The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Campbell looking for home comfort
Lichties boss aims to address poor home record in bid to stay in top four
Arbroath boss Dick Campbell is hoping the first game of 2018 at Gayfield will signal the start of some sustained home comfort for his side.
The Red Lichties have one of the best away records in League One which has helped take them up to fourth spot in the table just one point behind Alloa.
The Angus side won on the road again last week, beating full-time outfit Ayr United at Somerset Park, although the win came at a cost after defender Tam O’brien was sent off.
However, Campbell is fully aware that Arbroath could be even better placed if they had picked up more points at home with only three victories to their name so far this season – and he is looking for his players to start putting that right this afternoon when they entertain Queen’s Park.
The veteran manager, who yesterday extended Scott Martin’s loan deal from Hibs until the end of the season, said: “We have Tam O’brien suspended for the game which is a problem for us but we will probably just move Blair Yule back there. Gavin Swankie returns after suffering from flu but whether I play him or not is another story.
“We have managed to build up a bit of momentum again. It probably should have been three victories on the trot but East Fife scored in the last minute to draw against us two weeks ago.
“We have a big game coming up in the Scottish Cup next week at Ayr United and the likes of Bobby Linn and Danny Denholm could probably do with a wee rest.
“So I have some major decisions to make.”
Campbell added: “If we could sort out our home record we would be right up at the top of the league as we have one of the best away records in the division.
“I think it is a combination of a lot of things. Teams come up to Gayfield and park the bus because of the threat we have in attack.
“They make things very, very difficult for us. We have also lost a lot of goals in the last five minutes of games.
“Our home record is not the best so we have to deal with that, hopefully starting against Queen’s Park.”
Arbroath will be without long-term injured Steven Doris and Josh Skelly although the latter is edging closer to full fitness and could come into contention once more in a fortnight.