McGlynn has made me a better player, says Raith star Matthews

The midfield star has played a pivotal role as Rovers have stayed in the top four in the Championship for the majority of the season and says that his own improvement, and that of the team, is down to John McGlynn and his assistant, Paul Smith.

“The amount of detail that the gaffer and Smudger [Smith] put into every game means you know exactly what you're doing going onto the pitch,” he says.

“We watch video of the games coming up and the games that have been, and they always show you things that you can improve on.

“I feel that 100 per cent I'm improving and that's part of the reason I signed my new deal with the club.

“The whole team is doing well, I can see myself improving and I want to keep that going.”

Raith now sit in second spot in the Championship table, one point ahead of Fife rivals Dunfermline, in their first season back in the division after a three-year absence.

Matthews said: “I think it shows how far we've come over the last couple of years.

“It's since the gaffer has come in, he's built a really good squad.

“It's taken time to get used to the style of football he wants us to play but we gelled together last season, and even more so this season.

“The gaffer has said it's the best squad he's had in both his spells here and 100 per cent it's the best squad I've played in at Raith Rovers.

“It's really enjoyable playing good football.”

Raith now face a double-header against second bottom side Inverness, travelling to the Highlands for Friday’s televised match, before playing hosts to the same side on Tuesday at Stark’s Park.

“We know it's going to be a tough game on Friday,” Matthews says.

“They lost against Morton on Tuesday but that just shows you that the results in this league are so unpredictable.

“Inverness have some really good players as we've found out having gone up there a few times.

“But I feel that if we can play the way we did against Ayr, but just finish better, myself included, we've got a great chance."