Gary Harkins' late free-kick rescued a 1-1 draw for Ayr at Raith in an ill-tempered Ladbrokes Championship match that saw both sides have a player sent off.
Raith went ahead in the 17th minute through Joel Coustrain's 20-yard shot from a central position that found the top-left of goal.
However Rovers were hampered nine minutes before the break when Kyle Benedictus was shown a second yellow card in 10 minutes, his first being for dissent.
Early in the second half Kevin Nisbet squandered a fine chance to level shortly before team-mate Paul Cairney was dismissed for violent conduct.
With three minutes to go Kevin McHattie fouled Harkins, whose 25-yard free-kick found the top-right of goal.
Robert Crawford almost won it for the visitors in stoppage time but Kevin Cuthbert tipped his shot over.
Scottish Championship Standings
| POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dundee United | 14 | +21 | 33 |
| 2 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 15 | +4 | 26 |
| 3 | Ayr United | 14 | +8 | 24 |
| 4 | Dunfermline Athletic | 15 | +6 | 22 |
| 5 | Dundee | 15 | -2 | 21 |
| 6 | Arbroath | 14 | -1 | 20 |
| 7 | Queen of the South | 15 | -2 | 19 |
| 8 | Greenock Morton | 14 | -11 | 16 |
| 9 | Alloa Athletic | 15 | -11 | 14 |
| 10 | Partick Thistle | 15 | -12 | 12 |
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