The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Lichties looking to get the job done after cup scare
Arbroath manager Dick Campbell is determined to make the most of the late reprieve his Red Lichties earned on Saturday by seeing off Auchinleck Talbot in their Scottish Cup replay tonight.
A winnable home tie against Falkirk in the new year is the carrot for the Gayfield men but Saturday’s “close call” means there is no danger of thinking the hard work was done in taking the junior side back to Angus.
It wasn’t until the 84th minute that Michael Mckenna slotted in a penalty to secure a 1-1 draw and Campbell said: “I have been in the game a long time and have had a few close calls during that time.
“Saturday was one of the closest calls I have had, but we got level and we now have a chance to finish the job off.
“It was a good cup tie played at quite an excitable arena which helped with the atmosphere. Beechwood is a narrow pitch and that suited Auchinleck down to the ground.
“We could not get running at them and our full-backs could not overlap to help the widemen out and we were forced into a style of game that suited them.
“That is not a criticism as Auchinleck played very well and stopped us imposing our game on them.
“The way they played did not surprise us as we had watched them four times, however we should have done better.”
Campbell added: “Being at our home of Gayfield makes it a whole new ball game as it will give us a chance to play in a style that we are more used to.”
The Arbroath boss will also go with a different line-up to try to see off the juniors.
He said: “I picked a team on
Sunday and told the players what it was in training on Monday night.
“It will be different to Saturday’s team and one that will allow us to make the best use of being at home and having more width to play in.”
On-loan Aberdeen midfielder Miko Virtanen, who missed out at the weekend after being injured on international duty for Finland’s Under-21 side, is available again.
Meanwhile, Talbot boss Tommy Sloan believes his men can still progress as they can play even better than they did on Saturday.
Sloan said: “We were not good enough on the ball. We were too hurried and we need to show more composure in the replay.
“Dwayne Hyslop did score a great goal and could have scored a second just before Arbroath got their equaliser, but they had chances and a draw was probably right.
“Overall, we were disappointed not to get through and whilst the odds are against us now, we can still do it.”
Gareth Armstrong is again missing due to suspension.