From a “pretty bleak” squad to players suddenly feeling the love, a flying Raith Rovers side go into Friday’s Fife derby second in the Championship as they take on Dunfermline Athletic live on BBC Scotland.
Dougie Imrie’s side are unbeaten in the league with two wins and a draw from their three league outings so far.
They were also unbeaten in regulation time through their League Cup group stage matches, but failed to progress to the last 16.
Despite their impressive form, Imrie played down Raith’s promotion credentials.
“We’re delighted with the start, but we’ll not get carried away,” Imrie said.
“We had a couple of tough weeks at the start of pre-season, picking up injury to players and having to go with a pretty bleak squad.
“But I think my experience and time at Morton has helped me in this situation. A lot of those seasons at Morton I was carrying 13 or 14 players through the League Cup leading into a league campaign.”
The addition of winger Scott Tiffoney – a proven star at Championship level with Partick Thistle, and a player Imrie had been chasing since January – was a significant coup for the Kirkcaldy side.
And while injuries to striker George Oakley and winger Aaron Lyall have provided challenges, Imrie is happy with the overall picture.
“The most important thing in any football club is the environment,” he said.
“One of the things I try to do is make the environment the best it can be, so knows everybody knows they are loved, they’ve got an opportunity to be in my team, make them believe they are good players.
“We certainly have a good squad. They have all really integrated well. I’ve brought in 11 players this summer and let 13 go so you have to quickly gel that together.
“The key is everybody knowing they have an opportunity to play in my team, but they also know they have to be at it every day to keep that jersey.”
Dunfermline will be ‘in the mix’, insists Lennon
Dunfermline made the play-offs last season and reached the Scottish Cup final, where they lost to Celtic.
They have started the new league campaign in sluggish fashion though, with two draws followed by defeat last weekend at Livingston.
The Pars did reach the last 16 of the League Cup – with a victory over Premiership St Mirren along the way in the group stage – but were knocked out at home by League 1 Ross County.
Despite their mixed fortunes, Lennon believes his side has what it takes to be potential Championship winners.
“It’s my ambition. I think we’ll be in the mix at the end of the season for sure,” he said.
“We’ve recruited well. I think it takes time for players to bed in. 10 went out and nine came in, so it’s a big overhaul.
“I’m excited about the players we have brought in and I’m excited by the style of play that we can produce as well.
“It’s obviously taking a little bit more time than we would have wanted but it’s not terminal or anything like that. This is only our fourth league game.
“Couple of wins and we’ll be looking down the table rather than up.”
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