A certain fat lady may already be warming up her vocal chords but Raith Rovers’ Laurie Ellis insists the first division title race isn’t over just yet.
The Kirkcaldy side sit four points behind league leaders Dunfermline with just two games to play following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of their rivals in the Fife derby. The Pars now have the champagne on ice as they know that a win in Greenock against Morton today would clinch promotion to the SPL.
However, Ellis is keeping his fingers crossed that, if Raith can beat Queen of the South at Stark’s Park this afternoon, Allan Moore’s Morton side can do them a big favour by upsetting the Pars.
“Last Saturday’s game at East End Park was a missed opportunity,” he admitted. “We did not play well and we have no one to blame apart from ourselves.
“Obviously it is now Dunfermline’s title to lose, but football has such a huge following across the globe because it is so unpredictable. Stranger things than us finishing top at the end of the season have happened in the game, so you never know and we just have to make sure that we win our remaining two matches.
“We face Queen of the South this Saturday and we know how dangerous they can be as they beat us at Stark’s Park in November. Looking back on a season, it is always easy to say a particular game was a missed chance for three points. The flip side of that, of course, is we picked up a lot of wins when we did not play particularly well.
“There are so many plusses to take from the season and, no matter what happens, we can still be proud that we have produced a consistent challenge for the title. I am sure the fans would have accepted that at the start of the season but we are determined to take this fight right down to the wire.”
After the game against Queens the Raith players and management will head to the annual supporters’ club dance in a local hotel. Ellis was unwilling to divulge who received his vote for the players’ player of the year award, but he was more forthcoming on who he believes is deserving of the first division manager of the year accolade.
“There have been so many consistent performers such as Grant Murray, Allan Walker and John Baird, it was really difficult to choose just one name for the player honour,” he added. “However, there is no doubt John McGlynn would get my vote for manager of the year.
“I know a lot of bosses work within tight budgets and I do not want to take away from what other managers have achieved this season, but I think the gaffer deserves enormous credit to keep us performing so consistently. I would be really surprised if he did not win wider recognition for what he has done for this club.”
Queens may have little to play for today but McGlynn insists that if Dunfermline do slip up at Cappielow, his side will have to be on their toes if they hope to capitalise.
“Every player and coach puts their professional reputation on the line each time a team goes out on to the pitch,” he said. “A team always goes out determined to win every game and Queens will be no different.
“They will be looking to finish on a high and we will have to be wary. All we can do is go out and try to win there is nothing we can do about what’s happening in Greenock.”
Queen of the South are without six players for their trip to Kirkcaldy. Willie McLaren drops out as he starts a two-game ban with Daniel Orsi and David Weatherston ruled out, while Paul Burns, Ryan McGuffie and Derek Holmes all called off on Friday with knocks. Craig Reid returns from suspension and Rocco Quinn may be back.