The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Points on board early doors are important to Lichties, says Rab Douglas
Ithink Arbroath deserve a lot of credit for the way we have started the Championship campaign.
People were writing us off before a ball was kicked, saying that we would end up doing what happened to Brechin a couple of seasons ago and we would be cast adrift.
It is still early days but we are giving a good account of ourselves.
I think you have to give the gaffer (Dick Campbell), Pink (his assistant brother Ian) and John Young (coach) the utmost credit.
While you don’t want to tempt fate, so far the boys have been great.
We have shown we are organised and work hard as a team. You see everyone giving everything and that’s all you can ask for especially when you are big favourites to go straight back down without winning a game.
I think we have probably surprised a few people so far but it is important to have those eight points on the board early doors. It is something to build on as a club and is absolutely massive.
I always said that when Arbroath comfortably won the league last year they did so with a bit of a swagger.
But when we went up to Inverness at the start of the season, we maybe gave them too much respect and let them dictate. Since then though we have been back at it and have been brilliant.
You can see the players are enjoying it and they are receiving the rewards of working hard as a team, making blocks and defenders scoring, etc. All the focus now turns to another tough game against Dundee United at Tannadice.
They are massive favourites – and quite rightly so – for the title this season considering the money they have spent, their resources, training facilities, everything.
At the end of the day though, it is 11 v 11 and the boys will take heart from what they have produced already.
We obviously beat them recently on penalties in the Tunnock’s Cup and, while United may have rested some players that day, so did we.
But we will go there confident and look to enjoy playing at one of the bigger stadiums with a large crowd at the game.
The boys will absolutely love it – even more so if we can get a good result.
Vital win
It was a vital win for Dundee last weekend against Alloa at Dens.
By all accounts, it wasn’t the best performance from the home side but the result was the most important thing after the defeats by United and Elgin.
I was particularly pleased for Dundee keeper Jack Hamilton – whose brother Colin is at Arbroath – saving the Alloa penalty. I watched him against Peterhead and he made a great save and kept Dundee in the cup.
Being a goalie, there is no hiding place and I am delighted for him playing such a big part in Dundee winning again.
It will of course be different when Dundee play Arbroath.
I think Dark Blues boss James McPake would probably be the first to admit that he is still learning and searching for his strongest XI.
No one needs reminding that this is one of the toughest leagues to get out of, so Dundee have to start going on a run.
The Alloa result has to be backed up with another win at Morton this weekend.
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You see everyone giving everything and that’s all you can ask for...