Thursday, March 28, 2024
SportScottish ChampionshipRaith Rovers defender Kyle Benedictus insists current squad is better than last...

Raith Rovers defender Kyle Benedictus insists current squad is better than last seasons – despite relegation fears

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Raith Rovers defender Kyle Benedictus insists this season’s squad is better than the one that reached last year’s Championship play-offs.

That is why the central defender is convinced that the Stark’s Park outfit have the quality to climb away from relegation trouble in the second tier.

The former Dundee player was part of the team under Ray McKinnon that finished fourth last term, before eventually being beaten by Hibs in the play-off quarter-finals.

Following a woeful run of one win in 15 league matches, the current side are only six points clear of basement strugglers St Mirren ahead of tonight’s important clash in Kirkcaldy but Benedictus is adamant that John Hughes’ team can survive.

He said: “We probably have a better squad than last year and yet we are at the bottom this season.

“So it just shows how football can work different ways.

“There is a lot of quality in the dressing-room. Whatever team the manager picks, we just have to be focused on getting those three points.

“When you are down at the bottom, things don’t seem to go for you.

“So if we can take a couple of chances and have a bit of luck, I am sure it will turn round.

“Every game is massive for us just now and we need to pick up as many points as we can.

“St Mirren are on a good run and are doing well.

“I know we haven’t had the best results but we should feel confident going into Wednesday night’s game.

“We finished last season on a good run and this one started well but we have gone downhill from there.

“Confidence is a big thing but I don’t think we are getting as much luck.

“It seems to be that everything is going against us.

“We need to pick ourselves up. There are still nine games to go and a lot of points to play for.”

St Mirren are on a high after beating Ayr United and leaders Hibs in their last two league matches, before putting in a creditable performance in the weekend’s 4-1 Scottish Cup loss to Celtic.

And Benedictus expects the Buddies to put up a fight this evening.

He said: “St Mirren are picking up points so they will be confident.

“I watched their game against Celtic and I heard Brendan Rodgers say they are the best domestic team they have played yet they are second bottom of the Championship.

“It just shows you how tight it can be. All it takes is one victory and it could push us on until the end of the season.”

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