Rovers look to put down marker for play-offs

CHAMPIONSHIP: Pressure off as Raith head for unexpected shot at promotion play-offs

Ross Callachan admits the Raith players have nothing to lose in the Premiership promotion play-offs – as they never expected to be there in the first place.

Rovers will joust with either Hibs or Falkirk in the quarter-finals having secured fourth place in the Championship table.

That position was achieved in no small part to an incredible recent run of form with Ray McKinnon’s side unbeaten in their last nine games.

Callachan and his team-mates face Falkirk tonight in the penultimate league match before the play-offs begin and the 22-year-old midfielder insists they will be looking to put down a marker against Peter Houston’s men: “Definitely. It will either be them or Hibs (in the play-offs).

“We have done well against them in previous games this season and they know what we are all about.

“If we can defend well, we will always have chances against Falkirk and Hibs.

“So it all about going into these games and taking our opportunities as we haven’t really done that against them this season.

“These first two play-off games are cup finals.

“We need to keep this amazing run going to take the momentum into the play-offs.

“Football can be a crazy game and anything can happen.

“We never expected to be here at the start of the season so we are going into these games with nothing to lose. They are already writing us off.

“In previous years, the club had finished in mid-table with nothing to play for really. “So it is great to have these games.” Callachan admits that the confidence is currently sky-high in the Rovers dressing-room with the players, who came from behind to defeat Dumbarton 3-2 last week, feeling they cannot be beaten at the moment.

Callachan, who is a product of the Raith youth academy, said: “The boys are flying and there is a great atmosphere in the dressing-room just now.

“We feel like we are never going to get beaten. We just go into each game determined to keep our run going.

“When you are winning games, it just seems to happen. You get a wee bit luckier.

“It is the same when you are getting beat – sometimes as much as you try to score, you can’t.

“But at the moment, we just keep winning games and we don’t feel as if we can be beaten.

“Everyone is working hard for each other and there is a great attitude within the squad. We just need to keep that going into the play-offs.”

Callachan admitted one of the reasons for his side’s good form, is the fact that with McKinnon having almost a full squad to choose from at the moment, there is fierce competition for places.

He added: “Everyone in my position is back fit so I need to keep playing well or I might not be in the team the following week.

“It is good that everyone is available and it gives the manager a lot of options.

“He can rest boys for the play-offs if he wants and it is a good headache for the gaffer to have.”

Earlier this season, Callachan confessed that he was a big fan of Frank Sinatra – a passion that was not shared by his team-mates.

However, he hopes if the club can cap a great season with promotion, they will see things “My Way”.

He said: “We keep on winning so we have the same guy on the tunes each week, with Craig Barr the DJ.

“His music is all right, to be fair – club stuff.

“There is no Sinatra yet but maybe if we keep winning, get through the playoffs and into the Premiership, there will be a bit in the dressing-room.”

Picture: SNS. Ross Callachan knows he has to keep performing well to keep his place as competition is fierce.

DJ Craig Barr: spinning the tunes that have kept Rovers on course.