Food for thought: Raith Rovers' blistering start to the 2010/11 season has given manager John McGlynn plenty to ponder. Pic: ©SNS Group
Raith Rovers maintained their status as the only team in the Scottish Football League with a 100 per cent record at the weekend as they saw off a dogged Greenock Morton side at Stark's Park. If the Kirkcaldy side keep up this form, they may begin to emerge as genuine title contenders.
Before the season started, manager John McGlynn insisted that his primary aim was to reach the 40 point mark, which he thought would be enough to secure survival. Already, hs side are more than a quarter of the way to meeting that target and will surely be setting their sights on loftier ambitions.
The season hardly began in spectacular style for Raith after a 1-0 defeat to neighbours Cowdenbeath in the ALBA Challenge Cup. But a convincing win over East Fife in the Co-operative Insurance cup just seven days later set them up for the league season. Since then they have won all four of their fixtures, conceding just one goal in the process, including wins over Queen of the South and fierce rivals Dunfermline.
A cup win over SPL side Hamilton Accies added gloss to what has been an impressive start. With the international break on the horizon, Raith will remain top of the table well into September, while McGlynn is surely a certainty for manager of the month.
Having ensured their survival last season with a seventh place finish, Raith have made only subtle changes to their personnel. Willie Dyer has made the left back slot his own with Laurie Ellis moving into the centre of defence to cover for the injured Mark Campbell. It will be interesting to see whether Campbell regains his place when he finally makes his comeback from the injuries he suffered in a car crash.
While the first choice midfielders were all at the club last year, Mark Ferry has finally started to show why McGlynn brought him to the club from Queens Park two years ago. He has already scored three times in five appearances, having managed just one over the whole of last season.
John Baird, a summer signing from relegated Airdrie, has also hit the ground running. Having had to settle for a place on the bench against Cowdenbeath, he was restored to the starting line up against East Fife before scoring a hat-trick on his league debut against Partick Thistle. Goals aside, his tireless running has made him a favourite with the fans and if his goalscoring exploits continue, he could be the prolific goalscorer the club has long been looking for.
Raith will take heart from Ross County's rise up the table last year. Their first season back in the division saw the Highland side narrowly avoid the relegation play-off before climbing to fifth last season, a position that might have been higher had they not have had the welcome distraction of the run to the Scottish Cup final. A similar outcome for Raith Rovers would show real progress even if it means that promotion would be out of reach.
Although Rovers have already overcome one of the promotion favourites in Dunfermline, their fixtures after the international break will pose a stern test of their title credentials. Trips to Ross County and Dundee and a home fixture against Falkirk will give the club and fans alike a better idea of how well the Stark's Park side will fare over the season.
