Smith out to cap fine week with victory over rivals

RAITH ROVERS V AYR UNITED

Barry Smith’s side have been scoring goals for fun recently but the Raith manager insists defensive duties will be just as important for his players in this afternoon’s top-of-the-table clash with Ayr United.

Rovers are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run and have won their last five fixtures, netting 18 goals and conceding only one in the process.

That form saw Smith named Ladbrokes League 1 Manager of the Month for August earlier this week with red-hot front man Lewis Vaughan picking up the player accolade.

Now, the Stark’s Park boss is looking for his side to cement their place at the top of the table by beating an Ayr outfit that snapped up former Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland yesterday.

Smith said: “We know why we have done well so far this season getting results and that’s by sticking together and working hard as a team.

“We have scored a lot of goals but we have also been keeping clean sheets which is equally as important.

“If you can do that then you have a good base to build on. We have been sound defensively but the whole team works hard on that and it will be vitally important once again against an Ayr side with plenty of attacking options.

“If we are too open then they will punish us, especially as they have now added Lawrence Shankland to their squad. That is a big statement from them. Shankland is a fine player who has been at Aberdeen, St Mirren and Morton.

“He has a good pedigree and we will have to be wary of him.

“The good thing though is we’re going into this match playing with confidence.

“We’ll have to be at the top of our game to beat Ayr but we are the home team and we’ve got to go in believing we can win.

“However, we are also scoring a lot of goals and hopefully with the way we are playing, the fans will turn out once again.

“The supporters have really played their part during this good start to the season with their backing for the team.”

Smith has no injury worries for the game.

Ayr finished bottom of the Championship last term to suffer automatic relegation but signalled their intent to try to bounce straight back up when they decided to move to full-time status for this season.

Smith has no doubt Ian McCall’s Honest Men will provide Rovers with their main competition for the title.

He added: “The way Ayr started the season you were thinking ‘they’re definitely going to be up there challenging with ourselves’.

“So the boys know they’ll have to be at their best to win the game.

“At the moment, it’s very early in the season and we just want to win every game we go into. The next game’s Ayr and that doesn’t change.

“They’ve made some very good signings, and they’ve fitted in well to the way Ian wants to play.” DUMFRIES DEAL