Raith Rovers sit third in the Scottish Championship with seven points from four games, recording a recent form of LWWD, as they prepare for the Fife derby against Dunfermline Athletic live on BBC Scotland. Manager Dougie Imrie played down promotion talk despite the team being unbeaten in regulation time during the League Cup group stage and second in the league after three games with two wins and a draw.
How has Dougie Imrie built the squad this summer?
Dougie Imrie said he has brought in 11 players this summer and let 13 go, shaping a squad he described as 'pretty bleak' at the start of pre-season after a couple of tough weeks marked by injuries. His experience at Morton, where he often carried 13 or 14 players through the League Cup into a league campaign, helped him navigate the early challenges. He stressed that the most important thing in any football club is the environment, saying he wants players to know they are loved and have an opportunity to be in his team.
What impact have new signings like Scott Tiffoney had?
Raith Rovers signed winger Scott Tiffoney, a proven Championship-level star from Partick Thistle, after Dougie Imrie had been chasing him since January. Tiffoney adds quality to a side that has scored five goals and conceded three this season for a +2 goal difference. However, striker George Oakley and winger Aaron Lyall remain injured, testing the depth Imrie has worked to build.
Why is the Fife derby so important for both teams?
The upcoming match against Dunfermline Athletic is a Fife derby live on BBC Scotland, with Dunfermline having reached the Scottish Cup final last season where they lost to Celtic and made the play-offs. Dunfermline started the league campaign with two draws and a defeat, including a loss at Livingston last weekend, though they did reach the last 16 of the League Cup by beating Premiership side St Mirren in the group stage before being knocked out at home by League 1 side Ross County.
What does Neil Lennon say about Dunfermline’s title chances?
Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon believes his side will be in the mix for the Championship title at the end of the season, saying it is his ambition to win the league. He noted that nine players came in and ten went out over the summer, adding that it takes time for players to bed in and that the style of play is taking longer than wanted, but insisted a couple of wins would have them looking down the table rather than up.
Dougie Imrie said: "We're delighted with the start, but we'll not get carried away." Neil Lennon said: "It's my ambition. I think we'll be in the mix at the end of the season for sure." The BBC reported that Raith Rovers will look to maintain their early momentum as they head into one of the season’s most anticipated derbies, with both clubs aiming to build on contrasting starts to the campaign.
