Gerry McCabe ahead of Raith

15/11/12 - GMcC:- "The good thing is that they get a good chance on Saturday to r

CASH GATE AT MATCH NOW
Gerry McCabe believes that the defeat last Saturday will be out of the Pars players systems by the time they take on Raith on Saturday. He gave his thoughts in the build up to the next big local derby:-

"Monday was a bit solemn because the boys were a bit down knowing that they had let a lot of people down. The good thing is that they get a good chance on Saturday to redeem themselves.

"I have been on the receiving end of those sort of games before as a player - it is terrible when it happens to you but great if it goes for you. For Partick, a great result against your closest rivals makes a big difference. The main thing now is that we are ready to go for Saturday.

"You can be glad that you have another big game because its a chance to hopefully prove that it was a freak result. We are still sitting second top and its against our biggest rivals."

When the Pars played Raith Rovers in September, the visitors came back from two goals behind, got a lift but Dunfermline won 3-1 in the end. Raith manager Grant Murray conceded that the Pars deserved to win that day but there will be little doubt that he and his players will be wanting to get one over their opponents this time:-

"They are always close games, there might not be a lot of good football played while tackles are flying in but hopefully we can win our battles across the park and have enough good players to win the game."

The Pars Assistant Manager feels that Stephen Jordan is still a major doubt as he has not fully recovered from the calf strain that has sidelined him since 6th October.

"He is struggling and has not been able to do much this week. He has been working with Kenny Murray. It was a blow last week because he trained last week up until the last minute in training but it is not looking great for this Saturday. It is a shame because Stephen gives us balance on that side."

After his rash tackle in the first 30 seconds of the last match against Raith, Gerry has warned Josh Falkingham that he has to control his passion for the game:-

"If it had maybe been ten or fifteen minutes into the game it could have been red. We will be focussing on playing the way that we have been playing for most of the season. When we play like that we will be hard to beat."

Jim Jefferies and Gerry McCabe were at Starks Park on Tuesday night to watch Rovers in the William Hill Scottish Cup Third Round replay against Airdrie United and Gerry hopes that the extra time needed might affect his opponents:-

"It remains to be seen but we will be hoping to go there and impose our game on them. If we do then we have players in our team to win the game."