The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
High-flying Lichties will stay grounded ARBROATH:
Campbell playing down Gayfield side’s surge into play-offs
ARBROATH 2 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 0
Arbroath climbed into the Championship play-off positions after posting a third league win in a row – but assistant manager Ian Campbell is keeping his feet on the ground and insists there’s no talk of any lofty ambitions.
The target for the part-time Lichties remains simply to avoid relegation as it was on day one of the season.
He said: “We’re not looking any further than Ayr United next week and trying to get another three points from a tough game. Our aim is to stay in the league.
“But we are where we are at the moment on merit. We have good players and we are organised and fit.
“We’ll take each game as it comes and see where it takes us.
“Maybe two or three more wins might be enough but there’s only a coat of paint between so many teams.
Gavinswankie’sreturntothearbroath squad after missing more than half the season has made a positive difference in recent weeks and the veteran midfielder was in fine form on Saturday, playing a key role in each of the Lichties’ first half goals.
The first came in the sixth minute when he cut the ball into the path of Jason Thomson who found David Gold in the box and the midfielder sent a fine header into the far corner.
Doonhamers talisman Stephen Dobbie came close to equalising shortly afterwards with a 20-yard free-kick which seemed destined for the back of the net but Derek Gaston flung himself across his goal to fingertip the ball to safety.
The home side went further ahead in the 35th minute when Dale Hilson grabbed his first goal for the club by slotting home from 10 yards after more good work from Swankie on the right.
Queens came more into it in the second period and Gaston twice came to
Arbroath’s rescue with fine saves from Jack Hamilton and Darren Lyon.
The Lichties always looked dangerous coming forward, however, and Thomson came close with a free-kick which was palmed away by Ross Stewart while the otherwise excellent Craig Wighton spurned a golden opportunity to put the result beyond doubt near the end when he missed the target with the goal at his mercy.
Campbell said: “It’s a great three points for us and we deserved it. We were tremendous.
“The first half in particular was a first class performance. We never gave them a chance to settle and we ran out worthy winners.
“There was a spell in the second half when they came at us, but there are times in a game when you have to defend well and we did that.
“We had good organisation and some fantastic individual performances. So, it was a good day for us.”
Queens boss Allan Johnston was unimpressed by his side’s efforts.
He said: “We got what we deserved, which was nothing. Arbroath were the better team. We got outbattled for the majority of the game and they dominated us.
“We gave away cheap goals which is something we are disappointed about. So, we know we need to do better, and soon, because we are not in a good position in the league.
“We have to make sure we start winning.
“None of my team got any pass marks.”