Raith Rovers' Dougie Imrie on what his team must improve if they are to topple Arbroath this Saturday
Although Raith Rovers players, management and fans know that a win by three goals at home to Arbroath this Saturday will take them top of the William Hill Championship, gaffer Dougie Imrie has warned they can’t take the Red Lichties likely.
Imrie, 43, in charge as Rovers lost their last two league games to the Gayfield outfit last season, was asked if the opportunity to go top for at least 72 hours – league leaders Stenhousemuir don’t host second-placed Partick Thistle until Tuesday – will give his players added incentive to win at Stark’s Park.
“Every game is a good incentive,” Imrie – whose third-placed side have 10 points from five matches – told the Fife Free Press. “We just want to win. We've had a decent start to the season. You just need to look at results, no game is easy.
"So we'll have to make sure we're switched on from the first minute to the last minute against Arbroath.
"I thought on Saturday against Inverness, for probably the first 40 minutes of the game, we were excellent.
"We then make one bad pass, and then after 45 minutes, we just decide we're not going to pass the ball anymore, we're just going to give it back to Inverness. So that was a disappointment.
"In the first half against Inverness, we scored a great goal. We could have had a couple more with better decision-making.
"In the second half, we never started, for at least the first 15-20 minutes.
"Then we got a foothold back in the game, and we've done really well in some opportunities.
"You never want to see anybody getting sent off, but Danny Devine should have had a red card for the pull on Tiff (Scott Tiffoney).
"He's through one-on-one, it's not offside. When you get that decision, the game becomes easier playing against 10 men.
"And then we finish the game really strongly, Jai (Rowe) gets his goal, a fantastic ball from Charlie (Telfer), and Jai makes a great run and has a great flick. We end up getting the 2-0 victory that I think we fully deserved.”
When asked about the qualities this weekend’s fourth-placed opponents possess, Imrie added: “In the two games we've lost to Arbroath we’ve caused our own problems, I wouldn't say they cut us open. They took advantage of our mishaps.
"Looking at our game last Saturday, Inverness's opportunities came from our mistakes, so we need to be aware of that.
"Arbroath play on the front foot, they don't take many risks at the back. If it bounces, it just gets cleared.
"They've got willing runners to go and try and win it at the top end of the pitch, and then they try and play.
"They've got their own way, but it's a very good way of playing.
"It showed last season when they finished in the top four, it worked for them. I think Goldie (Colin Hamilton) and Hammy (David Gold) have done a great job since they took over.
"They've had to recruit again over the summer and bring in a lot of new players. We understand it will be a difficult game but we’re at home and want to pick up three points.”