Although some pundits are already predicting that Raith Rovers’ game against Dunfermline on April 23 could be the first division title decider, Rovers skipper Grant Murray insists his colleagues will continue to look no further ahead than their next fixture, starting tonight against Ross County.
The Stark’s Park outift saw their lead at the top of the table reduced to two points on Saturday when they could only draw at Morton while local rivals Dunfermline won comfortably against Stirling.
Now, Murray insists that Raith cannot afford to lose focus on the immediate task in hand or that April derby could be rendered meaningless for them.
“We picked up a good point at a difficult venue at the weekend,” he said. “We always set out to win every game but Morton have been doing well recently and have crept up the league so we have to be thankful that we were able to secure what could prove to be a very important draw away from home.
“We have had a lot of games recently but the lads are still feeling fresh and raring to go. Personally, I really enjoy playing two matches a week. We all train very hard at the club but, for me, nothing compares to actually playing. There is nothing better than picking up a good result on a Saturday and being able to go straight back out on the pitch in midweek full of confidence.
“We are all still taking things one game at a time but obviously if someone had said at the start of the season that we would be in the position we are now with just eight games left, we would have bitten their hand off.
“Title talk has not been banned or anything like that in the dressing-room but we are where we are for a reason and, while it may be a cliche, we are determined not to look too far into the future and just concentrate game by game.
“Things can change so quickly in this league so you have to retain that focus or you could slip up.
“We have a good group of players at the club with a lot of experience and we are aware that there is no such thing as an easy game in the first division. No team will lie down, even if you are the league leaders.”
Rovers have won the last two meetings against tonight’s opponents but Murray is still expecting a tough battle against a Staggies side sitting second bottom of the table.Drop zone”Last season, Ross County made it all the way to the Scottish Cup final and did well in the league,” he added. “Now, they are in a position they do not want to be in. They will be desperate to pull clear of the drop zone so we will have to be at our best if we want to pick up the right result.”
Raith boss John McGlynn also forecast a close encounter but believes his tight-knit squad still possess the necessary fitness and sharpness to ensure they remain top of the table.
“Games between us and Ross County this season have been very close,” he said. “In fact, even when we were in the second division together, it was like that then. I am expecting the same on Tuesday night, especially as Ross County are fighting for their lives at the moment at the wrong end of the table.
“We have had a hectic schedule with the midweek games recently but everyone is the same. This should be our last midweek match for a while unless something unforeseen happens but I believe the lads are still fresh and have enough left in the tank to pick up the right result.”
Rovers will be without the injured Laurie Ellis (calf), Iain Williamson (foot) and Craig Wilson (ankle) for tonight’s match.
Dingwall manager Jimmy Calderwood is still smarting from Saturday’s 2-1 reverse against Queen of the South that left County, who have secured only one win in 14 games, in the relegation play-off place.
“I am looking for a much sharper performance against Raith Rovers as I was really disappointed with what I saw on Saturday,” said Calderwood. “We need to be stronger on the ball and win more 50/50 challenges and generally just be up for it more than we were in that game.
“We had been making progress but slipped back on Saturday.”
The long-term injured Darren McCormack and the suspended Stuart Kettlewell are unavailable.