Success over Dundee could see Raith Rovers hit the Championship’s summit but all boss Grant Murray is concerned about is continuing their fine start to the season.
Rovers have lost just twice in 18 competitive games so far this season and only once over 90 minutes, with the opening day defeat to Hamilton and a League Cup exit to Hearts on penalties the only blots on the Kirkcaldy club’s copybook so far. And if leaders Hamilton lose at Queen of the South, as they did in the Scottish Cup last week, Murray’s men are well aware that a win at Dens Park on Saturday would see them replace Accies at the top of the table.
It all makes good reading for supporters, but the Raith manager is doing what he has done all season long taking each game at a time.
“We’ve had a good run, and games are going to get harder from here,” he said. “There are always teams out there who will want to stop you when you’re on the run that we’re on. We’ll go up to Dundee with belief and confidence and try to win the game.
“But trying to get into first place as early as we can is not our aim, I must admit. I’ve been in that position and been top of the league for nearly a whole season and got pipped at the end.
“All we’re focused on is continuing to play how we’re playing, keeping everyone fit and winning games of football.
“The squad aren’t daft. They know that, if they were to lose a couple on the bounce, it could take us out of the top four.”
Rovers are yet to lose on their travels this season and have won three of their five away league fixtures, so the Kirkcaldy club will head to Dens Park in good heart.
But given Dundee’s desire to return to Scottish football’s top flight at the first time of asking, Murray has described the game as one of their “biggest tests”.
He added: “It’s a difficult place to go. We played Dundee early doors and had a 0-0 at Stark’s Park but they’ve been on a good run.
“They’re the team who came down from the top league so a lot of people look at them as the favourites to go back up.
“We’ll just need to be at our best if we want to get a result.”
After missing Sunday’s cup win over East Stirling, Rovers expect winger Joe Cardle to return after breaking a bone in his hand in last week’s midweek win over Livingston.
Murray said: “He got an x-ray on it and there was a small break but we thought he would be available for Sunday because he trained on the Saturday.
“It flared up on the Sunday, so it was quite precautionary to leave him out. We didn’t want to get him into a position where he played and made it worse.”