First Division success is still fresh in the mind of Dunfermline defender Kevin Rutkiewicz, and his recent title experience with St Johnstone tells him the Pars are now embarking upon the most important stage of the season.
“Momentum” is the key word as far as the centre back is concerned, and the team which builds it over the next two months is likely to emerge as champions, he believes.
With that in mind, the East End Park side’s upcoming back-to-back fixtures against Ross County €” the first of which takes place at home this Saturday should the pitch pass a morning inspection €” will be crucial to their own promotion aspirations.
Rutkiewicz explained, “These are two really important games we’ve got coming up.
“They’ll be scrapping for their lives in both matches, but for us this is a hugely important period of the campaign.
“I’ve been here before (when he led Saints to the title two seasons ago) and it takes hard graft as well as a bit of luck.
“At times it’s not going to be pretty but you’ve just got to grind out results and go on a run.
“We’re two games unbeaten in the league since I came here and I think it’s now a matter of approaching every game as a cup final and not getting beaten.”
That’s why Rutkiewicz looks back on Tuesday night’s draw with rivals Falkirk in a positive rather than a negative light.
He pointed out, “Falkirk played really well against us the other night and we’ll take the point.
“Overall we didn’t play well, but we move on and hopefully we’ll give a better performance tomorrow.
“Sometimes you turn a draw into a win and other times you turn a defeat into a draw. That’s what we did in midweek.
“That could turn out to be a very important point come the end of the season.Twists and turns”There will be twists and turns but it will be all about who can keep topping up their points tally.
“Teams have got a habit of cutting each others’ throats and if we can put together six or seven games unbeaten from now we’ll go into the final month in a really strong position.”
With the Pars just one point off Raith, and Falkirk five further adrift with a game in hand, Rutkiewicz believes the first division could be in for a photo finish.
He said, “I can definitely see it going all the way. I hope it doesn’t come down to the last game against Falkirk. We’d rather have it won by then, but it would be a brilliant scenario for the league.”
Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre believes Tuesday’s draw has given him cause for optimism for the remainder of the season.
He explained, “I was delighted with the reaction I got from my players in the second half after not playing well in the first.
“We were much improved and had the better chances in that period.
“Another positive was the character we showed to keep fighting until the end to get our equaliser after conceding with around 10 minutes to go.
“We’re going to need to keep showing that fighting spirit tomorrow and for the rest of the run-in.
“If you’re not at the top of your game in this league you’ll come unstuck.”
The heavy East End Park pitch was giving cause for concern on Friday and an inspection was lined up for Saturday morning.
Training with the Dingwall side ahead of the game has been upbeat under their new manager Jimmy Calderwood, with his assistant Stuart Balmer saying, “It has been an exciting few days for everyone at the club and the spirit about the place has been great.
“Hopefully the game will be on and we can take that on to the pitch.
“Jimmy is a bubbly character and he has everyone here ready to go out and play well for him at a ground that he knows really well.”
The injured pair of defender Darren McCormack and striker Stevie Craig remain out for the Staggies.