The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Raith’s players must adjust to an empty Hampden
League leaders head for the national stadium full of confidence
He has played at a packed Hampden for Scotland and won a cup final there with Dundee United but Scott Robertson admits this afternoon’s visit to the National Stadium with Raith will present very different challenges.
Unlike the showcase occasions in the past, there will be thousands of empty seats at the venue for Rovers’ game with Queen’s Park as Barry Smith’s side look to make it a magnificent seven victories in a row.
But it will not be a new experience for Robertson who has faced the Spiders there once before more than a decade ago while on loan from Dundee.
The 32-year-old knows it can be difficult for players to take in but insists the Kirkcaldy side simply have to focus on further cementing their place at the top of League 1.
Rovers moved four points clear last weekend following their 2-1 win over second-placed Ayr with the victory being overshadowed by a leg fracture suffered by skipper Kyle Benedictus.
Robertson said: “I think the lads showed great resilience to come from behind against a very good Ayr team.
“Losing Benny to a bad injury early on was a big blow so we have to be delighted to get another three points.
“We have to hold our hands up and admit we weren’t at our best in the first half. The manager told us we weren’t at it and we hadn’t come close to the standards we have set so far this season.
“But the boys responded and we are just delighted to get another win.
“I had to move to centre-half after Benny went off which was an experience to say the least. I have played both fullback positions before but that was the first time I had even been in the centre of defence.
“We will see what happens this Saturday but I am just happy playing wherever the manger asks me to.”
Robertson added: “I actually played at Hampden against Queen’s Park about 13 years ago when I was on loan at Peterhead.
“It is strange to say the least playing at such a big venue with so few people in it and it does present a challenge mentally.”
As well as Benedictus, Rovers will also be without the injured Kevin McHattie.