The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fifers capable of clawing their way up
EA ST FIFE defender Kevin Rutkiewicz maintains the Methil men are more than capable of clawing themselves away from the relegation dogfight over the coming weeks.
Last week’s 3-1 defeat to Dunfermline meant Gary Naysmith’s men were unable to extend the six-point cushion they enjoy over ninth-placed A rbroath in League One, although the Lichties’ loss at home to A yr the same afternoon meant there was not too much damage done.
Having said that, Rutkiewicz insists the Fifers are not just content to hover above the drop zone for the rest of the season and have set their sights on reeling in the teams above them.
“We’re in a fight at the moment — we’re not kidding ourselves on— but we feel we’ve got the quality to push on rather than look behind us,” he said.
“I think you find out more about each other when you lose, funnily enough — I think it’s easy to win a game, you come back with lots of momentum and it’s great and you’ve got that feel-good factor.
“But when you lose you can go away and analyse why you lost, what you did wrong and what you have to rectify.
“I don’t think anybody was shocking (against Dunfermline) but there’s 11 changes that could be made.”
He added: “We’re under no illusions, we’re a squad, we’ve got to work together, work hard and hopefully by the end of the season the fans will see the club is moving in the right direction and the team is going the right way.”
The Fifers head to Brechin this afternoon in the knowledge they have lost to their A ngus hosts both times this season, with City running out 2-0 winners last time they played at Glebe Park.
Both teams have changed since that day, though, and Rutkiewicz was one of several new signings at Bayview last month.
The 33-year-old, who is also taking the Fife club’s reserves, is pleased to be back in Scotland following a spell in the States.
“It was a really good move for me personally — obviously I knew the club having played against them with Dunfermline and I knew how passionate the fans are,” he continued.
“There wasn’t really a decision to make — once I knew the interest was there I was delighted to agree to something.”
Striker Nathan A ustin has returned to training following an ankle injury but is unlikely to start, while fellow forward Pat Clarke is still sidelined.
Brechin, who ran Rangers close in a narrow 2-1 defeat at Ibrox last weekend, will be without the suspended Craig Molloy and Darren Petrie, while the influential Alan Trouten continues to struggle with a leg injury.
City have moved to within seven points of the promotion play-offs after recovering from a disappointing start to the season and boss Ray McKinnon wants to see his side continue their fine run of recent form.
“I said to the guys this week that we had a stuttering start but we’re bang in there now, so it’s up to them to put together a wee run,” he said.
“We’ve got a run of what I think are three winnable games coming up against East Fife, Airdrie and Stranraer, so we’ve got a good opportunity to pick up some points.”
East Fife last night completed the signing of former Cowdenbeath defender David Cowan. The 31-year-old was released from his Central Park contract last month.