RAITH ROVERS 3 Connolly (6), Gullan (27), Stanton (65) COVE RANGERS 0

Rovers boss Ian Murray was delighted with yesterday’s convincing home victory but insisted it is too far early to be obsessing about the league table.

Raith’s 3-0 win lifted them one place to seventh place in the table, just four points off a play-off spot as the Championship entered its second quarter.

“People get wrapped up in looking at league positions, but I just keep looking at games,” said Murray.

“This club only won a few games last season, but we’ve already won four in the league this season.

“It was a really good performance and result today because Cove came here on a good run. I decided on Friday night to go for a high press, and we got our first goal from that.

“It was a fantastic free kick to make it 2-0, although 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline.

“It doesn’t always go to four or five-nil, so we had to be ruthless. I’m pleased the way we handled the game at 2-0.”

Murray’s opposite number, Jim McIntyre, offered no excuses for a first defeat in five games.

He admitted: “Raith were comfortable winners. They were better than us one to eleven all over the park.

“We gave them too many chances and they punished us. We were miles off it today and we’re honest enough to admit that.”

Cove’s tails ought to have been up following back-to-back victories over Arbroath and Dundee.

However, the visitors were instead caught out by an early sucker punch as Rovers scored after six minutes.

Jamie Gullan’s pass set up Aidan Connolly for a low left-foot finish, and the Kirkcaldy club almost doubled their lead in the 18th minute, only for Kieran Ngwenya to head wide.

Max Johnston’s foul on Gullan then gave the home side a free kick which Gullan himself steered into the top corner of the Cove net with a sweet right-foot strike.

In a match littered with petty fouls, it took Rovers until midway through the second half to add the third goal which put the result beyond doubt.

On this occasion, Connor O’Riordan was the creator, allowing Sam Stanton to apply the finishing touch.

There were no further goals, although home fans had one final treat in store as 6ft 8in Faroese forward Jon Frederiksen made his debut as a late substitute.