Raith Rovers are riding high at the top of the First Division following a hard-fought 2-0 win over neighbours Dunfermline.
Laurie Ellis, who scored the second goal to seal all three points, reckons the Kirkcaldy side’s stunning start to the season is down to good preparation and a great work ethic.
“We work really hard during the week and we don’t ever disrespect the opposition,” said the 30-year-old defender.
Rovers have won their first three league games, scoring nine goals in the process, and went into Saturday’s game joint-top with rivals Dunfermline.
Both sides knew they had to win the biggest game in the division but Ellis denied Raith went in as underdogs.
“We certainly don’t approach it like that,” he said. “We have our own self-esteem and our own approach.
“We went into it with a positive attitude and it’s a level playing field as far as we’re concerned.
“We go out to win the game and we don’t want to mention things like title favourites.
“We’re delighted with the start to the season but it’s only three games and it’s only nine points.
“Now it rolls on to next Saturday. We’re not setting our sights past seven to 10 days.”
Ellis said he relished the electric atmosphere of the Fife derby but admitted the noise of the 6000 crowd was sometimes a challenge.
“Derby games are really loud and noisy so it’s hard to get your point across to your team-mates.
“We were happy to get to half time without conceding.
“Football turns so often at half time and we knew we needed to get up the park more and keep the ball when we did and, most importantly, score goals.”
Substitute Iain Davidson’s first goal just two minutes after coming on for Iain Williamson gave Rovers the boost they needed, and they kept pushing.
“At 1-0 anything can happen,” said Ellis. “Even at 2-0 it’s still a bit precarious. The game is never dead so it was great to get that second.”
Both sides appeared nervy in the first half, with the hosts failing to move upfield and Pars keeper Chris Smith was never challenged.
The visitors had a handful of chances to break the deadlock, but Nicky Phinn’s 12 yard shot was weak and easily covered by David McGurn, and Willie Gibson’s effort from 25 yards rattled the left post.
The second half was a different affair altogether with Rovers upping the pace and John Baird should have opened the scoring in 49 minutes when he was brought down by Smith and the referee pointed to the spot.
Baird stepped up, only to watch his drive towards the right hand corner of the net stopped by a diving Smith for an excellent one-handed save.
Davidson was brought on in 71 minutes and his fresh legs gave Raith the boost they needed.
Two minutes later, Gregory Tade crossed Allan Walker’s corner to the substitute who sent it home from close range.
Ellis doubled the tally just five minutes after that, heading another corner from Walker into the bottom of the net.
Delighted Raith Rovers gaffer John McGlynn described the result as “very, very pleasing,” but conceded that Dunfermline were the better team in the first half.
“We didn’t get high enough up the park,” he said. “We were shooting ourselves in the foot in the first half and allowed Dunfermline to come at us and it gave them a lot of confidence.
“The second half was more even and we gradually got ourselves in the game.
“Iain Davidson coming on from the bench gave us a new lease of life and no-one was going to catch him. After that, we thoroughly deserved the victory.”
Gutted Pars boss Jim McIntyre put defeat down to defensive errors on his side’s part.
“The back four in general played very well till then but it’s Nicky Phinn’s job to defend the right post and he didn’t do it,” he said.
“We made a couple of changes to try to influence things but they didn’t work. Even after the first goal we should have shown a lot more character.
“This is the same group of players we had last year. They know how tough the league is. If we want to have any aspirations at all we have to show more character to get back in the game.”