BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Louis Longridge has urged Raith Rovers to build on their ‘terrific’ victory over Hibs as they bid to give their play-off hopes a massive boost against St Mirren tonight.
The on-loan Hamilton Accies forward performed a key role in Saturday’s 2-1 win, constantly providing the Stark’s Park men with an attacking outlet and playing a part in the winner with his corner.
The triumph maintained the Kirkcaldy club’s seven-point advantage in fourth spot in the table and they will be hopeful of stretching that to 10 points this evening with a third win of the season against the Buddies.
Saturday’s was a first success for Rovers against any of the teams above them in the table and Longridge admits it has boosted morale at a crucial time in an impressive campaign.
He said: “It was a terrific result for the club. The position we’re in at the moment, we need to try and maintain the fourth spot.
“We need to beat the likes of your Hibs, Rangers and Falkirk to stay there.
“We’ll take confidence into Tuesday’s game.
“We just need the same mentality and hard work.”
He told Raith TV: “Hopefully we’ll go there with the same attitude and put in the same performance and come away with the three points.”
Run-in
Tonight’s fixture is the first of five away matches Raith have during their remaining seven games, whilst their final two home outings are against Rangers and Falkirk.
The Fifers currently occupy pole position in the race to grab the remaining play-off slot but manager Ray McKinnon admits they will have their work cut out in getting over the finishing line.
He said: “It’s very tough, it doesn’t get much tougher. We’ve got the toughest run-in.
“We’ve got to go away from home to everybody around about us and the teams at home are Rangers and Falkirk, who are above us. It’s a mega-tough run-in.
“But it is what it is. We just need to go and do the best we can and see where we finish.
“I’ve said it all season, if we finish fourth then brilliant. If we finish fifth then great, if we finish sixth great, and then we’ll rebuild for next season.
“We’ll give it everything.”
Rovers will be missing on-loan Rangers striker Ryan Hardie, who is on duty with Scotland under-19s, but on-loan Leicester City striker Harry Panayiotou is available before heading off to play for Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Midfielder Scott Robertson and defender David Bates remain out injured.
