McGlynn wants rivals to fear Stark’s Park

Raith boss John McGlynn is looking for his side to make Stark’s Park as intimidating a venue as possible for the opposition – starting tomorrow in the top-of-the-table clash with League One leaders Arbroath, writes Neil Robertson.

The manager’s second spell in charge of the club got off to a near perfect start last weekend when Rovers travelled through to Dumbarton and secured a thumping 5-1 win.

Now, McGlynn and his assistant Paul Smith have been working hard putting their ideas across once more this week as they look to close the four-point gap at the top on Dick Campbell’s side.

McGlynn said: “It was a good performance at Dumbarton, the goals were shared around which was very pleasing and it gives us confidence going into Saturday’s game.

“We have been working very hard this week, both going back looking at our game and at Arbroath.

“We have also been going through things out on the pitch, adding a bit more to it as we have had longer with the players. Myself and Paul Smith can get our ideas across to them.

“We have an exciting game to look forward to.

“We appreciate it will be a difficult match being top of the table.

“Dick Campbell’s team have set a great pace at the start of the season and they will be right up there so the players have trained very well and will be well up for the game.

“We are looking to play as well as we did last week but we appreciate Arbroath will be trying to make it very difficult for us.

“But we have to make Stark’s Park as intimidating a place as possible for the opposition coming in.”

McGlynn will still have injury problems for the game with the manager revealing he has told Chris Duggan to stop playing through the pain barrier to ensure the striker can return to full fitness.

McGlynn added: “We now have Ross Matthews back available.

“The other ones are still going to be out for a while – Kieran Wright and Grant Gillespie along with Chris Duggan.

“Chris has a hip injury and a calf injury so he has been playing with it for a couple of weeks.

“But it came to the stage where I took the bull by the horns and said you are not going to be playing injured.

“We will just have to accept he is out to get himself back fit.

“If he is back after the international break then it will be a bonus but if it is another week then so be it. But I would rather he was 100% fit.”

Kevin Cuthbert left the club earlier this week but McGlynn admitted he has yet to decide whether he will be looking to bring in another coach to replace him.

He said: “We will see. This has obviously been a boardroom issue that I have not been involved in.

“I was only concerned with bringing in Paul Smith.

“So it has only just materialised and we will see what happens in the next week or so.”

John McGlynn: Urging his players to make home games intimidating for the opposition.