The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rovers urged to focus on securing victory at home
Smith wants Raith to forget about title rivals – and previous Albion meetings
RAITH ROVERS v ALBION ROVERS
Second top Raith Rovers host second bottom Albion Rovers and Kirkcaldy manager Barry Smith wants his side to be single-minded about achieving the right result.
Smith’s men sit three points behind League One leaders Ayr United but the boss wants his players to focus solely on securing a win over a side that have proved troublesome and have denied Raith vital points so far this season.
The Stark’s Park manager said: “I am not looking back at any of the games that we have had against Albion Rovers and using them for motivation.
“I know there has been a win at our place as well as a defeat and a draw at theirs but all I am concentrating on is looking forward and the 90 minutes that lie in front of us.
“They are a side that can score a lot of goals and we are wary of that.
“However, we have players that can score and I am sure they will be wary of us.
“As always I believe that if we go out and do what we can then we can win.”
Raith have just three more league matches to play at home this season and Smith is determined that the strength they have shown there will continue against the Coatbridge.
He explained: “We secured our 13th home win against East Fife in midweek and that is a great record and we need to be looking to use our strength at Stark’s in this game.
“We started slowly on Tuesday night. “However, once we took control and opened the scoring, we did not look back.
“Our goalkeeper Aaron Lennox was not called into action too much and I was delighted when Iain Davidson wrapped up the points before the end.”
Willis Furtado is struggling after picking up a first half knock against East Fife and Scott Robertson is also a doubt with Smith adding: “I will be happy if I get one out of the two on to the park.”