We won't rest on our laurels says Fife gaffer

The side has made a near perfect start to 2016, with defeat to Elgin City on January 2 the only blemish.

From there, the side has won four on the trot and now find themselves looking down on most of the other sides in League Two from their second place perch.

But the Methil men will be kept on their toes by their gaffer and his coaching staff as they look to close in even further on league leaders Elgin.

The gaffer said: “It’s up to us to keep the players’ feet on the ground.

“We said to the players after they beat Berwick 5-0 that it was in the past and we had to move on.

“After we went through a bit of a sticky patch a while ago we told the players again that it was in the past and the season started from now.

“We’ve now won four games in a row since then.

“And now the players have to put that in the past and make sure we don’t rest on our laurels.”

Saturday’s 2-0 win came at a windswept Bayview.

The game survived an early morning inspection, not because of the condition of the Bayview surface, but due to the gales.

In fact, it’s arguable there was a better grass surface played on anywhere in Scotland by the time the 3 o’clock kick offs arrived - something Naysmith was swift to acknowledge.

“Credit has to go to the groundstaff,” said the manager.

“We were the only team in this part of the country to get their match on.

“The inspection was called because of the wind and the ref who came out was the same one who called off the games at Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath.

“Our pitch was fine and that was down to the work of our groundstaff.

“That really helps us because it means we’re able to get games played at home while others are having theirs called off and then having to play midweek.”

As the Mail was going to press on Monday, the country was being gripped by transfer deadline day speculation.

The boss said he wasn’t expecting to complete any business.

However, one player who did sign on the dotted line at Bayview this week was club captain Kevin Smith who has extended his contract until the end of next season.

“Kevin deserves a lot of credit because I know for a fact that another club had spoken to him, which they’re entitled to do,” said Naysmith.

“They were offering far more money than we were so it shows that Kevin is not about the money and likes what we’re doing at the club.”

East Fife will aim to make it five on the bounce this weekend when they travel to face Montrose.

“Paul Hegarty has made some good signings, Chris Templeman, Jamie Clarke who was at Arbroath last season and Neil Martyniuk from St Johnstone,” said the Bayview boss.

“We have a good record against Montrose but if you look at their home form, they’ve won more games at home this season than we have so that shows how difficult it’s going to be.

“But, the way we’re playing just now, it’s other teams who should be worried about playing us.”