Pars hopeful over Murray making Fife derby clash

Dunfermline are hopeful of having skipper Euan Murray back from injury in time for Friday’s Fife derby against rivals Raith Rovers.

The defender failed his fitness race last week and was a major omission from Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Queen of the South.

But manager Stevie Crawford is keeping his fingers crossed the influential 27-year-old can make himself available to face his old club at Stark’s Park.

The return of Murray will be even more important after his stand-in, on-loan Rangers youngster Lewis Mayo, was red-carded in Dumfries and will serve a one-match suspension.

Crawford said: “Euan picked up something last week in the game against Alloa.

“He wanted to play but we just felt that, in the position that we find ourselves and with the games that we have coming up, it was right to leave him out.

“He now has another couple of days to see where we are at and hopefully he will come into contention again for the Raith Rovers game.”

Crawford has urged his side to use the “hurt” of their defeat to Queens as motivation against Raith.

The Pars beat Rovers just a month ago but lost second place in the Championship to their rivals at the weekend.

He added: “The reality is that we have come away without winning the game or taking away anything.

“We just have to show that hurt in the performance against Raith Rovers on Friday.”

Meanwhile, Raith boss John McGlynn has told his side it is payback time in the derby for the 4-1 defeat at East End Park.

McGlynn is fully aware the Stark’s Park side will need to be better than in the last encounter if they are to strengthen their place behind Hearts in the table after Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Alloa.

He said: “It wouldn’t matter if we were second and third or ninth and 10th. It’s now a derby game and we’re putting all our efforts and energy and preparation into that game.

“As a manager, the next game’s always the biggest game. It just so happens it is a derby game. That brings a little bit of extra spice and it’s for the fans.

“We lost at East End Park and so we’re due our fans a response to that. There’s none in the stadium but the fans are still out there watching.

“We look to have a response to a poor performance at their place and we look to try to put that right here.

“If that gives us an edge in the game and we can go three points clear of them with a game in hand then everyone at Raith will be delighted.