East Fife will make the trek north to Elgin City today hoping to extend their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
And ahead of tonight’s tough assignment at Borough Briggs, boss Gary Naysmith believes his players should be rightly proud of what they have achieved since the turn of the year after moving to within one point of the play-off spots.
The Fifers struggled in the first half of the campaign but an undefeated start to 2015 and four wins in five have brought the Methil club right back into promotion contention, with their 2-1 comeback victory over Annan on Saturday once more boosting confidence in the camp.
“We’ve generally struggled as a club since I’ve been here as a player and a manager so for us to go seven unbeaten and win four out of the last five, I just want us to enjoy it and the fans to enjoy it,” Naysmith noted.
“It’s small steps but we’re definitely moving in the right direction.
“I think we enhanced the squad in January and we’ve been getting the results so far, so hopefully that can continue.
“Thirteen points out of 15 is a great return and it’s onwards and upwards now.
“We’ll give Elgin the respect they deserve.
“They’ve got two or three new players since we played them last and in the 1-1 game at Bayview I think they showed they were a good team and caused us a few problems up front so we’ll have to be wary of them.
“Elgin are in form but we’re in form as well, and when we play like we did in the second half on Saturday it will take a really good team to stop us.
“It was probably the best 45 minutes since I’ve been here as a player and a manager and the lads were different class.”
Former Scotland striker Derek Riordan who scored the winner on Saturday – can play as a trialist for one more game, although Naysmith is keen to try and secure his services until the end of the season and talks are ongoing between the club and his agent.
Full back Fraser Mullen is a doubt for tonight’s game after going off injured at the weekend, although Nathan Austin should be fit despite picking up a knock.
Caolan McAleer and Kevin Smith both went for scans on their respective knee injuries and neither needs surgery, although they are unlikely to be back before the home game against Arbroath on March 21.