BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Raith boss Ray McKinnon has urged his ‘rag-tag Rovers’ to embrace a pressure-free crack at Hibernian after they maintained their momentum with a 1-0 win over Livingston.
They may possess a minuscule budget and modest expectations, but the Fifers have lost just one match in their last 15 – against title-winners Rangers at Ibrox – and enter the playoffs as the Championship’s form side.
That continued yesterday as a solitary Aidan Connolly goal proved enough to see off Livingston, whose own minds were drifting towards a relegation playoff semi-final against Stranraer.
Rovers will now immediately turn their attention to the visit of the Hibees on Wednesday evening, with Alan Stubbs’ side having failed to rack up the requisite goals to overhaul Falkirk in second spot.
“It’s a fair fact to say one of the sides [Hibs or Falkirk] were going to be disappointed,” said McKinnon. “Whereas we are looking forward to a wonderful opportunity.
“With our rag-tag bunch of boys, we’re in a playoff quarter-final. You can’t get much better than that.
“We’ve got absolutely nothing to lose, the pressure isn’t on us. Anything we achieve from now on is a bonus. However, the opportunities are there for our players – let’s see if they can grab them.
“I didn’t have any preference for the opponents. The bottom line is we need to beat them both if we want to get promoted – so Hibs it is. Roll on Wednesday. It’ll be a tough game but the boys are confident.”
