Lichties supporters scream for penalty - then scoring hero Ross issued straight red
Spot of controversy as Broath finish with 10
John McGlashan refused to point the finger of blame at referee Steven Nicholls after Arbroath were denied a penalty and had a man sent off in a bruising Second Division draw in Fife.
The Arbroath supporters screamed for a penalty when Mark McCulloch tumbled in the box while goalscoring substitute Robbie Ross received a straight red card in the dying moments.
McGlashan said: "We might have had a penalty but it was a 50-50 call and sometimes they don't go for you.
"As for Robbie, he's not a malicious boy and as the players came together there were a few tangled legs.
"When you're trying to free your leg you have to be careful not to give the ref a chance to show a red card.
"But it's a fine line and there was no intention to harm the player."
McGlashan's enforced changes at half-time worked for him in 51 minutes when substitute Steve Dorris's corner was headed home by fellow sub Ross.
They held the lead for three minutes until Fife player-boss Stevie Crawford rifled in the rebound after Jon Smart's effort was blocked.
Both sides struggled to find a winner and Ross was ordered off in 88 minutes after he appeared to stamp on Fife defender Mark Staunton.
McGlashan said: "Both teams were desperate not to lose.
"I thought we probably had the better chances to win the game but if you'd offered me seven points from nine I'd certainly have taken it."
Fife coach Scott Crabbe said: "They're a horrible side to play as they're very competitive and they get in your faces.
"But we more than matched them, which is pleasing, as they are one of the favourites to go up."
SUNDAY MAIL Kristian Truelsen
ARBROATH boss John McGlashan is adamant goal hero Robbie Ross was unlucky to go from saint to sinner when he was red carded for stamping in the dying minutes.
Sub Ross nodded Arbroath in front in the second half with his second goal in a week but his day was overshadowed when he kicked out at Mark Staunton after the two became entangled in 88 minutes.
McGlashan said: "Players often get tangled after they have gone in for a challenge and an opponent can often catch the other player with their trailing leg.
"I thought he was unlucky to get the red as he isn't a malicious player. He wasn't trying to harm the opponent but he does have to be more careful not to give the ref a chance to brandish the red card.
"It's disappointing for him because he did very well by getting the goal and he was impressive when he came on."
Fifers player-manager Stevie Crawford went on to level the match to ensure the spoils were shared.
There wasn't much between the two in the opening stages but East Fife looked dangerous up front and Paul Nugent could have given them an early lead but his tame shot was gathered by Darren Hill.
In 10 minutes David Muir smacked a shot from the edge of the box which flashed inches wide after Lloyd Young's raking pass sent him through.
Arbroath should have been in front in 22 minutes when Paul Lunan's cross found Steven Hislop but his header flew wide.
Both sides played attrac-tivstuff at times but too often they failed to test the keepers.
Hislop squandered another chance 10 minutes before half time when his low drive went wide after a devastating Arbroath counter.
Robbie Raeside brought out a fine save from Michael Brown after a powerful header on the stroke of half time.
Arbroath grabbed the lead five minutes after the break when Ross nodded home from a Steven Dorris corner.
Their celebrations were short-lived though as the home side drew level just three minutes later.
The Arbroath backline failed to clear a cross ball and it fell to Crawford who coolly side-footed home from six yards.
East Fife assistant manager Scott Crabbe said: "We matched Arbroath which was pleasing because they are one of the favourites to go up this season. It's another point and we are delighted."
The COURIER Crabbe gives Fifers home win warning
EAST FIFE have to win at home if they are to stand a chance this season, assistant coach Scott Crabbe said.
But Crabbe was satisfied enough with the players' workrate during the 1-1 draw with ARBROATH at Bayview, which saw player-boss Stevie Crawford level the score three minutes after Robbie Ross put the visitors ahead.
"Arbroath are really competitive and get in your face a lot but our boys more than matched them," he said.
"That's pleasing for us because they have to be one of the favourites to win this league.
"It's another point, and we're delighted with that, but obviously you've got to win at home. Looking at how the game went I thought a draw was probably a fair result.
"I was delighted with the way the boys reacted when we were 1-0 down because it's difficult against them when you go 1-0 down because they scrap for everything but we got ourselves back in the game."
Crabbe said Scott Thomson, who hobbled off with an ankle problem during the second half, would be all right.
"He's an experienced boy—he'll be back for next Saturday I'm sure. He's a big player for us."
The hard fought game saw Ross score his second goal in as many weeks, only to be sent off two minutes from the final whistle for violent conduct.
Lichties boss John McGlashan said the striker had not meant any malice.
"I don't think there was any intention to harm a player," McGlashan said.
He said his men had enough chances to steal a victory but was happy to take a point from the 1-1 draw.
"It wasn't a classic but it was a hard fought game. Both teams were desperate not to lose.
"I thought we had the better chances to go and win the game. I thought we had a penalty—50/50 call on that one. And there were two or three decent efforts in the latter stages of the first half and the latter stages of the second half.
"We've had a couple of wins and a draw away from home. If someone had said at the start of the season, would you take seven points out of nine, I think anyone would agree that's a decent return."
Ross responded to a cross from fellow substitute Steven Dorris to open the scoring in 51 minutes. Crawford provided the equaliser after Jonathan Smart's attempt rebounded off the keeper.
The goal tally did nothing to reflect the amount of chances on each side. Steven Hislop had his fair share but struggled to be on target. And Crawford could have scored from eight yards in the first half but the offside flag went up.
Arbroath fans clamoured for a penalty kick when Marc McCulloch was taken down inside the box by Smart but the referee allowed play to continue.