WHAT a difference a new manager can make. Granted, it's only one game but only 22 seconds into his second spell as Raith manager, John McGlynn watched on as Lewis Vaughan chipped the ball over the on-rushing Jamie McGowan in the Dumbaton goal to open the scoring.

The eventual 5-1 victory was the sort of result and performance that has seemed beyond this side so far this season.

The margin of victory could have been larger had the away side converted the multitude of other chances they fashioned, especially in the first half with the wind at their backs – a feature of many lower league matches on Saturday.

Though uninspiring under McGlynn’s predecessor Barry Smith, and out of sorts under caretaker Kevin Cuthbert, Rovers still sat in a decent position going into Saturday’s game – 13 points from their first seven matches,

four points off impressive league leaders Arbroath.

After being out of management for what was coming up for four years, McGlynn last week left his role as a first-team scout at Celtic to return to Stark’s Park, instantly diving into the loan market to address the unbalanced nature of the squad.

Callum Crane, a left-back – yes, Raith have one of those now – was brought in from Livingston and was thrown straight into the starting XI. He got forward numerous times, combining well with Nathan Flanagan and it was his cross that Nisbet nodded in for Raith’s fourth of the afternoon.

Another loanee recruited last week and put straight into the side was Regan Hendry, back for a second loan spell from Celtic, someone who McGlynn is no doubt familiar with. Now more physically imposing, Hendry added a dynamism the side were previously lacking in the centre of the park. He also got off the mark in assists, sliding in Vaughan for the opener.

The only loanee brought in by McGlynn not to feature was Hearts Under-20s goalkeeper Kevin Silva. He had to make do with a place on the bench, with Robbie Thomson retaining the gloves after coming on for the injured Kieran Wright the previous week.

However, if Raith’s issues regarding custodians in recent seasons are anything to go by, it won’t be long before the American gets a run in the side.

The victory may have come against an injury-ravaged Dumbarton, who only named three outfield players among their subs, but McGlynn already appears to have already motivated his side while striking upon a more balanced system.

Euan Murray, a right-footed defender, nominally a centre-half but who has been used as a left-back in recent times (save for an appearance at right wingback the previous week), was switched over to the right, while further forward, Nisbet was moved back up front, a position in which he has become the league’s top scorer.

It’s early days but straight away the enthusiasm on the park has seeped into the stands and for the first time in a while a sizeable Raith away support was in full voice.

The win means McGlynn, who achieved promotion from the third tier with Raith in 2009, now takes his side into what is now a very tasty-looking top-of-the-table clash against Arbroath this weekend.

Two more given marching orders

The National:

WHEN the already half-empty stands began to shed most the rest of Dundee United’s disgruntled supporters at around five past four on Saturday afternoon, it was clear that it was finally the end of the road for Csaba Laszlo, pictured.

It was not so much their league position or points haul so far – the defeat to Ross County was their first in five league outings, and leaves them fourth, five points off the top – but the manner in which they lost.
The Hungarian’s side was humiliated defensively time and time again by a rampant County side and their day was compounded when Stewart Murdoch was ordered off for a stamp on Jamie Lindsay just three minutes after taking to the field as a substitute. 

From then on United’s game plan was damage limitation, and while they didn’t concede again the fatal blow had already been delivered.
Elsewhere, Dave Mackay was relieved of his duties after a 3-0 defeat to bottom side Albion Rovers. It was the Coatbridge side’s first victory of the season.

It was Stirling’s fifth defeat from seven matches in League Two and leaves them two points off the bottom – albeit among a cluster of five teams which are separated by four points.
 

Alloa now the only SPFL side yet to record a victory

The National:

FOLLOWING their 2-0 defeat to bottom side Falkirk – and with Albion Rovers recording a 3-0 victory at home to Stirling – Alloa are now the only team in the SPFL not to have recorded a league victory.

Saturday’s defeat at the Indodrill, which saw Ray MacKinnon’s men draw level on points with Alloa, was a sore one. The two goals they conceded comes just a week after their defence gifted similarly cheap goals to league leaders Ayr United.

Before those last two results, the only part-time team in the division had competed well in most of their league matches and weren’t far away, whether in terms of result or performance.

On the opening day, while under the cosh for much of the game, they caused Ross County problems, should have taken the lead through Greig Spence and were undone by a last-minute winner. A respectable performance versus Morton the following week wasn’t enough to prevent defeat before they recorded three consecutive draws versus Inverness, Dundee United and Dunfermline.

While its difficult to see them wilt for the entire campaign in the way Brechin did last season, Saturday’s defeat and the manner in which they have conceded goals recently are certainly causes for concern. 

Moreover, if Falkirk’s victory is a sign they are about to turn things around, Jim Goodwin, pictured, will need to start putting some wins on the board soon if they are to avoid relegation.