the very end of the game.

“There’s real frustration for our supporters who back us 100 per cent.

Kettlewell unhappy at music

"This thing has seeped into football where every club wants to rub someone’s nose in it, and we saw players scrapping and fighting. The music comes on to make things worse for you, and I don’t blame Raith for that at all. It’s on us, we have to make sure that isn’t what happens at the end of the game, but we didn’t do our job so we have to take our medicine.

“It’s my sorest night ever by a country mile, and everyone associated with the football club. The worrying bit is what comes next.

“There wasn’t major changes coming down from the Premiership. Everyone saw us as a big fish coming down from the Premiership, and that will have to change going forward.

“I’m out of contract, and players are out of contract, so there will be significant changes. That pains me, because a lot of people here have done a lot of good jobs, but ultimately what has happened on the pitch has let us down.”

Raith boss Imrie was delighted with the victory but apologised for the taunting music at the end.

"I can't really comment," he said. "I'm not in control of the tannoy or our music system.

"But again, in these situations you've got to be careful because these things can come out to bite you in the backside. On my behalf, I can only apologise. You don't want to see people getting upset with that.

"Ross County are a fantastic football club and have got a great owner. I'm sure they'll come back strong next season."

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