Rovers determined to upset odds in Paisley

ST MIRREN V RAITH ROVERS

The Raith starting line-up may have an unfamiliar look about it today against St Mirren in the Irn-Bru Cup with manager Barry Smith denied a whole host of regulars because of injury.

However, Liam Buchanan insists that, while Rovers are big underdogs against the Championship pace-setters, they are still determined to cause an upset.

The Kirkcaldy side’s 11-game unbeaten run came to an end last week when they were defeated by Albion Rovers.

With promotion the No1 target this season, they have another important league match next Saturday with Arbroath but Buchanan believes they can bounce back before that against the Buddies in Paisley.

The 32-year-old said: “I think all the pressure is on them being the Championship side.

“They will be expected to beat us no doubt, but it is important there is a reaction from Saturday from us.

“We have to focus on the St Mirren game rather than look too far forward to the Arbroath match.

“It is a chance for us to get into the next round. We believe we are good enough to go there and get a positive result.

“It is a great game to try to bounce back in.”

Promotion, though, is very much the priority for Rovers and Buchanan knows exactly what it takes to get out of League 1 having achieved that feat with Livingston last season, scoring 27 goals himself in the process.

And he admits he tries to pass on any experience gained from his time with the West Lothian side.

He said: “I try to. I think I am always approachable to anybody to come and speak to.

“Obviously last season I won promotion with Livi and I know there are certain grounds where it is hard to go and get results from.

“If I can pass on anything it would be just to take each game as it comes.

“It would be nice if I could make it back-to-back promotions with Raith.

“There is the expectation here to bounce straight back up from what is a tough league. “So it would be really good.” Buchanan could have stayed at Livingston and be playing in the Championship this season but opted instead to move to Rovers.

He admitted that boss Smith, who he knew previously from his time at Alloa, played a big part in deciding to move to Stark’s Park.

He said: “I had been offered a twoyear deal at Livingston as well.

“I just felt that at this stage of my career, the chance to come to a club like Raith was too good to turn down.

“I have obviously worked with the manager before so that was a factor. I knew what I was coming into.

“I knew the type of person he was and I knew how he would have the team playing so that was exciting as well.

“I just think everything came together and it was the right choice at the end of the day.”

Raith will be without Aaron Lennox, Kyle Benedictus, Kevin McHattie, Scott Robertson and Iain Davidson for today’s game.