Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn doesn’t expect any of the First Division title challengers to replicate Inverness Caley Thistle’s scintillating second-half form of last season.
The Stark’s Park boss believes there are too many factors working against a repetition of the sustained surge Terry Butcher’s men mounted to overhaul Dundee last time round.
This will more than likely mean a promotion race that goes right to the very end.
“You can never rule it out,” said McGlynn, “but I would suggest that the league is so tight this season that it would be very difficult for any team to do.
“You’ve also got to take into account the fact that we’re all working with smaller squads, so injuries will inevitably take their toll.
“Our own match against Morton on Saturday showed just how tight this league is,” he added.
“Whether it’s 0-0, 1-0, or 2-0 going into the closing stages you can never take anything for granted.”
The Raith boss was still in a philosophical mood about being pegged back late on by Allan Moore’s side.
“We’ve scored goals at the death ourselves,” he said. “It happens. My players have been different class this season.
“If anyone had said to me at the start of the campaign that at nearly the end of January we’d be two points clear of Dunfermline, 10 ahead of Falkirk and top of the league, I’d have bitten their hand off.”
Iain Davidson picked up a knee injury on Saturday but it will not be until later in the week before the seriousness of the problem becomes clear.