Raith Rovers boss Grant Murray wants his side’s first league win in three months to reignite their promotion play-off hopes ahead of tonight’s trip to leaders Dundee.
The Stark’s Park outfit eased some concerns over their Championship status by seeing off bottom club Morton on Saturday, with their 2-1 comeback victory representing their first success since they beat Dumbarton by the same scoreline back on December 14.
That moved them six clear of the relegation play-off zone with a game in hand on ninth-placed Cowdenbeath, but Rovers will now be keen to reel the sides above them in rather than dwell on what is happening at the wrong end of the division.
A victory this evening would put Raith to within four points of fourth spot, and it’s an incentive Raith will be keen to capitalise on when they head to Dens Park.
“It’s not outwith our reach and who knows where a run could take you,” Murray said.
“We needed to get back to winning ways as quickly as we could and it was always going to be a difficult game against Morton who had nothing to lose, but I was delighted with the attitude and the all-round performance.
“It will be another difficult one against Dundee but it’s one for the players to look forward to.
“We’re looking forward to going to their pitch, their stadium and playing in front of their own fans, and going there to try and win the game.”
Rovers returned to winning ways with the defence they started the season with, bolstered by the return of centre half Paul Watson who got back to league action for the first time since the end of November.
Watson, who made his first appearance against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat to St Johnstone after breaking his foot, has slotted once more into the Rovers back line and Murray believes his presence will settle things down.
“I hope it does,” he added. “At the end of the day he was in the team at the start of the season when the team was doing well, so it’s good to get him back.
“It’s good to get a player of his calibre he’s a leader and talker on the park so hopefully that helps the team all round.”
Substitute Greig Spence’s double on Saturday which took him to within one of a place on Raith’s 100 all-time top goalscorers list will no doubt have given Murray some food for thought ahead of his team selection for tonight.
However, it remains to be seen whether the forward will be given a start ahead of the man he replaced at the weekend, Gordon Smith.
It is a busy period for Rovers at the moment with the Kirkcaldy club facing midweek games this week and next, and Murray may have to utilise all the players at his disposal.
“We’ll be relying on everyone in the squad,” he noted. “You never know what will come out of having so many games in a short period.
“We could pick up injuries, and we have one or two players nearing a suspension.”
Striker Calum Elliot remains a doubt, while keeper David McGurn is still sidelined as he recovers from Achilles surgery.