Dream return in past as Raith get ready for tough test at Queens

Raith Rovers assistant manager Pa u l Smith insists the Fifers are keeping their feet firmly on the ground despite a dream re turn to the Championship.

Smith, who will continue to deputise for John McGlynn as the Stark’s Park boss recovers from gallbladder surgery, watched Rovers demolish Arbroath 3-0 last week in their first match in the second tier since 2017.

However, Raith’s No 2 is refusing to get carried away ahead of their trip to Palmerston Park.

He said: “It was only one game and, just as we wouldn’ t have kicked ourselves too much if we had lost, we aren’t going to be swinging from the rafters after getting the win.

“It’s great to have three points on the board because you don’t want to go two, three, four weeks without a win as the newly promoted side – but it is only three points ultimately.

“Nothing has changed in the sense that every single game in the Championship is going to be incredibly difficult for us – and going to Queen of the South is no different.”

Smith admits he has been glued to his laptop this week in a bid to get clued up on a new-look Queens outfit.

The Dumfries outfit signed a staggering 17 new players over the close- season, fielding nine league debutants in their 2-1 defeat against Ayr United last weekend.

That has left Smith poring over footage on scouting platform Wyscout in a bid to get a feel for their rivals.

He continued: “With the East Fife and Arbroath games, we had a good idea of the players and how they would go about their business. So, in that sense, it was straightforward to prepare.

“Whereas Allan (Johnston) has probably changed nine or 10 out of his starting 11 for this season. So, this week there has been a lot of getting reports about Queens and their style and I’ve watched their games on Wyscout.

“I feel like I’ve got a sense about how they’ll go about things and we know the strengths they have.

“They are an established, quality Championship side.

“However, the biggest factor is ensuring we play to the best of our abilities and execute the gameplan that we have.”

Smith, meanwhile, has sought to spread out the plaudits despite the attacking threats of Mann y Duku, Dan Armstrong, Regan Hendry and Ethan Ross catching the eye last weekend.

The Fifers may have been effervescent going forward, but the experienced coach was just as heartened by the solid defensive showing.

He added: “A really pleasing aspect which hasn’t been mentioned as much was the clean sheet. It was the compete team performance, from back to front.

“We have got players with good pace and quality who can hurt anyone, but it is the platform we give them as a unit that allows them to go out there and play.”

Raith Rovers assistant manager Paul Smith.