Supporters at Inverness will seem very strange, admits Rovers keeper

Jamie MacDonald admits he has become so used to a lack of crowds at games that it will be ‘strange’ to have supporters at Raith Rovers’ clash with Inverness Caley Thistle.

But the former Hearts and Kilmarnock keeper is hoping it will not be too long before fans up and down Scotland are packing out stadiums again.

Inverness have been granted permission to allow 300 supporters in for the visit of Raith, something that seems a long way from being repeated in other areas of the country after the increase in coronavirus restrictions across the central belt.

But, with developments in a C o v i d -1 9 vaccine gathering pace, MacDonald is praying the return of the Rovers fans is also on the horizon.

He said: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s going to be strange to have supporters in the ground, rather than the other way about.

“To a degree, we’ve kind of got used to not having the crowd there.

“It’s March for most of the boys and, because of injuries and things like that, for me, January since I played in front of a crowd.

“So, you’re almost a full calendar year.

“But i t ’s great that Inverness is at the stage where some fans can get in and I’m sure it will add to the game, having the 300 that are allowed to be there.

“It’s nice to see because football is nothing without supporters.

“Obviously, it’s not our own fans, which we would love to have as well, but it’s good to see crowds coming back into the game.

“It’s been a long time coming and, it won’t be any time soon down here, but hopefully with talk of vaccines and things we can get to a place at some point this season where we can welcome fans back all over the country.

“I think the players are all missing that aspect of the game.”

A 5- 0 victory against Morton a fortnight ago propelled Raith to the top of the Championship before last n i g h t ’s encounter between Dunfermline and Hearts.

MacDonald admits the unbeaten start to the campaign has exceeded expectations at Stark’s Park, but he insists the League One champions are desperate to keep riding the crest of a wave.

He added: “We’ve started the season really well. I think if you had offered us 10 points from the first 12 in the league would have bitten your hand off for it.

“It’s been a great start and we’re looking to go up to In v e r n e s s and get another positive result.

“It’s gong to be very difficult. Inverness are one of the top teams in the division, an excellent team. We played them in the Betfred Cup last week and it was a very exciting 3-3 draw.

“Both teams are really attack-minded and were having a go and it will probably be more of the same this time.

“Hopefully we can go up there and get a result. It will be difficult but we’re more than capable of keeping this run going.

“It’s all about momentum in football and hopefully we can keep it going and it’ll take us a long way this season.”

Jamie MacDonald is looking forward to return of fans.