"All to play for against Dundee" says John McGlynn as Raith Rovers manager provides play-off update on Rangers winger

Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn believes next week’s Premiership play-off semi final clash with Dundee hangs in the balance after previous encounters this season.

Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn's side take on Dundee in this week's two-legged Premiership semi-final play-off (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

McGlynn’s side have already beaten Dundee 3-1 at Stark’s Park. They recently lost 2-1 at Dens Park. A repeat of those scorelines would see Raith progress to the final against the second bottom team in the Premiership.

“Over the course with Dundee, we beat them here, they beat us there and there was a draw too,” said McGlynn. “I don't expect there will be too much in it. We know that in the last game, they played very much like Dunfermline did here. They sat off us and tried to play on the counter attack."Every game is different," he added. "We'll just have to go there and be prepared for anything that comes our way.”

McGlynn reported that on loan Rangers winger Kai Kennedy is likely to miss both games. He sat out the 2-0 win quarter-final win over Dunfermline after suffering a tweaked hamstring.

“To lose a player of his quality is a blow,” he said. “But what can you do? We'll just have to get on with it.”

He praised Lewis Vaughan, the striker who has overcome several injury setbacks to play a leading part in keeping Raith in the promotion hunt. The club last featured in the top flight in 1996-7.

Fife derby specialist Vaughan scored his side’s opener yesterday with Gozie Ugwu sealing the 2-0 aggregate victory with a stunning strike late on.

“I'm delighted for Lewis,” McGlynn said. “He revels in these kinds of situations. He's been here a long time and has been over the course during that period.

“He's taken some doings along the way given Pars have had their times too. No doubt you remember these when you're playing and you want to reverse that.

“Lewis seems to keep digging up and producing goals in derby games, which I'm delighted about,” the manager added.

“Given the lay-offs he's had over the last three years with the injuries and the operations, I couldn't be any happier for any individual than Lewis Vaughan.”

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