It’s top v bottom in League One today as Raith Rovers visit Station Park

Table-topping Raith travel to face rockbottom Forfar this afternoon at Station Park with the Kirkcaldy side red-hot favourites to take all three points.

While Rovers’ game against Stranraer last week was being abandoned after just 37 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch, the Loons were being thumped 5-0 at home by Ayr United.

Forfar, who sacked boss Gary Bollan last month and replaced him with Jim Weir, have only won once so far this season in League 1 but despite all that, Raith manager Barry Smith is taking absolutely nothing for granted.

He said: “We respect every other club in this division. We know that every team will give us different problems. Knowing Jim, after they lost 5-0 last week he will have tightened up at the back and will maybe throw an extra midfielder in.

“We just have to ensure we play the way we want to, moving the ball quickly and break them down if that’s the case.”

While naturally disappointed that last week’s game at Stranraer was abandoned, Smith admitted that it was not a wasted journey and there were positives to take from the way his players coped with what was a difficult situation.

The manager said: “At ground level it didn’t look too bad but it was only when you watched it back on video that you realised the amount of puddles there were on the pitch, The good thing is that we went down there and handled very difficult conditions.

“As much as it wasn’t a good game of football, the boys coped with everything including the fact that the long journey took a wee bit longer than normal.

“There was water on the pitch but they took it all in their stride which was the positive thing. Obviously we will have to go back down there but it showed the boys can really roll their sleeves up when they need to.”

Smith revealed that there will be a welcome return to the squad for the Forfar game by a key defender after he made a successful comeback after injury in midweek.

He added: “Kevin Mchattie played 45 minutes on Wednesday night so he will be back involved in the squad and pushing for a starting place.

“Kyle Benedictus, Aaron Lennox and Kevin Cuthbert are still out.”

Barry Smith was impressed with the way his Raith side handled last week’s abandonment.