Give Hearts a good go, says Campbell

A off.rbroath manager Dick Campbell admits he thrives on being written However, he recognises that today’s visit of Hearts will be his side’s toughest test of the season so far.

The Red Lichties are in the relegation play-off spot at the foot of the Scottish Championship and despite facing the runaway league leaders, Gayfield boss Campbell has urged his players to put in a positive performance.

Campbell said: “It’s our home game so we have to be really up for it and try to get the three points.

“Hearts have only taken nine points from the last five games but they are still 15 points clear at the top so that tells us all we need to know.

“We’ll have a right good go, that’s for sure.”

“I love these types of games.

“This is exactly the type of game we are all in football for, you want to answer the questions that they will pose.

“After all my years in the game I know I can say that I’ve got a right good team and to a man they will fight for every available point from these last seven games.”

Campbell has looked at the table this week. However, he has not panicked, as he explained: “The message this week has been all about arithmetic.

“Depending on what happens with Alloa, we could really feel a squeeze on us.

“Four weeks ago, we were sitting fifth after a good run and now we’re back sitting second-bottom.

“It just goes to show the tight margins in this league.

“Between my assistant Ian Campbell and I, we both watched the midweek games and they proved the standard of the league.

“But I’ve been in football long enough to know we have to protect ourself and just look after what we can do.”

Jason Thomson misses out for Arbroath with long-term absentees Luke Donnelly and Gavin Swankie still out through injury.

● Raith Rovers seek to arrest a three-match winless – and goalless – streak this afternoon when they visit Ayr.

Following Dundee’s win at Alloa last night, Rovers now sit fourth in the Championship and fullback Reghan Tumilty is determined to ensure they do not throw away all of the hard work done during a hugely impressive return to the second tier, having recalibrated their more modest pre-season aspirations.

He recalled: “We had a team meeting at the start of the season and set out what our goals were in terms of staying up.

“But those goals have changed and, now we are two-thirds of the way through the campaign, we want that top-four place.

“That’s absolutely achievable with the football we play.

“We have set extremely high standards, from day one.

“I don’t think anyone even thought we could win the first game of the season against Arbroath, let alone be up in the play-off positions.”

● Dunfermline host Inverness this afternoon sitting in joint-second spot and on-loan Scott Banks reckons the prospect of important games ahead, including the possibility of a tilt at promotion to the Premiership, can only be good for his development.

The former Dundee United player, who will return to Crystal Palace in the summer, said: “I wouldn’t have the experience of playing in those pressure games if I was still in the Palace under-23s.

“So, it’s something exciting to be involved in and I’m glad I can do it here.

“It’s definitely been made clear to all of us that if we don’t get second place here we’ve let ourselves down, in terms of the points we’ve dropped.”

FIGHT: Arbroath boss Dick Campbell and assistant Rab Douglas during the last game against Hearts in December.