Scottish Championship: Result against Dundee Utd won't define season - Raith captain Matthews

Ross Matthews is looking for Raith to return to their pre-Christmas form

Raith Rovers skipper Ross Matthews insists their top of the table meeting with Dundee United will not define the season, regardless of the outcome.

The two sides have battled back and forth this term for the top slot - and resume hostilities live on BBC Scotland on Friday.

A win for Raith would put them back within touching distance of United, narrowing the gap to their Championship rivals to just one point in what could be the biggest match of the season so far.

But Matthews, 28, says their focus is on the whole competition - and not just one result.

It is a big game, there's no hiding away from that - it's a game all us players want to play in," he told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"It's not a must-win. If we don't win there's still 14 games left so that won't define the season, just that one game."

Last time the two sides met was 16 December - with Raith narrowly taking victory at Tannadice thanks to a stunning Dylan Easton strike.

The result put Rovers five clear of United going into the festive fixture calendar, on the back of a 13-game unbeaten run. But since then things have been decidedly mixed.

Two high-scoring draws, against Ayr United and Arbroath and a Fife derby win over Dunfermline were followed by five consecutive defeats in the Championship, Scottish Cup and the Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Dundee United, meanwhile, have lost just once since then - by the odd goal in five against Morton - and taken 14 points out of a possible 21.

That form has taken Jim Goodwin's side back to the top with a four-point cushion.

But after last season's disappointing seventh-place finish, Matthews believes the turn around in fortunes this year is something the club can embrace.

"We've put ourselves in a good position. Obviously, it could have been better the last few games, we're disappointed with the results, but if someone had offered us at the start of the season we'd be second in February, four points behind with a game to make it one point, I think every single one of us in the changing room would have taken it to be honest."

'Probably more added pressure for Raith' - Goodwin

Goodwin has won four of his seven matches since losing at home to Raith Rovers in mid-December

United manager Jim Goodwin warned Rovers the pressure was on them, and not the league leaders, going into the match.

"We're well aware of the significance of it, - Raith Rovers being our nearest rivals at the moment in the league and the added incentive that if we win the game, we open that up to a seven point gap," he said.

"Given our goal difference as well that would almost make it an eight point gap.

"I think there's probably more added pressure for Raith given the really poor run of form that they're on. And being the home team as well, their fans will be demanding a performance given what's happened in recent weeks."

United come into the game unbeaten in their last three games and boasting a positive goal difference of 25 over Rovers, but Goodwin wants his players to simply focus on the performance rather than the hype around the game.

"It's a huge game, we know that, but it's my job as manager to try and take that extra pressure away from the players and just ask them to go out and play their normal game." he said.

"Both fixtures we've played against Raith have been very close games. We drew the first one over there, they narrowly beat us 1-0 the last time, so we'd certainly like to even that up by taking maximum points."