We'll make our Marc on leaders

Chris Tait • Published 28 Aug 2010 10:00 0 Comments

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BACK LINE: Marc Smyth is enjoying life at Morton.

MARC Smyth thinks Raith Rovers will be looked on as favourites at Stark’s Park today - but insists Morton are more than capable of handling the league leaders.

The Fifers have shown superb form after securing three victories in as many games, scoring nine times in the process.

And while Smyth acknowledges the attacking threat Raith possess, the defender believes Ton have more than enough quality at the back to shut them out.

He told the Tele: “They’ve scored a lot of goals so everyone is going to be thinking they are favourites to win the game but I don’t see it that way.

“Defensively, we’ve been excellent as against Stirling and Partick our keeper hasn’t had a save to make.

“Even against Dunfermline he’s not had much to do.

“In three games, he’s maybe had about two or three saves to make, but that comes from all over, not just the back four.

“We’re just going to concentrate on ourselves and if we play the way we did against Dunfermline and add a cutting edge then we can beat anyone in this league.”

Smyth has formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the defence with Stuart McCaffrey and says the pair’s playing styles mean they are well suited to each other.

Smyth said: “It’s good for me because for the last couple of years I’ve been used to being the one who talks those beside me through the game.

“But me and Caff are both really experienced and we just talk to each other.

“There’s no shouting, we just help each other through the game.

“We’ve got a similar style which helps, so we complement each other and we know what each other are going to do.”

Smyth will have to be wary of the form shown by Raith’s strikers John Baird and Gregory Tade, who have quickly developed into a ruthless partnership.

And although the 27-year-old played alongside Baird last season at Airdrie United, that will not make the task of shackling the diminutive striker any easier.

He said: “I played with Bairdy last year and he’s a good player, but that doesn’t give me an edge as it’s different when you play with someone than when you play against them.

“But at the end of the day I’d be confident to play against any striker in this league.

“I’d like to think I’ll come off best, and that’s the way you have to think.”

And Smyth admits the pressure will be on either defence today, as the side that concedes first in this league is very rarely able to recover.

He added: “I’ve played in this division for a few years and if you score first then nine times out of ten you’ll win the game. Very rarely does the team that scores first get beaten.”

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 28 Aug 10

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