Raith Rovers’ Iain Davidson is looking for a magnificent seven victories to ensure the Kirkcaldy club beat the odds and clinch the first division title in May.
Rovers top the table by two points from Fife rivals Dunfermline, and Davidson is determined to prove wrong the pundits who predicted the Stark’s Park outfit did not have the staying power to win promotion starting today at Falkirk.
“Some people seem intent on writing us off, but apart from a spell during the bad weather when Dunfermline went ahead of us, we have been top of the league all season,” he said.
“It is not how you start, it is how you finish, but only time will tell. Our destiny is definitely in our own hands. If we win the last seven games we win the league it’s as simple as that.
“But we will continue taking things game by game and stay strong and focused.”
Rovers’ small squad has had to cope with a recent hectic spell of two matches a week, which Davidson admits has taken its toll on the legs, and with midfielder Stephen Simmons set to start a suspension, manager John McGlynn bolstered his ranks this week by signing Hibs midfielder Kevin McBride on loan until the end of the season.
That move was something Davidson welcomed.
“We do not have the biggest squad and it already looks like Iain Williamson will be out for the season, so it is great that we have managed to pick up someone like Kevin,” he added.Bookings”We have been playing Saturday/Tuesday for the last few weeks, which also takes its toll on the legs, and we will also have suspensions to consider. It is important that we try to steer clear of bookings.
“We now have another big game against Falkirk and our matches with them so far this season have been really exciting and close.
“They edged the last game thanks to a wonder goal by Jack Compton and a rare mistake by our goalie David McGurn and they are a good, young, skilful side.
“However, we are determined not to worry too much about the opposition and instead just concentrate on ourselves and to kick on.
“Obviously Falkirk still have a chance of winning the league as they have games in hand on us, so there is likely to be a big crowd and these are the sort of matches that give you a big buzz as a player. Hopefully we will take a large travelling support through with us.”
McGlynn stripped Davidson of the Rovers captaincy earlier in the season over a disciplinary matter, and while the player has accepted the decision he has not given up hope of regaining the armband one day.
“I have just got on with my job as normal,” he said. “The right man is the captain now-Grant Murray is a top, experienced pro.
“Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice honour and one that I enjoyed, but I like to think that I have been going about my business in the correct manner and I hope it has helped the team.
“The gaffer says we will reassess things at the end of the season, but it is not about me, it is all about success for Raith Rovers.”SpringboardLike Davidson, McGlynn is also expecting a tight match today, but he hopes it can be a springboard to go on a title-clinching run of victories.
“The games against Falkirk have been tough, but to be honest, all the games we have had have been difficult this season,” he said.
“I think this game will be as tight again and it should be a cracker. It looks likely that any one of the top three who can go on even a mini-run of wins could lift the title.
“Nobody has done that yet, so if one of the teams can put four or five wins together it would probably be enough to blow the others out of the water.
“But such is the competitiveness of this league from start to finish, there is no game that you can say is a gimme. So the team that can go on a run now is the one that deserves to win the league.”
Falkirk boss Steven Pressley claims to be back in the title race following his side’s midweek success at Queen of the South.
“Winning in midweek has set us up for this huge game very nicely,” the manager said. “We won the last game between ourselves and Raith and a repeat of that would be fantastic.
“Three points would really start firing things up for a push on the title by us by winning our games in hand, but we will need to play well for the entire 90 minutes to take anything.”
The Bairns welcome back on-loan Rangers player Ross Perry to their squad from Scotland under-21 duty. However, defender Mehdi Khalis is away on international duty with the Moroccan under-23 side and he misses out.