Michael McKenna knows it's still all to play for in the Championship

The nature of Arbroath’s topsy-turvy 3-3 draw with Raith Rovers on Saturday shows that nothing is settled yet in this season’s Championship.
Michael McKenna celebrates during the weekend's thriller. Pic by Graham BlackMichael McKenna celebrates during the weekend's thriller. Pic by Graham Black
Michael McKenna celebrates during the weekend's thriller. Pic by Graham Black

Lichties forward Michael McKenna believes that, with so much at stake at both ends of the division, every point is a prisoner for the next five games.

Arbroath looked to be slipping to a defeat at Gayfield on Saturday when Raith recovered from Jack Hamilton’s opener in the first minute to race into a 3-1 lead.

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But Arbroath, who now look certainties for the promotion play-offs, and are just four points behind leaders Kilmarnock, roared back to rescue a point.

“At this stage of the season there are a lot of edgy results, 1-0 and 0-0,” said McKenna, who scored the equaliser on Saturday.

"It shows that we were going for the win and that left us open.

"Raith Rovers have good quality attacking players, they were missing a lot of defenders, but we knew they would be a threat going forward.

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"That proved to be the case but we have a threat as well and to come from 3-1 down shows a lot of character which we’ll take into the next five games.

"Our goal was maybe too early but you have to go for the second and third when you’re on top and they’re wounded but although we were in control of the game, we’ve probably just coasted along and they’ve gradually come into it.

"The got their goal and then, all of a sudden, the tide turns and they start to look dangerous.”

Arbroath have refused to entertain title talk at Gayfield but, regardless, are still up there chasing down the top spot on merit.

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To have any chance of overhauling Killie, McKenna knows Arbroath must be at their very best in each of the remaining five matches – the second last of which is a trip to Rugby Park.

"When you have a chance to make history it’s hard because you’re battling for every point,” he added.

"In every single game you’re up against it, there are no easy games.

"The draw may end up being a crucial one.

"We’ve still to play them (Kilmarnock) and have a good record against them, I don’t think they’ve scored a goal against us yet, so if we can get to that game and still be in with a shout we’ll be very confident.”