Date	Saturday, 04 September 2004
Competition	Scottish League Division 1
Fixture/Score	Raith Rovers 1:2 Ross County
Venue	Starks Park
Attendance	1,540
Referee	Mike Ritchie
Comments	Match Report Report by Andrew Dickson for the Press & Journal. Raith Rovers 1 Ross County 2 The lack of a handshake said it all. This visit to Stark's Park brought Ross County more than just a win. With it, came a victory for the game's purists. As far as footballing revolutions go, Claude Anelka has done little to set the heather on fire in three months at Raith. Rovers have just one point--from a draw with Airdrie United--to show their first five league games. After another defeat, the Frenchman was less than confident. His strange post-match admission that he does not know if he is good enough to prevent Rovers from being relegated suggests there are plenty of problems that need urgent attention down Kirkcaldy way. Anelka virtually bought himself the manager's job when he invested £200,00 in the club in May, so he is hardly going to sack himself. If this match told you anything, it is that experience will always pull through. Comparing the opposing managers at Stark's Park was fascinating. It is unlikely you will ever find two with such contrasting styles. Anelka was dressed more for the catwalk than the dugout in his chic designer jumper and trendy jeans. He is a man whose only contribution to football of note is his involvement in his brother Nicolas's controversial £23.5million transfer from Arsenal to Real Madrid in 1999. When it comes to running a team, he is a total rookie. Then there is County boss Alex Smith--a man who is all about integrity and respect. Smith has just started his 37th year in football management. The former Aberdeen boss has been around the block so many times he knows exactly how the land lies down to the very last blade of grass. Anelka could do with taking tips from Smith because, for all the "style" he appears to carry, his apparent contempt for his players must do little to inspire confidence in the Rovers dressing-room. Anelka's touchline antics--his frantic outbursts and over-the-top tantrums--are stereotypically French. When referee Mike Ritchie called time on this fixture, one manager stormed straight to the tunnel, leaving his assistant to conduct the ritual of congratulating opponents. There are no prizes for guessing which one. County's win was more comfortable than the score line suggests. The Dingwall visitors struggled to get going in the opening stages, but goals either side of half-time had them cruising. Rovers pulled one back--but it turned out to be nothing more than a consolation goal which caused County only brief concern. Rovers began the brighter and both Paquito and Hamed Sacko had early opportunities to break the deadlock. Sacko rounded County keeper Stuart Garden but his attempt was cleared off the line by the excellent Stuart Malcolm. But County weathered the early storm and broke the deadlock in 36 minutes. Loan Ranger Chaplie Adam sent in a pinpoint corner from the right to the near post and Jim Lauchlan rose highest to glance a header beyond Rovers keeper Rudy Pounoussamy to make it 1-0. The County lead was doubled three minutes after the restart with an excellent finish. Gary McSwegan was brought down by Johathan Smart 20 yards out as he closed in on goal. The former Hearts forward tried to take a free kick to Alex Burke, only for play to be pulled back by referee Ritchie. With that, the chance to score seemed to have gone--but Adam stepped up to curl the free kick through a flimsy Rovers wall and beyond Pounoussamy to make it 2-0. This was a good performance from Adam. The Rangers youngster is clearly lacking in match-fitness but, if he can get up to speed quickly, he can be a real factor in County's promotion drive this season--barring any Ibrox recalls. Rovers tried to hit back and they grabbed the goal gave them plenty of hope when substitute Herve Ebanda, who had impressed since coming on at half-time, cut the deficit just before the hour mark. Garden cleared the ball to Lauchlan, but it got caught under the defender's feet and Ebenda took his chance. He latched on to the rebound, homed in on goal and slotted the ball under the County goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area. Suddenly it was game on--and for a brief spell the home players looked as though they might even pull level, with Wes Daly and Ebanada both going close, but not quite close enough. County again rode the storm and, although Burke and John Robertson had chances to make it 3-1, the Highlanders had already done enough to pick up their first league win since the 1-0 success at Queen of the South on the opening day of the season.
Ross County
Manager	Alexander (Alex) Smith
Starting 11	1: Stuart Garden, 2: Martin Canning, 3: James Lauchlan 1, 4: John Robertson, 5: Stuart Malcolm, 6: John Rankin, 7: Charles Adam 1 1, 8: Mark McCulloch, 9: Sean Kilgannon, 10: Alexander Burke, 11: Gary McSwegan
Bench	0: Colin Stewart, 0: Don (JNR) Cowie, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: Steven McGarry, 0: David Winters
Raith Rovers
Manager	Claude Anelka
Starting 11	Rudy Pounoussamy, Jonathan Smart, Thomas Hajovsky, Moussa Ouattara, Francisco Paquito 1, Jack Perry, Darren Brady, Wes Daly, Joe McAlpine, Hamed Sacko, John Martin
Bench	Stuart Hall, Lloyd Young, Herve Ebanda 1, Ryan Maxwell, Baronne Tagro