No added incentive needed for derby clash, says Murray

RAITH ROVERS boss Grant Murray reckons he will not have to give any inspirational team talks ahead of tomorrow’s derby with Dunfermline — because beating the Pars should be incentive enough.

The player/ manager knows exactly how much the clash at East End Park means to both sets of players and supporters, having revelled in the fixtures when both sides were vying for the First Division title in 2010/11.

Now Murray is set to take the reins for his first Fife derby as Raith boss and he admits it should be another memorable occasion.

“The Fife derby is one of those games that players don’t need me to help them get motivated for,” he said.

“If you are a football player and you can’t get yourself up for a derby then there’s something far wrong.

“We had these games two seasons ago and they were absolutely brilliant to play in, the crowds at East End Park and Stark’s Park were magnificent and I’m sure this season will be no different.

“We obviously missed the games last season and that was credit to Dunfermline for getting up to the SPL, but everyone’s looking forward to Saturday.”

The derby at East End Park is probably coming at the right time for a Rovers side on a high after a great start to the season, and M u r r ay hopes the importance of Saturday’s game will focus the players’ minds on the task at hand.

The good early run continued in midweek when Rovers sent SPL side Ross County crashing out of the Scottish Communities League Cup, although the overall performance was as pleasing as the 4-1 scoreline for the Rovers backroom staff.

“The lads have had a good start to the season and it does build up a lot of confidence,” he added.

“We’ve had some clean sheets as well, which is great from a defensive point of view, but to get a result like that is all credit to the players.

“The pleasing fact is that we’ve been getting goals from all areas of the pitch — our two strikers have been in great form, Greig Spence got his goal and even defender Dougie Hill got himself a goal so that’s a massive, pleasing aspect from my point of view.

“Before a ball was kicked all I asked of the players was to give everything and try to get themselves into the next round but, as I told them in the changing room, they did more than that by getting the goals they got.

“The boys are in good confidence at this moment in time and we know there will be downs that come along this season, but they’ve got to enjoy every victory they get.”

Rovers will find out their reward for beating County in the cup when the third round draw is made at New Douglas Park, Hamilton, on Monday at 2pm.

Cowdenbeath midfielder Liam Cusack, who has not played this season because of a knee injury, will be have an operation today which will see him on the sidelines for a further six weeks before he is able to re-start training.

A scan had confirmed the 23-year-old, who joined Cowden at the beginning of this year from Clyde, needed surgery on a medial ligament injury and the Fifers are hopeful that this will solve a long-running problem.

Cowden boss Colin Cameron, meanwhile, had some better news on the injury front yesterday, with full-back David Cowan and midfielder Mark Ramsay able to return to training after hamstring and knee problems. Spanish midfielder Ruben Garcia Rey not far behind in his recovery from a knee injury.