Raith Rovers manager Grant Murray contends there is no better game in which to rectify their poor run of home form than the Fife derby with Cowdenbeath tomorrow.
Stark’s Park has played host to six Championship fixtures so far but the Kirkcaldy faithful have seen their side win only one so far a 3-1 success over Dumbarton on the opening day of the season.
Since then, it has been a tale of woe as Rangers, Hearts and Queen of the South have all left Fife with full points and four goals a-piece, with draws against Falkirk and Alloa the only other bright spots on Rovers’ home record.
Murray therefore knows that Cowden will make the short trip along the A92 not short of any confidence, but the Rovers boss believes the occasion will help his players rise to the challenge.
He explained: “It’s another big game for us and derby games are always big games for people involved at the club and the supporters.
“It doesn’t matter where either team are in the league, when you look at any derby that goes on they are tough matches.
“But we take a lot of positives out of last week’s game and we know what a win could do for us this weekend.
“If you look at the fixtures, albeit we can only affect the one we’re involved in, it would be a great three points to take depending on what happens in the other games.
“If you look at what the fixtures are and where we are in the league, a win for us would keep us there or thereabouts.”
Despite suffering defeat at league leaders Hearts last weekend, Murray was buoyed by a much improved all-round performance and was happy that his men competed with a side that had blown away all comers to Tynecastle before Raith’s visit.
And the Rovers boss feels his men can take further confidence from the fact that they convincingly defeated Cowden 3-1 at Central Park earlier in the season.
“We’re going into this derby and we know what to expect,” he continued.
“They are difficult games but we went to Central Park earlier in the season and got into a fantastic situation, getting ourselves 3-0 up.
“Obviously we lost a goal late on but it was a great performance and a great result that day.
“We’re going to need the same kind of performance, and the same kind of performance we had against Hearts at Tynecastle last week, because we expect Cowdenbeath want to come and want to make amends for that defeat earlier in the season.”
Rovers haven’t had their injury problems to seek of late but those are beginning to clear, with defender Craig Barr the latest to start light training as he recovers from a knee injury.
“Craig has started to join in, so it is a massive bonus,” Murray said.
“We don’t want to push him too much but he’s ahead of schedule.
“He’s not fully involved but he’s stepping it right up and he’s had a lift from that, getting out with the boys.”
Striker Christian Nade, who was an unused substitute on his return to Tynecastle last weekend, has also trained all week as he shakes off the effects of an ankle injury and could be in contention for a starting slot at Stark’s Park tomorrow.
Murray concluded: “Obviously he’s been out for a wee spell and had only trained one day last week, but it’s been good to have him around the place as well.”