Raith Rovers defender Rory McKeown is convinced his side are more than capable of stringing together a run of results that will get them back into the promotion picture.
A 1-0 win at Falkirk to close out 2014 ended a run of four straight league defeats and has given everyone at Stark’s Park renewed optimism that they can climb the table in the second half of the Championship campaign.
Indeed, victory in this afternoon’s Fife derby at Cowdenbeath would push them 10 points clear of today’s hosts in the standings and have Rovers targeting a top four finish once more.
So with that in mind, McKeown is looking at the bigger picture as Rovers go in search of local bragging rights at Central Park.
“It was a very big win for us last week because obviously we had been on a bad run of results,” he explained.
“I don’t think the form had been all that bad and I think we’ve been playing well but the results just haven’t been there and that’s something we needed to start putting together.
“So obviously it was nice to go out and finally get a result against a good team.
“It had been frustrating for us and when you look at games like the one we had at Dumbarton, I thought that was a shock result because I thought we played them off the park.
“They had two decisions one lad scored a great goal from 25 yards out and you can’t fault them for that, and the penalty they got with the last kick of the ball was quite soft in my opinion.
“When things are going against you those sorts of decisions go against you as well.
“The 3-1 defeat at home to Hibs was disappointing because we were right in it until the last 10 minutes, but you look at the quality of Hibs and they’ve been showing it recently.
“They are picking up points, and then we went in against Falkirk who have been on a run themselves recently.
“We didn’t go in without confidence, we went in knowing what we were capable of on a nice surface to play football on and I think we played very well against them.
“We ended up picking up the three points and that’s the most important thing.
“We were looking at the games against Dumbarton and Hibs thinking we could maybe take four or even six points, so to end up with none was disappointing.
“Let’s be honest, when you talk about going to Falkirk I think we would have been happy with a point because of the way things have been going.
“But we’ve got the three, and now we’re going to Cowdenbeath to hopefully pick up another three and start our own little run.”
The Northern Irishman knows Central Park has something of a reputation in Scottish football and knows it well, having enjoyed a loan spell with Cowden last season.
But he suggested home advantage should mean very little when it comes to a Fife derby.
“It’s the same for both teams,” he stressed.
“Cowdenbeath are not going go and pass anyone off the park, no offence to them, but Central Park doesn’t know that.
“They are a good passing team when they come away to places so we have to handle it and if it does turn into a scrappy game then I think we’re more than capable of winning it.”
Rovers have an extra pair of eyes watching over them in the form of new director of football Maurice Malpas and McKeown has welcomed his appointment albeit knowing that the former Scotland defender is likely to scrutinise his area of expertise more than most.
He continued: “Obviously he’s been there in training and I think he’s the sort of character who keeps himself quiet, but I think he will have a bit of an impact on us.
“He knows what he’s doing, and I think he was a left back as well so he’s going to be on my case quite a bit as well!
“If he comes in and teaches me a few things, it’s more than welcome.”
Kevin Moon has done some light training this week as he recovers from a knee injury, but boss Grant Murray reckons today’s game will probably come too early for the midfielder.