They want to get themselves back to the SPL that’s the challenge they’ve set themselves and it’s up to them to make it happen.”
That was Gerry McCabe’s assessment of the Dunfermline squad going into Saturday’s much-anticipated Fife derby, and the Pars assistant believes his side are right up for the fixture against rivals Raith Rovers.
McCabe has seen his fair share of derby games over the years and can’t wait to sample some more of that kind of atmosphere at East End Park.
”We know how big a game it is they are all big, but we know how much it means to the fans and hopefully the boys will get a result,” McCabe told Courier Sport.
”I didn’t realise how big this game was until I came here this and the Falkirk game and we’ve had some right ding-dong games with them over the years.
”It’s great when you win, terrible when you lose, and we feel the same as the fans, so hopefully we won’t be feeling terrible on Saturday.
”We’ve had a decent start to the season, we had a good result last week and a good result during the week, so hopefully we can carry that on into the next game.
”Raith have had a good start to the season and they have a few former Dunfermline players in their team, so we’ll certainly not be underestimating them.
”But I think we should have enough players and enough about us to get a result.”
Following a 1-0 home defeat to Partick Thistle a fortnight ago, the Pars’ outlook is a lot brighter after coming from behind to beat Airdrie United 2-1 last Saturday and brushing aside Montrose in the League Cup on Tuesday.
McCabe noted: ”To do well you’ve got to be consistent and I think we were unlucky against Partick.
”They are the best team I’ve seen so far, they’ve got a good squad of players, but we’ve had two good results in a row and you’d rather be going into games like this weekend’s against Raith Rovers winning your last two than going in with two defeats or two draws.”
Pars boss Jim Jefferies is still mulling over whether or not to bring a few more players in before tonight’s transfer deadline, but McCabe believes the manager will be content whatever happens.
”Obviously we would like another couple of faces in to keep things fresh, keep things ticking over and have more competition for places but if it doesn’t happen I don’t think we’d be too disappointed,” he said.Raith boss relishing first derby as managerRaith boss Grant Murray reckons he will not have to give any inspirational team talks ahead of the game because beating the Pars should be incentive enough.
The player/manager knows exactly how much the clash at East End Park means to both sets of players and supporters, having revelled in the fixtures when both sides were vying for the First Division title in 2010/11.
Now Murray is set to take the reins for his first Fife derby as Raith boss and he admits it should be another memorable occasion.
”The Fife derby is one of those games that players don’t need me to help them get motivated for,” he said. ”If you are a football player and you can’t get yourself up for a derby then there’s something far wrong.
”We had these games two seasons ago and they were absolutely brilliant to play in. The crowds at East End Park and Stark’s Park were magnificent and I’m sure this season will be no different.
”We obviously missed the games last season and that was credit to Dunfermline for getting up to the SPL, but everyone’s looking forward to Saturday.”
The derby is probably coming at the right time for a Rovers side on a high after a great start to the season, and Murray hopes the importance of Saturday’s game will focus the players’ minds on the task at hand.
The good early run continued in midweek when Rovers sent SPL side Ross County crashing out of the Scottish Communities League Cup, although the overall performance was as pleasing as the 4-1 scoreline for the Rovers backroom staff.
”The lads have had a good start to the season and it does build up a lot of confidence,” he added. ”We’ve had some clean sheets as well, which is great from a defensive point of view, but to get a result like that is all credit to the players.
”The pleasing fact is that we’ve been getting goals from all areas of the pitch our two strikers have been in great form, Greig Spence got his goal and even defender Dougie Hill got himself a goal so that’s a massive, pleasing aspect from my point of view.
”Before a ball was kicked all I asked of the players was to give everything and try to get themselves into the next round but, as I told them in the changing room, they did more than that by getting the goals they got.
”The boys are in good confidence at this moment in time and we know there will be downs that come along this season, but they’ve got to enjoy every victory they get.”